eco-logikal: We must care for the Earth

2011/03/13

AZHARI-KARIM, Associate professor and director, Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang

letters@nst.com

THE earthquake that hit Sendai in Japan and the consequent tsunami that brought further calamities to the earthquake-hit areas show the precise and exacting quality of nature when it chooses to strike with determinate force.

One can only witness its awesome power that destroys everything in its way.

It is a reminder of how small we are in the eyes of the Creator and our miniscule role at stewardship of all things created.

What is amazing to observe is the celebration of the spirit of international partnership, evident in the assistance that is being offered by many countries to the Japanese.

It is also the moment to remind ourselves of the commitment our government has made, together with other governments, in realising the aims and principles of the Earth Charter.

The Earth Charter, developed as a follow-up to the Earth Summit in 1992, remains the only hope by which we, as citizens of the world, can commit ourselves to the realisation of a sustainable future on Earth.

How this is done is listed in the four principles stated in the document: respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, social and economic justice, and democracy, non-violence and peace.

Only in this way can we contextualise the wrath of nature and tamper its excesses.

Our responsibility comes from our actions to help the Earth's life-support systems, including the capacity of the ecosystems to provide clean air and more sustainable ways of living.

The values that the Earth Charter wants to see inculcated in our citizens, both young and old, need to be made as the principal part of our education policy.