Document(s) 1 of 10

YOU ARE HOLDING in your hands an unusual book. The authors highlight the problems of sustainable development proclaimed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and confirmed by the delegates to the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002. In this book, a bold attempt has been undertaken to approach these problems in a new way – by using the power of the harmonizing forces of peoples, societies, and nature, a new model based on the historical analysis of the development of civilisations.

The authors' main viewpoint is a vision of nature as the source and essence of life, rather than the main provider of resources for sustainable development. The authors convey this concept through vivid examples of one of the biggest rivers in the world, the famous Dnipro, highlighting its rich history and the key role it has played in the formation of the spirit of the Slavic people, the ancestors of modern Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. As the Damocles sword of Chernobyl fell on Ukraine for careless and thoughtless behaviour, the mighty Dnipro suffered immensely from the disastrous ecological consequences of the largest environmental catastrophe of the 20th century.

The theme of this book is multifaceted and complex, both from the scientific point of view and from a global perspective. Nowadays, in the scientific and political spheres more and more people realize the small amount of practical return from and question the feasibility of the global strategy for sustainable development adopted in Rio de Janeiro a little over ten years ago. The strategic goals have not been reached. Recent world economic expansion without deep environmental concern is increasing the gap between rich and poor, indicating a profound global environmental crisis. This critical situation leads the authors to the conclusion that without a joint effort and spiritual unity in understanding the fragile mechanism of nature by the people, nations, societies, and specialists working on various environmental projects, it will be impossible to reach a better level of life. Only human spiritual development can restrain the blind pursuit of higher economic profits at the expense of nature's exploitation by the market economy.

Spirituality is a category of divine acquisitions of humanity according to the laws of nature and harmony. All people have the same origin; the difference is in their spiritual heritage, for the accumulation of intellectual force comes from different historical scenarios and sources. From time immemorial the purpose of science has been to comprehend the laws and mysteries of nature and to share its wisdom and the accumulation of knowledge on harmony, a holistic perception of the world, and the coexistence of humans and nature. This unity, this holistic perception of the universe, was replaced by the Cartesian scientific approach in later centuries. Its materialistic philosophy played an essential role in destroying the spiritual-environmental unity of human beings and society. Finally, the 20th century clearly demonstrated the danger, to people's lives and human civilisation as a whole, of ignoring the laws of nature and harmony.

Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, the vital powers of human civilisation have almost reached their extinction. Today, it is our duty to raise spiritual-environmental concerns in the world community about the necessity of finding a way out of the social-economic crisis in order to reach sustainable development and preserve our nature for future generations.

The authors have successfully managed to outline and retain throughout the text the notion and meaning of this painful problem despite its complexity, contradictions, and multifaceted character. Their broad point of view and balanced approach in reflecting this worldwide problem deserves the serious attention of scientific and political organisations in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, as well as in other countries whose people live along the shores of great rivers.

Therefore, this very timely book by Ukrainian scientists may be used to further develop ideas for the harmonious co-existence of human beings, society, and nature, the rehabilitation of their vital powers, and the practical implementation of strategic plans aimed at harmonising human interactions with the environment.

B. Paton
President, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Those, who live with a sole purpose to achieve pleasure
and avoid suffering... ought not only go through life again
and again, until they complete its course, but each time
their experience will bear more hardship. If one does not
wish to learn from oneself, he should be apt to learn from
others. Those who do not wish to learn from reincarnation
are forced to do so by cruel trials and misfortune.

Mabel Collins, English author and philosopher
Oriental School of Spiritual Enlightenment

Document(s) 1 of 10