Peace and the Planet: Finding Our Way Back

Abstract

Peace on Earth has often been elusive, with more times on Earth spent at war rather than peace. This paper examines the nature of peace with its antithesis of war, focussing on the impact of war on the planet, which is not a primary consideration when war is waged. War leaves negative planetary legacies, which are of major concerns in times of population growth whilst living on a finite planet. Who should be responsible for planetary impact of war is considered, with some focus on government and other organisations. Collaborative strategies for caring for the planet through guidelines and level of departments of defence and national law-making organisations at national levels are discussed, as well as overviewing the focus and role of the United Nations and the associated Sustainability Goals. The paper concludes by suggesting that a more powerful way to influence us in our responsibilities to live peacefully, rather than a virtuous ‘should not’ approach, is the need to shift back to a moral positioning in our perspectives as humans being part of the ecosystem, so that we view ourselves as being at one with all life. In this perspective, if we incur harm to this planet, we are harming ourselves. Suggestions for living in a more peaceful way are drawn from indigenous wisdom and spiritual teachers, particularly the current Pope Francis.

Citation

Pierce, J. (2020), "Peace and the Planet: Finding Our Way Back", Schwartz, M., Harris, H., Highfield, C. and Breakey, H. (Ed.) Educating for Ethical Survival (Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations, Vol. 24), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-209620200000024003