Regina Birchem
Biology Department
Seton Hill College
Greensburg, PA 15601
USA
We have begun to realize, more clearly and on a global scale, the fragility ofthe natural systems upon which we depend for existence and especially theecological impact of human activities. Among these activities are those donein the name of national security.
"Security" that is derived from military force has led to environmentaldestruction: --environmental destruction as a method or tool of warfare; --environmental destruction that leads to conflict, the migration of refugees tomarginal areas or camps, to competition for resources; --environmentaldestruction in the activities of war itself; --environmental destruction inpreparing for war by building, transporting, and testing weapons, and inpracticing for war; -- and, the process of destroying the chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons we have created itself creates further problems of environmentaldamage.
Despite the work of many non-government organizations, the 1993 United NationsConference on Environment and Development did not address the issue of theeffect of military activities on ecosystems and on development. Nationalsecurity continues to be defined in terms of environmentally destructivemilitarism. Few references are made in the Rio documents to armed conflict,and no references are made to the impact of preparing and practicing for war,and to the environmental impact of disarmament.
The ideals of peace for which we work are intimately linked to how we relateto natural systems, linked to how we use metal, soil, water, air and thediverse genetic resources upon which we depend for life. The ideals of peaceand our very survival are dependent also on how we use intellectual,psychological, and spiritual resources in the struggle to do away withviolence to nature and violence to each other.
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