The Heyday of the Environmental Movement, 1960–1979 149
human greed and ignorance. Through an
understanding of the principles of ecology we
must find new directions for the evolution of
human values and human institutions. Short-
term economics must be replaced with actions
based on the need for conservation and preser-
vation of the entire global ecosystem. We must
learn to live in harmony, not only with our fel-
low man, but with all the beautiful creatures
on this planet.Source: Greenpeace, “Declaration of Interdependence,” in
Peter C. List, ed., Radical Environmentalism: Philosophy
and Tactics (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1993), pp. 134-35.The Third Law of Ecology states that all
resources (food, water, air, minerals, energy) are
finite and there are limits to the growth of all liv-
ing systems. These limits are finally dictated by
the finite size of the earth and the finite input of
energy from the sun....
If we ignore the logical implications of these
“Laws of Ecology” we will continue to be guilty of
crimes against the earth. We will not be judged by
men for these crimes, but with a justice meted out
by the earth itself. The destruction of the earth will
lead, inevitably, to the destruction of ourselves.
So let us work together to put an end to
the destruction of the earth by the forces of