Page - 35 - in Water, Energy, and Environment - A Primer

tooreal is that there isoftena largegapbetweenwhat ispreached andwhat is practiced. How is this harmony described in other than Judaism and Christianity? Buddhism emphasizes the interconnectedness of nature and life – damage done to our environment is also done to us. Concern for nature in Hinduism reflects the social thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, sometimes referred to as the ‘father of Indian environmentalism’. He argued that ‘environmental sustainability and social inequalities should be managed in similar fashions’ (21). Islam treats the environment as sacred and argues that people, as trustees of God, are responsible for protecting the world and its variety of life. Similar messages can be found in the teachings of Taoism, Jainism, andAnimism. Has this common ethic of harmony with nature impacted our use of energy? Firewood has long been a source of energy for individuals and communities, requiring the cutting of trees. In old Muslim cemeteries in Pakistan ancient trees can still be found because they are not allowed to be cut. Similar prohibitions have protected an ancient Maronite forest in Lebanon.Monasteries in Thailand have been built byMonks in endangered forests tomake them sacred and safe from logging. The Sikh community in India is reducing its use of fossil fuels in their temples. The Church of Germany has installed solar panels on 300 churches and helped other organizations switch to solar. And as we advance further into the 21st century, protection of the environment has become a powerful political force, as reflected by the energy revolution that is currently underway. Energyproductionand its consequences 35