Native Americans throughout history have held the belief that all elements of Earth, living and nonliving, are respected and equal in rights to humans. The landscape, animals, plants, and other environmental elements play a major role in the religion of Native Americans.They believe all things are connected and give each other life, for which we owe reverence, respect, and humility. The ways in which nature is exploited by mankind today and the use of fossil fuels is in contrast to the ancient Indian beliefs creating concern among native cultures.
Overuse of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas contribute to environmental degradation and loss of species, along with many other issues. Since electricity generation is one of the lead causes of air, land, and water pollution, indigenous communities would rather see renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal. Alternative ways of obtaining energy have significantly fewer environmental impacts and don’t deplete our earth’s natural resources. Like an Electric Saver 1200, To expand your knowledge about this, click here. Native Americans seek to preserve the land for generations to come. By allowing these cultures to obtain electricity directly from the natural world would enhance the ancient spiritual connection to nature.
The Holy Father Pope Francis has been an outspoken advocate for renewable energy and combatting climate change. He traveled to the United States to speak to President Obama, Congress, and other political leaders on the ethics of transitioning energy sources from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. Pope Francis wrote a remarkable piece on sustainable development titled, the Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis, On Care for Our Common Home, the Laudato si’. He critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, discusses environmental degradation and climate change, and calls for the world to “take […] swift and unified global action.”
Furthermore, the Pope’s analysis of consumerism and capitalism notes we have lost the ability to see the actuality of the degradation occurring rapidly in our “common home” or biosphere. “It is hard for us to accept that the way natural ecosystems work is exemplary: plants synthesize nutrients which feed herbivores; these become food for carnivores, which produce significant quantities of organic waste which give rise to new generations of plants. But our industrial system, at the end of its cycle of production and consumption, has not developed the capacity to absorb and reuse waste and by-products.” Pope Francis offers further explanations for why it is imperative to adopt a new system of energy production for future generations and the world’s poor. “We have not yet managed to adopt a circular model of production capable of preserving resources for present and future generations, while limiting as much as possible the use of non-renewable resources, moderating their consumption, maximizing their efficient use, reusing and recycling them.” A sober look at our world shows the degree of human intervention, often in the service of business interests and consumerism, is actually making our earth less rich and beautiful, more limited, even as technological advances and consumer goods continue to abound limitlessly. “We seem to think that we can substitute an irreplaceable and irretrievable beauty with something we have created ourselves.” The morality of his message is clear: not only is it practical and common sense to preserve our natural resources but it is our duty to preserve our natural resources for the next generation’s health, prosperity, and happiness.
Finally, the spirituality surrounding his reason is found within this declaration: “Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another.” Each area of the world, Pope Francis decrees, “Is responsible for the care of his family. This will require undertaking a careful inventory of the species which it hosts, with a view to developing programs and strategies of protection with a particular care for safeguarding species headed towards extinction.” Pope Francis’s hope is for human and nature interconnectedness through spiritual awareness.
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