CREATING AN ETHICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

Human dignity is diminished whenever people are merely used as a means to an end and then discarded. Similarly, if we merely use the bounty of the earth for short-term ends, we not only deplete our resources, we endanger humanity by destroying the delicate balance of nature upon which we depend for our health, the quality of our lives, and the survival of all life on this planet.

The Reagan administration is developing a policy which threatens existing safeguards to the environment. This policy we believe: is shortsighted. Any benefits achieved today by these methods will only be at the expense of future generations.

To exploit the earth's resources will mean a future of scarcity for our children. To pollute the environment will mean a future of suffering and disease. To ignore that we share a common environment is to create a tragic world in which we do violence to one another's well-being. We want a world where we can live in harmony with nature in a way which results in life and health for us all and we charge our government to institute policies to realize this ideal.

Adopted by the American Ethical Union Assembly in Madison, New Jersey, 1981

Source: AEU 73rd Annual Assembly Memo [job14scan]

Copyright © 2001 American Ethical Union.
Single copies of material on this website may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. All other rights reserved.