Planet earth is our ancestral home and our legacy to the future. The earth is considered one of the most beautiful planets in the universe. It is the only planet in our galaxy that has enough water and can support life. Our ultimate goal should be to make earth a place where human beings live in harmony with the nature, but look at our shortsightedness; we are ourselves creating problems for our survival on this earth. Massive extinctions have occurred five times during the earth’s history, the last one being the extinction of dinosaurs, 65 million years ago. The scientists are calling what is occurring now, the sixth mass extinction.
Although they are uncertain of the numbers, most scientists believe that the rate of loss is greater now than any other time in the history. If this nature of human beings persists soon there would be no humans on this earth. It is high time we all joined hands to work towards solving this issue before it get too late. Our technological advances in the last couple of centuries have caused unforeseen problems, and events now seem out of control. Apart from the basic major problems that are facing our world today like pollution, population, animal extinction and global warming which has resulted to climate change, there are unforeseen problems which at the moment are not bothering us enough to demand a united effort from the mankind to plan actions in advance to avert them or fight them if they happen.
In an effort to save and preserve planet earth, our ancestral home and heritage to the future, one indispensable step will be to ensure the transition of the so called scientific or industrial world to the appealing reign of the Ecological Age. There is already a felt-need for the pertinent re-appraisal of the existing concepts of the Earth to make it a home for human beings. Ralph Metzner has been one of the foremost advocator’s of the transition to the Ecological Age, which he thought will put an end to global environmental crisis. As he proposed it, the transition to an ecological way of thinking or systemic relationship thinking, involves a revolutionary change and he puts forward some guiding principles to ensure his vision for the future. These principles are in contrast to the traditional concept of world which gave rise to the modern and industrial worldview.
The modern, industrial worldview was shaped by the scientific revolution of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and the industrial revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth. The outlines of an ecological worldview are being articulated in the natural sciences, the social sciences, and in philosophy and religious thought. (Ralph Metzner, “Transition to an Ecological Age, from: Ralph Metzner, Green Psychology: Transforming Our Relationship to the Earth. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 1999, pages 171–182.) It is apparent that Metzner’s vision for the future is related with the ecological worldview which he articulated using his major principles that are developed upon the natural sciences, the social sciences, and philosophy and religious thoughts. His principles concerning the future of the world very well explicates the most suitable and desirable ways of saving the Earth.
From the scientific point of view, he appeals for an organismic world in place of mechanomorphic universe and a non-linear dynamics instead of linear causality. From the epistemological worldview, he stands for critical realism, constructivism, and reduction and integration in opposition to logical positivism, operationalism and reductionism respectively. However, the views regarding the role of human contribute heavily to his vision foe the future. Thus, living as part of nature, co-evolution, ecological consciousness, biocentric and ecocentric living, instead of the conquest and control of the nature, heroic individualism, anthropocentric living can be the desirable ways of life. His ideology concerning the human relationship to land seems to be the most convincing.
“In relation to the land,” Metzner remarks, “the Western industrial-technological worldview is fundamentally based on the notion of property and ownership. Land exists to be used and developed, for farming, herding, building, and so on… Indigenous cultures such as the Native American have had a very different relationship to the land—more akin to stewardship—with a profound respect for place and the sacredness of certain particular places of power… Today, the bioregional movement advocates a return to an appreciation of the natural (e.g., watershed) boundaries of a given region, optimally with decentralized self-sufficiency.” (Ralph Metzner, “Transition to an Ecological Age, from: Ralph Metzner, Green Psychology: Transforming Our Relationship to the Earth. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 1999, pages 171–182.) This changed perspective of the universe is the essence of Metzner’s vision for the future and this can contribute highly towards the progress of the universe and the safety of the Earth.
‘The first angel sounded his trumpet,
And there came hail and fire mixed with blood,
And it was hurled down upon the earth.
A third of the earth was burned up,
A third of the trees were burned up,
And all the green grass was burned up.’
Revelation 8:7
A World War is a military conflict spanning more than two continents, in which at least twenty major countries participate in an attack against a common enemy, and which has the attention of the man-in-the-street due to the significant loss of life.
It is difficult to give a definition to an event which has occurred only twice in the modern history but with the kind of definition above we can agree that World War I and World War II were infact world wars as they both involved some degree of participation from most of the world’s then existing countries. God forbid, but would you not agree with me if I say that we are very close to achieving World War III? The only requirement left is to fulfill the start of World War III is that of a military conflict spanning more than two continents.
Albert Einstein said,” I do not know when the third World War will be fought, but I can tell you what they will use in the fourth – rocks.”
World War III is also a common theme in popular culture. Who might start World War III and how it might start are perennial topics of discussion in press. A vast literature exists describing the postulated aftermath of World War III, several notable movies have been based on this topic and World War III is also the topic of various comics, videogames, magazines, billboard, advertisements, radio programs and songs. Nostradamas’ prophecies are translated to say ( if you believe in this kind of stuff) that Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda will bring about the next World War but on the other hand some writers and researchers of this topic are of the belief that there is no organization in this world by this name. It is the ‘fundamentals’ which are called Al- Qaeda. So, does the prophecy hold wrong? I would not dare not say that either, with the current terrorism expanding its wings on the world under this name – Al- Qaeda.
The First World War was called ‘the war to end all wars’ but what happened? World War II was the most disastrous conflict in the history of mankind. In the 5584 years of recorded history, there have been more than 14,000 wars. Since 1945, when the United Nations was founded “to maintain international peace and security,” it is estimated there have been well over 150 wars with more than 30 million causalities. Yet if we believe wars are inevitable, there can be no hope for the future of humanity. It is imperative that we take action now to establish international law to abolish war and to maintain world peace – before it is too late. Prince Hassan of Jordan said that he is afraid that the making of World War III is taking place in front of our eyes. The signs like widespread terrorism, a volatile Middle East, sky rocketing oil prices and China’s military build up indicate that all this together could lead to World War III. Many fear that the prophecies of some of the great prophets of their times point to the event that most of the world has been dreading since the end of World War II and the introduction of nuclear weapons have only worsened their fears. Some say its right round the corner and with the events of Sept. 11 and the war after that, still fresh in our minds and the escalating tension in the Middle East as an aftermath, it is not hard to imagine a global war with global involvement.
The conspiratorial histories of various nations which are best unnamed at the moment had developed the IIIrd World War scenario several decades ago. Two World Wars have already been achieved but what constitutes a World War? You must have noticed that although the term ‘World war III’ is freely used in the alternative press and on the internet, all the major news networks have stoically avoided using any phrase reminiscent of World War.
‘In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for He will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.’
Zephaniah 1:18
Neoconservatives are great observers of war and warriors, though they are sometimes not in complete agreement about the number of conflicts that they send other people’s sons and daughters to fight. While it would be naïve to suggest a specific time line for the events leading up to and including World War III, we all are well aware that the plans for World War III are well advanced and the leaders of the world involved in this secret plan are waiting only for the right signal before an all- out war begins.
World War III is no longer a hypothetical scenario, hence instead of despairing or turning our backs on this, we ought to consider how these unanticipated problems should be met realistically. There is no assurance of success but at least we would be happy that we gave it a shot and there’s no harm done trying.
The four principles I follow in my life are:
- Live and let live: It is applicable to not just the people around me but to everyone and everything. If you let others live and they let you live of your free will, well keeping in mind your duties and responsibilities and others rights, then there would be no place for another war on this world.
- What you sow so you reap: If you dig wells for others, chances are that you yourself might fall into it. Let us not forget what history teaches us. Which country has lived peacefully after planting a bomb in some place in some country? A recent example of this is Pakistan, which has always had evil plans in heart but is now facing the same terrorism which it had spread to other countries, in its own country.
- One in hand one in bush is not always required: It is not necessary that we should strive to get what we do not actually need. We should be satisfied with what God has given us. This greed for everything more, more power, more money, more…more has lead the world where it is leading today. Had all the people been satisfied with what they have, had the world any reason to stoop down so low. We all follow different religions, each religion teaches us love and satisfaction, yet we fight in the name of religion forgetting its teachings.
- What happens happens for a reason: God defines everything for each one of us but this does not imply that we should not work hard towards our goes because as much as this principle is true, it is also true that God helps them who help themselves. How many of us wanted our lives to take the path it is on? Things do not always take the shape we want them to, when we want them to, but whatever God does for us we repent for what we could not get. That’s not fair, take a look back on the road of your life, are you not happy with what you have achieved? Then why not be content as well?
In the end, there is only one ultimate answer which is an answer to all our questions towards solving all the problems of the world.
If you haven’t noticed by now, I would like to tell you that we all are actually participants of a WAR against the EARTH and this war is worse than the war taking place on the earth. We are attacking it by land, water and by air. Our methods and techniques of attacks are numerous and varied, and earth is loosing battle after battle. Unless we call a cease fire, earth may loose this war. But this would not only be the earth loosing the war, in the end it would be we, the humans who would be loosing the war.
Works Cited
The Nostradamus Code: World War III. Nostradamus online.com. 2008. Web.
Did Nostradamus Predict World War III? About.com. 2008. Web.
World War 3: The Planned World War 3 – A Play in Numerous Acts. Three World Wars. 2006. Web.
God’s Warning to the World. 2008. Web.
World Peace or Mass Destruction: What will it be? Depends on You and Me. World Union Federation. 2007. Web.
Ralph Metzner, “Transition to an Ecological Age, from: Ralph Metzner, Green Psychology: Transforming Our Relationship to the Earth. Rochester, VT: Park Street Press, 1999, pages 171–182.