Here are some thoughts that I meditated upon during my pilgrimage to Mayapur. I will elaborate on them over time as I research the modern and scriptural perspectives on this issue:
The apparent environmental crisis is a spiritual wake up call. It is a result of our excessive exploitation of the planet and its inhabitants to promote the well-being of a select species. This is born of greed and lust for wanting more than necessary for our sustenance. In a nutshell, consumerism is the driving force. Darwinism is the philosophical justification for our consumerist society. Without cultivating a higher consciousness, there can be no impetus to make necessary wholesale transformations in our activities and direction.
Whether or not you believe the planet itself is in peril, there is no doubt that our misuse and abuse of the planet is having a dramatically negative impact on the lives of its inhabitants.
The planet is arguably in the process of a major climatic shift to heal itself. This will result in a major readjustment of our lifestyle and standard of living.
Exploiting the planet, its resources and inhabitants will lead to greater troubles than even climatic and planetary changes. Namely the result will be increasing conflict and unrest in the within social body.
The spiritual solution will transform our lifestyles in a dramatically positive way but requires courage and determination to implement.
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree, tis a wake up call indeed. Although it’s not good to make jokes about such things, I must say that Global Warming is just the tip of the iceberg! Industrialized society is simply not sustainable so it’s time to make a move toward simple living, as Srila Prabhupada constantly stressed! Anyone who want’s to see a very crazy documentary about the combined implications of Global warming and the end of oil check out: whatawaytogomovie.com