Ecological Crises and Responses- Scientific and Spiritual Perspectives on Breath of Earth and Depth of Life

About the Book Dr. Sony Chundattu, through this book, helps us to rethink about our existence in this universe not as a problem but as a provider of solution and hope.... This book is indeed documentation and rational analysis of the present crisis and how to move forward rationally, ethically and spiritually to exist, co-exist and pro-exist. I congratulate Dr. Sony Chundattu for coming up at this critical juncture with the precious book "Breath of Earth, Depth of Life" which will definitely enable us to breathe smoothly and encounter our life in this universe as a custodian rather than an annihilator!

About the Author Dr. Sony J. Chundattu, CMI is the Director of Christ College, Pune, and author of the book Calotropis - An Elixir for Liver. He is conferred with FELLOW award from IBRF for his outstanding contribution in the field of Academic Administration. He is also the recipient of Golden Award of Human Excellence for Global Peace from United Nations University for Global Peace - USA and World Peace Excellence Award 2018 from World Achievers Foundation, Kolkata.

Foreword It was at the apex of the glorification of science and technology, the infinitesimal Corona Virus struck mischievously at human's inflated ego and power over nature. At present, in an unprecedented way people all over the world were confined to their own houses canceling the international flights. closing all the public institutions like schools, malls, churches, offices, etc., tightening the control at the borders irrespective of local, national or global, covering the whole body with air tight equipments just like the astronauts and making the medical establishment baffled and bewildered without knowing how to treat the patients and how the virus is spreading like a wild fire eliminating elderly and the people affected with some serious diseases inflicting fear, psychosis and helplessness on people and Governments irrespective of developed or underdeveloped.

Awe, respect, wonder and other human qualitative dimensions were there originally when human encountered nature. However, gradually the alienation from nature evolved into arrogance because of simply relaying on reason which enabled the development of science and technology that was utilized to control and dominate nature. The Newtonian science emphatically became the underpinning force to develop a mechanistic and deterministic model of nature which led to the use, abuse and misuse of nature. However, these prime qualities were gradually eroded through the development of science and technology. An aura of arrogance and dominance infiltrated the humans and nature was demoted to mere matter to be expiated for the human greed. Rational, philosophical and theological interpretations basing on even scriptures were introduced to give credence for the manipulation and exploitation of the nature. Globalization mixed with consumerism led by greed and market forces catapulted by science and technology pervaded over the human race which polluted the water, air, earth and space in an unprecedented way.

Preface "In as much as we all generate small ecological damage, we are called to acknowledge our contribution, smaller or greater, to the disfigurement and destruction of creation," says Pope Francis. It also recalls his words in the Encyclical Laudato Si: "The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together, we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation." These words of Pope Francis inspired me to take up this book project. We know that we have been estranged from the nature, and that is the real tragedy of today. "Care for our common home" demands an ecological conversion, a moral rootedness and spiritual depth, which in turn, would lead to religious openness, economic restructuring and political commitment.

A few words on the title of this book, Ecological Crises and Responses: Scientific and Spiritual Perspectives on Breath of Earth and Depth of Life. The Earth and Faith part is inspired by Pope Francis' Encyclical 'Laudato Si': Our Care for the Common Home. The Breadth and Depth part is inspired by Indian born Stanford neurosurgeon's When Breath Becomes Air. Paul Kalanithi wrote this book in his mid-thirties when he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer! How can we collectively prevent the breath of the air from becoming inanimate air? By recognizing the depth of our life and experiencing the beauty of our collective (religious or spiritual) search, we can try to respond to the ecological crisis both scientifically and spiritually.

So this book is a modest attempt to see the soul of our economic and ecological crisis and solution. The soul is intimately connected with the moral and spiritual awakening we need collectively. Only that soul can demand from us renunciation and sacrifice that humanity needs in order to resolve the problems of climate crises and mass extinction.

The content in this book is derived from numerous reliable and verified internet resources and has been checked for authenticity and originality. Scholarly views of the authors, through these internet sources has helped in the compilation of the book and has further contributed to various initiatives and perspectives towards a solution in saving the earth.

Introduction "The external deserts in the world are growing because the internal deserts have become so vast" (Benedict XVI 2005, 710). This is a book with the modest aim of making ourselves aware of the seriousness of climate crisis and sixth mass extinction. It also proposes the need for both moral and spiritual responses to solve this crisis. All of us are aware that we need the political will and the economic means to face the great crisis that confronts us daily.

The situation is dangerous. The Guardian Newspaper recommends terms such as 'climate crisis and 'global heating. The Guardian has recently updated its style guide to introduce words that more accurately describe the environmental crisis facing the world (Carrington 2019), Instead of the neural "climate change" the preferred terms are "climate emergency, crisis or breakdown" and "global heating" is favored over "global warming" (Carrington 2019), although the original words are not always banned.

"We want to ensure that we are being scientifically precise, while also communicating clearly with readers on this very important issue," said the editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner. "The phrase 'climate change', for example, sounds rather passive and gentle when what scientists are talking about is a catastrophe for humanity" (Carrington 2019). She quotes Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teen environmental activist who has inspired school strikes for climate around the globe: "It's 2019. Can we all now call it what it is: climate breakdown, climate crisis, climate emergency, ecological breakdown, ecological crisis and ecological emergency?" (Carrington 2019).

Similarly, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, talked of the "climate crisis" in September 2019, adding: "We face a direct existential threat" (Carrington 2019). The climate scientist, Prof Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, a former Adviser to Angela Merkel, the European Union and the Pope, also prefer to use the term "climate crisis".

Further, Prof Richard Betts, Leader of London Met Office's Climate Research, maintained that "global heating" was a more accurate term than "global warming" to describe the changes taking place in the world's climate.

**Contents and Sample Pages**