soil-conservation-people-religion-and-land.pdf - South West NRM

WHAT SHOULD WE TEACH
What must the education system teach if future generations
are to nurture this precious land?
. It must teach that the arrogant, the dominating, the
consuming view of non-renewable resources is
short-sighted and ultimately doomed to fail.
, .
It must teach that land resource conservation does
not necessarily mean non-use or protection as such.
. It must teach that good husbandry must of necessity
harvest nature at a rate that is sustainable over the
long term.
. It must teach that humans are an integral part of an
interacting ecosystem f rom which they cannot separate
themselves in the long run.
. It must teach that all nations are in this global
system together and pollution ultimately needs global
solutions.
. It must teach optimism and challenge and perseverance
and dedication, not doom and gloom, hopelessness and
despair.
. . It must teach the limits of individual freedom within
group well-being.
. It must teach the desired ethics and responsibilities
within our political system.
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. It must teach the links between city consumers and
rural producers, between tax-payers and trustees of
the land, between present and future generations.
. It must demonstrate the disasters of bad land
management and the success and stability of good
stewardship of the land.
. It must teach the great satisfaction and achievement
of well-husbanded land and the spiritual well-being
of such fundamental achievement.
. It must teach a national pride in conserving stable ,
resources and a willingness to help others less
fortunate.
. It must teach that with great riches in resources
goes grave responsibility to future generations.
Brian Roberts
Opening Address to Australian
Society of Sugar Technologists
1983.