THE SPIRIT OF AGRICULTURE
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 6:03 pmTHE SPIRIT OF AGRICULTURE
edited by Paul Hanley, George Ronald, Oxford 2006; soft cover, 226 pages
Agriculture and religion have been closely associated for 12,000 years and since the dawn of the Neolithic have played complementary roles in the formation and development of civilization. Their ongoing, reciprocal role in sustaining an ever-advancing civilization is the theme of a new book, The Spirit of Agriculture, published by George Ronald (ISBN 0-85398-501-4).
The book is edited and co-authored by Paul Hanley, a Saskatoon writer and longtime environmental columnist with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. His previous publications include Earthcare–Ecological Agriculture in Saskatchewan (1980), a regional bestseller described as “the book on organic agriculture” by Rodale’s New Farm magazine. Hanley is also a recipient of the 2006 Canadian Environment Awards. The book has fourteen chapters. Its authors are from England, Canada, France, Russia, the United States, Columbia, Fiji, and Mongolia.
The importance of moral/ethical considerations in the food and agriculture system has been identified by the FAO Committee on World Food Security. It states that “Inequity in access to food and technology, the damage to natural resources associated with some farming methods and scientific advances, erosion of biodiversity, threats to the sustainability of ocean fisheries and trade restrictions…all have important ethical dimensions.” The Committee points out that “Looking at these issues from an ethical and human rights standpoint may contribute to the development of a consensus on how they can be better addressed in the common interest of humanity, capturing important considerations which may not be given sufficient weight when decisions are taken principally on technical or economic grounds or left to market forces alone.”
The Spirit of Agriculture considers a range of issues in agriculture, food and renewable resource use from the ethical perspective articulated by the world’s religions, particularly the Bahá'í Faith. Although the Bahá'í Faith is the first of the world religions to emerge in the industrial era, it takes a strong stand on the critical importance of agriculture and the role of the farmer in sustaining a world civilization. The Spirit of Agriculture provides a unique perspective on and suggests a radical new approach to food and agricultural issues, based on spiritual values.
A chapter outline is available at http://www.grbooks.com/show_book.php?book_id=248.
The book is available from the publisher or (at reduced shipping costs in North America) directly from Paul Hanley.
For information call 306/978-4797 or email paulhanley@sasktel.net.
TO ORDER: Send a cheque made out to Paul Hanley for CN$38.95/US$34.50, plus $10 postage and handling, to Paul Hanley, 2506 Ewart Avenue, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7J 1Y8.
edited by Paul Hanley, George Ronald, Oxford 2006; soft cover, 226 pages
Agriculture and religion have been closely associated for 12,000 years and since the dawn of the Neolithic have played complementary roles in the formation and development of civilization. Their ongoing, reciprocal role in sustaining an ever-advancing civilization is the theme of a new book, The Spirit of Agriculture, published by George Ronald (ISBN 0-85398-501-4).
The book is edited and co-authored by Paul Hanley, a Saskatoon writer and longtime environmental columnist with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. His previous publications include Earthcare–Ecological Agriculture in Saskatchewan (1980), a regional bestseller described as “the book on organic agriculture” by Rodale’s New Farm magazine. Hanley is also a recipient of the 2006 Canadian Environment Awards. The book has fourteen chapters. Its authors are from England, Canada, France, Russia, the United States, Columbia, Fiji, and Mongolia.
The importance of moral/ethical considerations in the food and agriculture system has been identified by the FAO Committee on World Food Security. It states that “Inequity in access to food and technology, the damage to natural resources associated with some farming methods and scientific advances, erosion of biodiversity, threats to the sustainability of ocean fisheries and trade restrictions…all have important ethical dimensions.” The Committee points out that “Looking at these issues from an ethical and human rights standpoint may contribute to the development of a consensus on how they can be better addressed in the common interest of humanity, capturing important considerations which may not be given sufficient weight when decisions are taken principally on technical or economic grounds or left to market forces alone.”
The Spirit of Agriculture considers a range of issues in agriculture, food and renewable resource use from the ethical perspective articulated by the world’s religions, particularly the Bahá'í Faith. Although the Bahá'í Faith is the first of the world religions to emerge in the industrial era, it takes a strong stand on the critical importance of agriculture and the role of the farmer in sustaining a world civilization. The Spirit of Agriculture provides a unique perspective on and suggests a radical new approach to food and agricultural issues, based on spiritual values.
A chapter outline is available at http://www.grbooks.com/show_book.php?book_id=248.
The book is available from the publisher or (at reduced shipping costs in North America) directly from Paul Hanley.
For information call 306/978-4797 or email paulhanley@sasktel.net.
TO ORDER: Send a cheque made out to Paul Hanley for CN$38.95/US$34.50, plus $10 postage and handling, to Paul Hanley, 2506 Ewart Avenue, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7J 1Y8.