EKOS Communications, Inc.

From its inception, I've envisioned ekosTV to be an environmental media channel dedicated to the advancement of ecological literacy and sustainability. I realize that the term "ecological literacy" may not mean much to many people, but it is the best short-hand notation I've come across to describe what I have in mind.

My conceptualization of the term has been greatly influenced by writings of such people as Fritjof Capra, David Orr and Stan Rowe. Capra defines ecological literacy as "understanding the principles of organization of ecological communities (ecosystems) and using those principles for creating sustainable human communities."(1) David Orr describes it as:

"a broad understanding of how people and societies relate to each other and to natural systems, and how they might do so sustainably. It presumes both an awareness of the interrelatedness of life and knowledge of how the world works as a physical system;"

"[knowing] something of the speed of the crisis that is upon us. It is to know ... the vital signs of the planet and its ecosystems;"

"a comprehension of the dynamics of the modern world [and] "a thorough understanding of the ways in which people and whole societies have become destructive;" and

"a broad familiarity with the development of ecological consciousness."(2)

Rowe, to the best of my knowledge, never used the term "ecological literacy"; however, he came close when he mentioned "eco-centric education" towards the end of his essay "Wilderness as home place." "To be at home on the planet and welcome here, humanity must understand and appreciate the primacy of that home, the Eden we have never left, and the wild that is its emblem," he concluded.(3)

I count myself exceptionally fortunate to have known Stan Rowe as a friend and colleague before he passed away a couple of years ago. I was particularly influenced by his criticism of the use of the prefix "bio" as in biosphere. Rightly he pointed out that the prefix only refers to life or living things. Instead, he preferred the term "eco" encompassing the non-living, but life-supporting processes such as the hydrological cycle. So not biosphere, but ecosphere. And, as he concluded above, it is our Home.

Which brings me back to ekosTV. It's not likely apparent, but ekos is the anglicized version of the Greek root for home which is "oikos" (wherein the "oi" is pronounced as "e"). So perhaps it wouldn't be out-of-line to say that we're all about "ekos literacy."

In any event, Satva ( a member of the ekos community) recently posted a blog entitled "Biosphere Navigation." If you haven't read it yet, I encourage you to do so. It's a poetic issuance of a challenge to articulate the critical theories, concepts and principles that would enable the human race to exist in harmony with the planet. If I understand him correctly, I believe he means the same thing as ecological literacy. I intend on taking him up on the challenge, and this blog is my first response. In it, I have attempted to sketch out in broad terms the chart for the waters to be navigated.

References.

(1) Capra, Fritjof. (1996). "Epilpgue: Ecological Literacy" in The Web of Life. Anchor Books, Doubleday, New York.

2) Orr, David. (1992) "Ecological Literacy: Education and the Transition to a Postmodern World" State University of New York Press, Albany, NY.

(3) Rowe, Stan (1990) "Home Place: Essays on Ecology" NeWest Publishers, Edmonton, AB.