Hana Librová
Český originál:
Věrní a Rozumní: Kapitoly o Ekologické Zpozdilosti
The book Faithful and Sensible: Chapters on Ecological Delay, published in 2016, is the third part of a trilogy on ecologically friendly ways of life by Czech biologist, sociologist and environmentalist Hana Librová. It deals with fidelity to nature, voluntary frugality and environmental responsibility. It is a continuation of the previous titles Pestří a zelení and Vlažní a váhaví.
The book is divided into five chapters. In the first chapter, the author discusses the general definition of ecological tardiness. The second chapter focuses on fidelity to nature, its meaning and manifestations. The third chapter focuses on voluntary frugality, its causes and consequences. The fourth chapter analyses environmental responsibility, its forms and challenges. The fifth chapter summarizes the main conclusions of the book.
In the first chapter, the author defines ecological lag as the inability of a society or individual to accept and implement the changes needed to protect the environment. Ecological lag can have various causes, for example:
- Ignorance or unawareness of environmental problems.
- Egoism or self-centeredness that leads to a preference for self-interest over environmental concern.
- Institutional or political obstacles that prevent the implementation of environmental measures.
In the second chapter, the author focuses on loyalty to nature, which, according to her, is the basis of an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Fidelity to nature means respect for the laws of nature and striving for a harmonious relationship between man and nature. The author states that fidelity to nature can manifest itself in various ways, for example:
- By choosing environmentally friendly ways of living, for example, through diet, travel or consumption.
- By participating in environmental activities, such as volunteering or political engagement.
- Changing your own thinking and behaviour, for example by reducing consumption or reducing the use of fossil fuels.
In chapter three, the author discusses voluntary frugality, which is a self-conscious decision to live a simpler and less consumerist life. Voluntary frugality can be motivated by various factors, for example:
- Ecological reasons, i.e. the desire to reduce the impact of one’s life on the environment.
- Economic reasons, i.e. the desire to save money or reduce the cost of living.
- Ethical reasons, i.e. trying to live in accordance with one’s own values.
In Chapter 4, the author discusses environmental responsibility, which is a responsible attitude towards the environment. Environmental responsibility can take different forms, for example:
- Protecting the environment, such as conservation of nature, energy conservation, or reducing waste production.
- Sustainable development, i.e. development that provides for the needs of present generations without compromising the needs of future generations.
- Environmental justice, i.e. an approach that respects the rights of all people to a clean environment.
In Chapter 5, the author summarises the main conclusions of the book. She argues that environmental lag is a serious problem that threatens the future of humanity. However, the author believes that there is hope that people can change and adopt a responsible attitude towards the environment.
The book Faithful and Sane: Chapters on Ecological Delay is an important contribution to the discussion on environmentally friendly ways of living. The book provides a comprehensive view of the phenomenon and its challenges.