A workshop on ‘Ecology and the Economy’ was led twice by Robert Cochran at Eco-Congregation Ireland’s inaugural conference. The following is a summary provided by Robert:
It is clear that we face two potentially major crises in today’s world – environmental and economic. In this workshop we sought to explore the fact that these are not two separate issues, but indeed have common roots and are inter-related.
Neither are they new phenomena, but are the products of mismanagement and short-sightedness going back, in its current form, at least several decades – allied perhaps to the absorption of a perverse and unchristian ideology by society, perhaps done unintentionally by most people. This was the focus of the discussion arising during the workshops on this topic.
Some of the key points touched on during the presentation and discussion were:-
- Both the major economic problems and the environmental crisis stem from both a failure to recognise that resources are limited, but also from an assumption that ever increasing consumption is good, or at least, not harmful. We reflected on the ‘casino capitalism’ of the investment side of the banks, and also the very rapid decline in the Arctic sea ice as examples.
- How do we define a theology of ‘enough’? We reflected on the difficultly of living more simply, but realistically, in today’s complex world. Is sustainable development, as distinct from a focus on growth alone, possible – especially considering the wider world situation? How do we ensure that society maintains a careful balance, which is fair to all both at home and internationally, which is sustainable? A greater level of equality was recognised as one part of the way forward in this regard.
- Can the churches provide moral leadership in these areas, or are they compromised by their actions? Or by their inaction? Such a moral leadership could be particularly important given that many politicians seemed to have lost any vision for a society, and that the implicit social contract between the people and the politicians seems to have broken down.
Robert Cochran is a member of the executive committee of the Irish Council of Churches (and its treasurer) and also serves on the Irish Inter-Church Committee and its Church in Society Forum. As the past chair of the Forum, he initiated the launch of Eco-Congregation Ireland. By profession, he is a chartered statistician and chartered engineer, with a career in technology and management, including being an advisor to the Irish Government, the EU Commission, the OECD and UN agencies. He now provides management and strategic support for a number of charities and voluntary bodies.