There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the Sun. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Articles

Eco intelligence

Dear Friends

Our society is embarking on yet another inquiry to determine the truth with regard to the conflicts of our era and the role played by organisations like MI5 and CIA - so called agencies of intelligence.

Howard Gardner has contributed much to our understanding through his advocacy of multiple intelligences from which Daniel Goleman popularised our perspective on Emotional Intelligence. In most cases 'intelligence' refers to the innate ability of people as diverse individuals. Goleman has recently introduced the idea of Ecological Intelligence. He observes that most species broaden their awareness, and overcome their limitations through cooperative venture, in which information flows unhindered for the common good.  Ecological threats are for the most part, subtle, gradual, corrosive and cumulative. The only way that we can exercise eco-intelligence is through transparent impact disclosing networks with regard to every step in the supply chain of every product.

Virtually everything we buy and consume, even products said to be green, have tortuous supply chains that include toxic chemical processes followed by dead end disposal options.

For instance:  A white cotton T shirt requires 2700 litres to grow. Cotton crops account for 10% of the worlds use of pesticides. Soil polluted with organo-phosphates needs 5 years to recuperate. At harvest the crop is sprayed with defoliants, most of which will end up in the water systems. If the shirt is dyed, it will be exposed to a cocktail of toxic chemicals and metals that are potentially carcinogenic. Following this, the shirt will be shipped on a journey equivalent to a third of the earths circumference before reaching our supermarket.

How can we know the implications of every item we buy? Such research is beyond even the most encyclopaedic of our geniuses. Our only recourse is to affiliate with others intent on doing good. Eco-intelligence is the property of communities.

I was reflecting on this during the presentation of our church officer list last Sabbath. Can you imagine -270 roles to run one church! What is really going on? Sure, it takes a lot of effort to run a diverse church, but more than this, our church is an entity for good with a collective consciousness that broadens the wisdom and intelligence available to the whole.

Indeed, our calling is not just to warn of end-time gloom, rather our task is to embrace the creative stewardship assigned to us in 'that garden' and live our lives in a sustainable manner knowing both good and evil.

"Night watchman! How long till daybreak?, How long will this night last?" [12] The night watchman calls back, "Morning's coming, But for now it's still night. If you ask me again, I'll give the same answer."      Isaiah 21:11-12 (The Message BiblegB)


May God continue to bless your efforts as His watchman.


Best regards


Victor