Eco-Spirituality and Environmental Justice

Answer

Eco-spirituality is a concept that denotes the idea of connecting or linking science, especially ecology, to both religious and non-religious beliefs (Elizabeth, p. 150). It creates a working system between religion and environmental conservancy to find lasting solutions to environmental problems or challenges. Proponents of eco-spirituality come from different religious backgrounds, including Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Considering that religion teaches about the need to preserve the environment as a Godly command, most believers find it necessary to conserve the same to discharge their duties to God (Elizabeth pg. 150). On the other side, environmental justice refers to the ability of social workers to redress the impacts of environmental damage and climate change to humanity (Koenig pg.180). It might essentially mean the acknowledgement of the impacts of environmental change on human activities and life, and finding a solution to the same. This essay evaluates the doctrine of eco-spirituality and environmental justice. \

           Before this week`s lesson, I had not come across the concept of eco-spirituality. The lessons came in handy by promoting awareness of the concept and its application by the social workers across the country and even in some sections of the world. The idea that environmental conservancy can work best when combined with spirituality actually sounds reasonable, even though it is not highly pronounced in the public domain (Lichtenberg, 2019). However, environmental justice is a concept that I had come across on various platforms, including school and also as discussed in the media. Environmental justice has been an imperative idea, especially in promoting a clean and healthy environment for all. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice implies “Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies” (Lichtenberg 2019)

           Malden, Massachusetts, experiences several environmental issues that call for immediate action and remedy. Accordingly, one of the leading environmental issues in Malden, Massachusetts, is air pollution (Lichtenberg, 2019). The countless numbers of vehicles, especially Encore’s branded vehicles, emit greenhouse gases that interfere with the environment in the locality. Even though the local government proposed the need for the public to use shuttles and leave their cars at home, the idea has not worked, and air pollution continues to be worse. According to x, “the idea behind the shuttles is a good one: to discourage people from taking their own cars and clogging up nearby neighborhoods with traffic and exhaust fumes” noise pollution is also another environmental issue in Malden, Massachusetts, arising from the shuttles and other factories in the locality (Lichtenberg, 2019).  However, the local government came up with bylaws that forbid hooting, whistling, and any other form of noise-making between 9 pm and 7 am hence reducing pollution, but the same still remains rampant during the day.

           The natural environment intertwines with ethical and social works practice in Malden, Massachusetts. Social work promotes the conservation of the environment by creating awareness of the need and benefits of clean and healthy environments. Besides, ethical practices like tree planting and reduction of noise pollution have been some of the most notable practices in Malden, Massachusetts, when it comes to conserving the environment and eliminating the pollution. For instance, the city has come with certain legislation that attempts to reduce noise pollution while also encouraging people to use shuttles or public transport to reduce the amount of gas emissions into the environment.  Such policies intertwine with the natural environment and help preserve both the present and future generations (Lichtenberg, 2019). Moreover, the local government also funds several social work programs in the area of environmental conservation. 

           Social workers can take certain actions to draw attention to the plight of people, especially the marginalized, with respect to environmental conservation. One of the actions is advocacy and demonstrations against environmental rights violations (Wapner, 2017). The government is likely to take note of such demonstrations and respond accordingly. Besides, advocacy and demonstrations do prick the government`s attention and other non-governmental organizations and the international community where the violation is grave and of high magnitude. Moreover, social workers can also create awareness through training about environmental rights violations to sensitize the people about the same. This would encourage such communities to stand up against violations of their rights by various entities regarding environmental rights (Wapner, 2017). Also, social workers can invite the media to capture various stories and make documentaries on environmental degradation; for example, social workers in Melda, Massachusetts, can do documentaries on noise and pollution in the city to attract the government`s attention to the the light of such citizens. Such practices would qualify as environmental justice actions since they advance environmental equity. 

               Social workers can also take certain initiatives to promote eco-spirituality in society, especially in Melda, Massachusetts, to promote the culture of eco-spirituality. Essentially, a social worker intending to promote eco-spirituality must ensure he or she respects the religious beliefs of all religions to whom he intends to introduce the idea (Elizabeth pg. 152). He should also be more than willing to learn the religious beliefs of such groups and their significance to their members. Such practice would endear the social worker to the members of the particular religion and make them more accommodative and willing to enact the practice of eco-spirituality. Such a social worker must also take care to maintain clarity concerning his role as an eco-spirituality advocate so that the members get to understand him more (Elizabeth pg. 152) Besides, the social worker must first critically analyze his biases and values towards such religions before advocating for eco-spirituality. Without doing so, it might undermine his objectivity and effectiveness.

           Similarly, a social worker must apply the necessary knowledge and skills to impart interventions that are spiritually driven when dealing with environmental conservation issues. This is necessary considering that not all social workers are religious individuals (Elizabeth pg. 152). However, even though they might be atheists, it would only be prudent to acquaint themselves with such skills to influence people from various religious backgrounds to adopt eco-spirituality for the conservation of the natural environment. The social worker must also seek to understand the positive and negative roles that religion plays in conserving the environment before accepting to implement or enforce eco-spirituality (Elizabeth. Pg. 152). Lastly, social workers in eco-spirituality need to conduct a religious assessment of various doctrines from particular religions that impact eco-spirituality in one way or the other.  

           In conclusion, whereas environmental justice implies the coming together of various individuals from various backgrounds to implement policies towards environmental conservation, eco-spirituality combines science and religion to help in the preservation of the environment. Melda Massachusetts has faced various environmental issues like noise and air pollution for so many years, despite the local government’s attempt to formulate policies to redress the same. Some of such policies have included encouraging people to use public transport and other bylaws concerning noise-making in the locality. Lastly, this essay also evaluates some of the key features that a social worker keen on implementing eco-spirituality measures needs to observe. They include the need to respect such religions and their teachings, be objective, and learn and understand such religions.