Ethics as a discipline is a branch of philosophy concerned with human character and conduct. Ethics has a significant place in almost all branches of knowledge. Jiddu Krishna Murthy said: "V you and I are the problems and not the world. To transform it, we must begin with ourselves V."
Ancient Indians developed many ethical ideas, attitudes and practices which favoured the maintenance of ecological balance for the welfare of all living things. Vedas, Puranas are the basis for an environmental ethics. Bishnois of Rajasthan had a philosophy that all living things have a right to survive and share all resources. Hindus did not burn their dead body but bury them to save precious wood and trees. The eco-religion of the Bishnois has inspired many women's groups to support the development of natural resources. People have to reaffirm basic ethical values in public life, ranging from abolition of child labour to terrorism.
Ethics and values—such as justice, equality, solidarity, protection of the environment and respect for human rights—are already enshrined in many existing national Constitutions, international agreements and law documents. The real challenge is how to implement these norms of ethics and values. Of course, today's international economic order is based on an ethical free market mechanism.
A global deal should be founded on universal ethical principles and dedicated to ensuring equitable redistribution and sustainable development. The practice of Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) governance is necessarily needed to remove hunger, poverty, and unemployment and imparting ethics and values among the people for a sustainable environment. |
