To Forever Inhabit This Earth: An Ethic of Enoughness

A powerful must-read for anybody interested in the intersection of environmentalism and spirituality. Rabbi and environmental activist Nina Beth Cardin draws upon Jewish texts in this impassioned call to action as the climate crisis persists. Using meticulously researched Jewish texts and the teachings of other faith traditions, Cardin makes the case that environmental sustainability is a fundamental religious principle--and something we CAN address.

"Despite the harms we as humanity have caused, if we dare to act boldly (which we can), based on the best guidance of our advisors (which we have), and recruit willing hearts (which we possess), we can heal the wounds, remedy our mistakes, and remake a safe and vibrant world for ourselves and all the generations to come. It is up to us."

Cardin confronts both spiritual and practical issues in her search for a way forward:

• How much do I--do any of us--really need? How much is just right? How much is too much?
• How do we responsibly power a world to meet the demands of our infinite curiosity?
• In a world in which natural resources are inequitably dispersed, how do we ensure their just and equitable distribution?
• How can we best promote regenerative agricultural practices so we nourish the earth as it nourishes us?
• How do we house and clothe and feed ten billion people while leaving enough world for the rest of creation to thrive?

And she addresses an uncomfortable truth: Even good people with good intentions may behave in ways that harm the earth. Often the choice is not ours to make. We cannot recycle if the materials we use are not recyclable. We cannot stop destroying our oceans and waterways if our detergents, cosmetics, soaps, plastics, and fertilizers are made of pollutants. We cannot take public transportation if there is none. We cannot afford the foods that are sustainably raised if unsustainably raised foods are made cheaper by government subsidies. We cannot choose to own less and share more if there are no collaborative economies to help us.