Page 42 - Annales EH 1998-2018

The Polish Federation for Life

Polish Academy of Sciences, Dialogue and Universalism, Metaphilosophy as the Wisdom of Science ,
Art and Life”, no. 4-5/2002. - “ Zielone Brygady”, nr 4(149)/2000, 16-29.2.2000

Appeal for Ecohumanism
and the Creation of Information Basis for Sustainable Development

To all people of good will!

We speak to you because we are concerned about the fate of the Human Race and of the
Earth. The World is in crisis.

We are exploiting our natural resources of minerals and fuels faster than we are gaining
access to alternative sources. We are polluting the natural environment and soil faster than
the environment can regenerate itself to reach the level suitable for human needs.
Depreciation (devaluation) - moral degradation of the existing forms of living - is going
on faster than new forms, consistent with new living conditions for humans and for nature,
are being introduced. This situation is complicated also due to demographic expansion,
especially in those parts of the human family that are lagging in their development.

This crisis results mainly in lack of adjustment of two dominating systems - the system of
values and the economic system - to the contemporary state of changes in the living
conditions of humans and nature. These changes are proceeding very fast with the
development of science and technology.

At the same time, there is no absolute deficit of material resources (minerals, fuels,
ecological resources). However there is a lack of knowledge, technology, active
intellectual potential and human conscience, and time - the factors that are necessary for
limiting the futile utilization of scarce resources, as well as for developing alternative
sources, whilst the resources which are currently under exploitation are being drained.

This crisis not only constitutes a serious hazard for everybody; it also constitutes an
opportunity. This opportunity will occur if we carry out a radical reconstruction of the

mentality and social relations, which could create the possibility for sustainable
development.

Currently two methods of overcoming the global crisis seem to be possible.

The first, traditional method is based on decreasing the number of consumers of the
resources that are in deficit. This method represents a pathology of social Darwinism -
eco-fascism that leads to ecological holocaust of the weak, and subsequently - to the
extinction of all humans.

The second method is based on the popularization of intellectual creative activity aimed at
the common good and supported by science and high technology. This would be an
ecohumanistic method.

Ecohumanism is a partnership-based co-operation for the common good of all people