scholarly journals Environmental Ethics: Catalyst for Human/ Nature Relationship in “A White Heron”

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-172
Author(s):  
Yashoda Chaulagain

All the life forms have fundamental right to live in this universe. Human beings have duties, rights, and responsibilities towards the non-humans, and natural world. By not having a systematic and comprehensive account regarding the relationship between humans and the natural world, human beings are denying the importance of the life forms of other creatures in the world. Hence, the present research attempts to analyze the biocentric relationship of human beings with nature and its stewardship by being aware and knowledgeable of the world around them and protecting the world species. The study further argues the cooperative mechanism and symbiotic relationship between nature and human beings in this natural domain with reference to Jewett’s protagonist, Sylvia, who represents the symbol of mother earth by saving White Heron from the hunter. She restricts the Hunter to mastery over it. In addition, the work encompasses the conflict of nature with civilization by portraying the relationship of Sylvia, who preserves nature, from a foreigner, the Hunter who is concomitant with the danger of civilization. The Hunter who tracks the White Heron is from the city and hence stained by civilizations, sees nature is a place to exploit and desires the White Heron as another piece of his collection. In this sense, Sylvia represents herself true lover and preserver of the natural world and the Hunter is considered in complete opposition to the tranquility of the woodland.

Author(s):  
Alistair Fox

This chapter examines Merata Mita’s Mauri, the first fiction feature film in the world to be solely written and directed by an indigenous woman, as an example of “Fourth Cinema” – that is, a form of filmmaking that aims to create, produce, and transmit the stories of indigenous people, and in their own image – showing how Mita presents the coming-of-age story of a Māori girl who grows into an understanding of the spiritual dimension of the relationship of her people to the natural world, and to the ancestors who have preceded them. The discussion demonstrates how the film adopts storytelling procedures that reflect a distinctively Māori view of time and are designed to signify the presence of the mauri (or life force) in the Māori world.


Author(s):  
Minh-Tung Tran ◽  
◽  
Tien-Hau Phan ◽  
Ngoc-Huyen Chu ◽  
◽  
...  

Public spaces are designed and managed in many different ways. In Hanoi, after the Doi moi policy in 1986, the transfer of the public spaces creation at the neighborhood-level to the private sector has prospered na-ture of public and added a large amount of public space for the city, directly impacting on citizen's daily life, creating a new trend, new concept of public spaces. This article looks forward to understanding the public spaces-making and operating in KDTMs (Khu Do Thi Moi - new urban areas) in Hanoi to answer the question of whether ‘socialization’/privatization of these public spaces will put an end to the urban public or the new means of public-making trend. Based on the comparison and literature review of studies in the world on public spaces privatization with domestic studies to see the differences in the Vietnamese context leading to differences in definitions and roles and the concept of public spaces in KDTMs of Hanoi. Through adducing and analyzing practical cases, the article also mentions the trends, the issues, the ways and the technologies of public-making and public-spaces-making in KDTMs of Hanoi. Win/loss and the relationship of the three most important influential actors in this process (municipality, KDTM owners, inhabitants/citizens) is also considered to reconceptualize the public spaces of KDTMs in Hanoi.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-153
Author(s):  
Stephen N. Williams

RésuméL’encyclique papale Laudato Si’ traite de questions environnementales en proposant une synthèse de la foi et de la raison. Prenant en compte la variété des réactions à cette encyclique, l’auteur vise à adopter une approche indépendante de celle-ci. Après un exposé de sa synthèse, il avance qu’elle n’est pas pleinement convaincante parce qu’elle ne prend pas suffisamment en compte les objections rationnelles qui sont opposées à la vision chrétienne de la création et de l’eschatologie. Ce défaut affaiblit l’argumentation de l’encyclique. L’auteur met aussi en question l’usage insistant, dans l’encyclique, de la personnification pour décrire le monde, et sa tendance panenthéiste. On peut estimer et vouloir prendre soin du monde naturel sans décrire la relation de Dieu au monde dans les termes de Laudate Si’. Ces critiques viennent cependant dans un contexte de chaude appréciation du contenu de l’encyclique et d’une exhortation à prendre au sérieux l’exemple personnel de François d’Assise.SummaryThe Papal Encyclical Laudato Si’ approaches environmental questions by offering a synthesis of faith and reason. Acknowledging the range of responses which Laudato Si’ has received, this article tries to adopt an independent approach to the encyclical. After describing the synthesis, it argues that it is not entirely persuasive because the encyclical does not show enough awareness of rational objections that are brought against the Christian understanding of creation and of eschatology. This weakens the argument of the encyclical on its own terms. The article also raises questions about both Laudato Si’s emphasis on personified language to describe the world and its panentheism. We can value and care for the natural world without describing the relationship of God to the world in the terms of Laudato Si’. However, these criticisms are placed in a context of warm appreciation for the encyclical and an exhortation for us to take the personal example of Francis of Assisi seriously.ZusammenfassungDie päpstliche Enzyklika Laudato Si’ befasst sich mit Umweltfragen und bietet dabei eine Synthese von Glaube und Vernunft. Der vorliegende Artikel nimmt das weite Spektrum von Antworten wahr, welche Laudato Si’ hervorgerufen hat, doch er versucht, einen unabhängigen Ansatz im Blick auf die Enzyklika zu vertreten. Nach einer Beschreibung der obigen Synthese argumentiert er, dass diese nicht gänzlich überzeugt, weil die Enzyklika die rationalen Erwiderungen nicht ausreichend wahrnimmt, die dem christlichen Verständnis von Schöpfung und Eschatologie entgegengesetzt werden. Dadurch entkräftet die Enzyklika ihre eigene Argumentation. Der Artikel wirft des weiteren Fragen auf sowohl zum Schwerpunkt, den Laudato Si‘ auf eine personifizierte Sprache legt, mit der sie die Welt beschreibt, als auch zu ihrem Panentheismus. Wir können die natürliche Welt wertschätzen und Sorge für sie tragen, ohne dass wir die Beziehung Gottes zu dieser Welt mit den Worten von Laudato Si‘ beschreiben müssen. Gleichwohl ist diese Kritik eingebettet in eine wohlwollende Wertschätzung der Enzyklika und die gleichzeitige Ermahnung an uns, das persönliche Vorbild von Franz von Assisi ernst zu nehmen.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 5-16
Author(s):  
Piotr Skubała ◽  

Climate change caused by excessive emissions of greenhouse gases is becoming, along with excessive exploitation of the environment, agriculture and urbani-zation, one of the main threats to life on Earth and our civilization. Although we have known about the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and the rise of the average temperature on Earth since end of the 20th century, it was only after nearly 100 years that we took international action to reduce this phenomenon. We are looking at the closing window and the question arises whether we will be able to react and stave oȮ the climate crisis. We know what immediate actions are needed, but we do not take them. It seems that a neces-sary condition for doing the work of repairing the world is a complete change in the way we view the natural world. It must be based on relational thinking, emphasize mutual relationships, the interdependence of man and nature, hu-man beings and non-human beings.


Author(s):  
Midori Kagawa-Fox

A hybrid Japanese philosophy, integrating traditional Japanese Buddhist thought with the Western philosophical canon emerged during the twentieth century in response to the program of modernization instituted by the Maiji Restoration. Japanese culture, however, has been as important in shaping Japanese environmental ethics as have Japanese philosophical values. Japan has an extensive cultural heritage that has been built on mythology and folklore, and on religious beliefs and practices, and these ingredients have influenced the Japanese ethical consciousness. The indigenous Shinto religion, which evolved from animism, teaches that the ever-present kami (spirits) bind the Japanese to their environment. Their presence imparts a strong moral consciousness. Thus an understanding of the relationship of the kami to the Japanese people is essential for appreciating Japanese environmental ethics. Most Japanese have an intuitive belief in the kami that has been significant in forming their caring attitude toward the natural world.


Author(s):  
Giuseppe Mininni ◽  
Amelia Manuti

AbstractThis paper integrates contributions coming from psychology with a phenomenological and semiotic perspective and focuses on the relationship of reciprocal constitution between “Subject” and “Object.” This relationship is evoked through radically different concepts such as the notions of “experience,” “consciousness” and “embodiment,” focusing attention on “discourse” as a macro-procedure generating the mutual link between Subject and Object. Therefore, the relationship between subject and object is identifiable through the text, namely “diatext.” It will be further argued that human beings act as “diatexters” of their existence in the world. Accordingly, psycho-discursive practices have the performative power to constitute both objects and subjects because they offer a creative solution by interlacing the “Body-Mind-Problem” to the “Mind-Culture-Problem.” In detail, the discursive resource granted by metaphors may be recognized as a modelling matrix embodying thought, as the interweaving of conceptual fields and as reasoning processes.


Author(s):  
John White

This chapter considers The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) in relation to its use of the key Christian concepts of forgiveness of sins and redemption. The central focus of Three Burials is seen as being its recourse to Christian ideas, not only in relation to eternal spiritual questions regarding the relationship of human beings to an all-powerful deity but also in relation to the contemporary historical/political moment. This chapter considers two types of detachment from the world: one in which the individual lives their life in a state of indifference and the other in which the individual exists within a space of thoughtful contemplation. The film moves away from the more normal Hollywood consideration of the world as a space for the contest between good and evil to encourage viewers to question the way in which the Mexican ‘Other’ is (and, by extension, all ‘Others’ are) viewed within the U.S. and represented within the media. Ultimately, however, it is argued the film neglects to consider the economics that underpins the contemporary political situation.


Author(s):  
Elif Ulker-Demirel

In today's conditions, human beings live in an environment where borders disappear; the center of life becomes “the speed,” and they adopt technology very quickly. There are more than three billion internet users around the world, and the daily data generated on the internet is continuously increasing. In this environment, communication channels are changing to keep up with all these technological and individual transformations. This transformation also breaks the rules of the game for companies and brands. Today's consumers are demanding personalized products and services. Besides, they demand the relationship of the brands to themselves, the communication tools they use and the advertising narrative are personal, and they want to be part of this story. This situation leads to differentiation of advertising and other means of communication, and the concept of digital marketing is moving to a different dimension.


Horizons ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-21
Author(s):  
Belden C. Lane

AbstractMother Earth is often revered as a goddess in world mythology, but seldom recognized as also an important metaphor in the biblical theology of Old and New Testaments. The image of the earth as grieving mother is a recurrent theme, used in Scripture to symbolize the movement from tragedy and loss to the beginnings of hope. It is an image rich in implications for a theological approach to ecological questions, a search for human and sexual wholeness in a technological age, and a study of the relationship of biblical thought to the universal process of mythogenesis. More than this, however, it touches most deeply the human quest for the lost mother and the role of Christ's passion in the renewal of spiritual connectedness to the natural world.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoran Ćurguz ◽  
Dragoljub Mirjanić

The paper analyzes the relationship of short-lived progenies of radon and thoron decay. Concentration of progenies is expressed as equilibrium equivalent concentration of EETC (equilibrium equivalent concentration of thoron) and EERC (equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon) abbreviated (EEТC/ EERC). Мeasuring of radon and thoron progenies was carried out in 25 schools in the territory of the City of Banja Luka using CR -39 (RADUET) detectors. Detectors were exposed for six months and were set in the staff room at the height of 30 cm from the ceiling in internal wall. The relationship is determined (EEТC/ EERC) and comparison carried out of obtained results with the world standards, and then the correlation coefficient between radon and thoron was determined.


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