Summit County Citizens Voice

Kathleen Dean Moore, a University of Oregon philosophy professor who edited a recent collection of essays describing the moral side of the global warming debate.

New collection of essays outlines our obligation to act in consideration of future generations

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Along with compelling scientific and economic reasons for acting to stem global warming, the issue has a moral dimension, according to political and academic leaders who contributed to a collection of essays recently published under the title Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril.

“The national discourse on climate disruption and other environmental emergencies has centered on the scientific, technological and economic aspects … But wise moral decisions and personal integrity will be the foundations for moving forward,” said Oregon State University philosophy professor Kathleen Dean Moore, who edited the book, along with Michael P. Nelson, of Michigan State University.

The book features a foreword by Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu, who writes, “We are called to understand that climate change is a moral challenge. . . We are called to honor our duties of justice . . . We are called to honor our duties of compassion . . . Climate change is real. It has begun.”

Contributors to the book include President Barack Obama and Iran’s first female vice president, Massoumeh Ebtekar. Writers Barbara Kingsolver, Wendell Berry and Daniel Quinn also contributed, as did religious leaders, including Pope John Paul II and the Dalai Lama. “Moral Ground” also features essays from journalists, including Thomas Friedman and Alan Weisman.

As a basis for the essays, Moore asked contributors to answer this question: “Do we have a moral obligation to the future to leave a world as rich in possibilities as the world we live in?”

The answer, Moore said, was a resounding yes.  Yes, “for the sake of the children.” Yes, “to honor God’s creation.” Yes, “to lead lives of integrity.”  Yes, for 14 different but equally powerful reasons.

Moore’s own essay, “The Call to Forgiveness at the End of the Day, describes watching as the animal life of her neighborhood pond disappears. “How will they forgive us for letting frog-song slip away?” she asks. “When my granddaughter looks back at me, I will be on my knees, begging her to say I did all I could. I didn’t do all I could.”

Moore said she hopes the release of  “Moral Ground” will spur a national discussion of the moral significance of the environmental crisis. In the fall, the editors will travel to 20 cities to lead town-hall meetings that bring neighbors into conversation about the truly difficult moral questions at the heart of all human-caused environmental emergencies.

“In these times, people are often reluctant to engage in public moral discourse,” she said. “We need to rediscover the art of the respectful and constructive exchange of ideas. How do you support your moral beliefs with reasons?”

Moore elaborated: “The book takes on this challenge, suggesting many reasons to believe we are called to moral action. Each book section offers a different reason, and each ends with a list of actions a person might take in response to that call. We hope that these town halls will inspire a new surge of civil dialogue about our moral responsibilities, and action as well.”

Even as they lead these discussions, Moore and Nelson ask others to prompt similar conversations across the country.  “Moral Ground” provides a richness of ideas from a wide variety of points of view – poet Gary Snyder, Inuit leader Sheila Watt-Cloutier, spiritual leader Thich Naht Hanh, scientists E.O. Wilson and Ming Xu, activists Wangari Maathai and Bill McKibben, scholar and writer Gary Paul Nabhan, and dozens more.

For those who would like to organize discussions and activities in their own communities, the project website, http://www.moralground.com, offers meeting outlines, music, and  essays by leading visionaries David W. Orr, Stephanie Mills, and others.

“Moral Ground” is published by Trinity University Press.  All of the contributors donated their work to the book. Co-editors Moore and Nelson will donate all their royalties to climate action.

Filed under: Environment, global warming, Summit County Colorado Tagged: | Barack Obama, Bill McKibben, climate change, Desmond Tutu, Environment, global warming, Kathleen Dean Moore, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News, Wendell Berry