Reviews: Book

Ecological ethics

"Mankind should no longer act as if it were a conqueror or even a friend of Mother Nature," writes Chen Shoupeng, a scholar with the China Council for Promoting Ecological Ethics. "Rather, mankind should come to see that it is actually an 'organic' and integral part of Mother Nature."

Chen reveals his views in his new book Ecological Culture of the Chinese Grasslands.

"This new mindset may help us understand the harmony between Man and Nature and to work out an ecological-friendly, sustainable path for social development for the centuries ahead," Chen says.

With extensive research, the 76-year-old academic elaborates the ecological-friendly and traditional way of life. He also discusses the traditional means of productivity.

The book examines how religious beliefs, festivities, folk customs and ancient laws concerning the conservation of wild life upheld and observed by the many ethnic nomads such as the Mongolian and Kazak minorities in North and Northwest China regions relate to the eco-balance and sustainable development of these areas of limited natural resources and harsh living conditions.

Coupled with quality photographs, the 242-page book is published by the Beijing-based People's Publishing House.

Zhu Linyong

(China Daily 04/17/2007 page20)