Ecological Interrelation and Inter-being by

What is Ecological Interrelation?

thepechv — 2024-04-12 15:40:52 UTC

Willard J. Jacobson's article " "Big Ideas" of Ecology that Every Peace Educator Should Know" provides a holistic study of ecology through an emphasis on the importance of interrelationships existing within all systems. Peace education scholar Betty Reardon states, "the ecological approach emphasizes relationships and interlinkages. It is a way of thinking that is grounded in holism, in the consideration of an issue topic, or a probelm, in the broadest possible context - where possible, with the largest system of which...[it] is a part" (Jacobson, 71). Ecology is related to the acievement of peace through a concern for the broad interrelationships found within large ecosystems. Understanding of the interconnected relationship of everything within our planetary system will enhance the awareness of a global environmental movement for a better future. The study of ecology must be undertaken with both a holistic and reductionist view point; a holistic view studies interelationships between systems within the wider planetary system, and a reductionist view studies smaller localized systems.

What is inter-being?

thepechv — 2024-04-12 16:05:43 UTC

Inter-being is a term coined by Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. He utilizes it as a contextual mode of thinking in his explication of The Heart Sutra detailed in "The Other Shore." Hanh uses the term inter-being as an accessibly tool to explain Buddhist teachings to a contemporary audience. Inter-being explains that to be “Empty of a separate self means full of everything” (Hahn, 33). Everything in the world inter-bes everything else; Nothing can exist independently of anything else. Hanh explains, “Everything – time, space, the earth, the rain, the minerals in the soil, the sunshine, the cloud, the river, the heat, and even consciousness…coexists…To be is to inter-be with every other thing” (Hahn, 28).

Hahn explains that "Any meaningful work for peace must follow this practice: to go in and be one with, in order to really understand" (Hahn, 35). This framework deeply coincides with Jacobson's call for a wholistic vision of ecology that examines the interelations between everything in the planetary system. It is necessary to adobt a cooperative understanding of shared responsibility the cultivate the change that allows for the creation of a better future.

Systems

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:12:17 UTC

A system is composed of all the elements that should be considered when we study a phenomena, deal with a problem or strive to achieve a purpose. The planetary system allows us to view the earth holistically to consider how changes in the atmosphere impact global warming and climate chage. The planetary system directly impacts all of the biosphere which is the system that deals with all life on the planet. The biosphere is composed an incredible amount of systems that function down to the cellular level through processes of interelation. Furthermore, systems are not only biological; they involve extensive social and cultural networks as well.

Cooperation

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:19:58 UTC

Since many environmental problems transcend national boundary lines, it is often difficult to harness the resources needed to tackle some of the global problems. Cooperative are institution in which individuals, family, and other social systems work together to acheive what they cannot separately. Rene Dubos reminds us to Think Globally; Act Locally but in the future it will also be imporant to Think Locally and Act Globally.

Cycles

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:24:40 UTC

In general, matter is neither created nor destroyed, only recycled and used over and over again. Some examples of natural cycles include the water cycle, the oxygen and carbon dioxide cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the producer-consumer-decomposer cycle. Many human practices interfere with the natural flow of resources through their cycles.

Risk Analysis

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:27:03 UTC

It is important to weigh the consequences of action and inaction while considering the interelationships between systems.

The Producer-Consumer-Decomposer Cycle

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:30:47 UTC

The Producer-Consumer-Decomposer Cycle makes food available to organisms in a system. Therefore the breakdown or interferance of one phase will have disastrous impacts for all organisms in the system.

Balance and Change

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:38:56 UTC

The concept of balance in the environment is essentially the basic conservation law: the amount of energy and matter in a systems remains the same. Even if the amount of energy in a system remains the same, as it is used it is converted into less usable forms - often heat. The long accepted concept of balance is being challenged arguing that change is a more basic concept. Nature is more like to be in a state or turmoil and change than in a state of equilibrium. This framework of change encourages humans to consider how to intervene.

Succession

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:44:00 UTC

Processes of natural succession genrally moves towards the climax environment. Agriculture systems and environmental degradation alike are interventions on natural succession. When the land is allowed to rest it eventually begins the succession process moving slowely towards the climax environment again.

Population Growth Patterns

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:47:24 UTC

Natural checks to population growth are important for all species to avoid population explosions. However, human population growth due to the inventions of modernity is expected to double every forty years. It is uncertain if the human population will first stabilize or overshoot the carrying capacity of the environment.

Tolerance

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:50:47 UTC

Most Organisms can only live under certain environmental conditions within ranges of survival. Some of the limiting factors for various populations are temperature, available water, and fertile soil. Radioactivity levels from nuclear warfare poses one of the most threatening possibilities to humans capacity for environmental tolerance.

Food Chains and Food Webs

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:51:39 UTC

Food chains have direct interrelationships and food webs indirect interrelationships. Small changes in food webs, such as the introduction of insecticides to protect crops from insects, may have their intended benefits, but may also have unforeseen harmful effects.

Food Pyramids

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:52:30 UTC

Energy conversion follows a 10% percent law of solar energy moving up the food pyramid. The lower on the pyramid the food is consumed the more efficient the process. If everyone ate primarily plants and very little meat and other animal products, there would be more food available for everyone.

Nuclear War

thepechv — 2024-04-19 14:59:48 UTC

Volcanos allow us to study the effects that might ensure from a large number of nuclear bombs. Huge quantities of soot, soil, dust, and debris would blast into the atmosphere causing a catastrophic "nuclear winter" that would have uncertain but likely deadly effects to all life forms.

Radiation

thepechv — 2024-04-19 15:03:00 UTC

The release of radioactive material into the ecosystem causes great harm over a long period of time. The decay of radio active material is measured in half-life. One possible affect is an increase in the rate of mutation amongst organisms.

Uncertainty

thepechv — 2024-04-19 15:04:42 UTC

We seek interrelationships within systems, but some may be elusive. Some factors and situations are unprecedented and there is no way that we can foresee whether the unprecedented will occur.

12 Links of Interdependent Arising

thepechv — 2024-04-19 15:24:34 UTC

The 12 links (nidāna) are fundamental Buddhist teachings describing the manifestation of phenomena. All things arise in mutual dependence of on one another through the coming together of many causes and conditions. Delusion leads to the wrong actions causing a consciousness that exists within the body and mind with has the capacity for sensation and thus contact that leads to feeling, craving, and grasping and thus being through birth and death. Hahn asserts that "Delusion can be extinguished when we no longer see fomations a seperate self entities" (Hanh, 89). Wisdom comes when we understand that “All phenomena contain the whole universe. Nothing can be by itself alone. We can look at our body in such a way that we see its dependence on all things, and thus see that it has no reality as a separately existing entity” (Hanh, 39). Living and nonliving entities are inextricably interdependent on one another, thus protecting the earth is essential to protecting both individuals and humanity as a whole.

Greening Islam

thepechv — 2024-04-23 00:17:44 UTC

“Our fatal shortcomings as human beings have been that we treat the earth as just an object. The greedier we are toward nature, the sooner doomsday will arrive.”
(Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar, Jakarta)