Engaged Ecology is an emerging community-based movement that recognizes thearchetype of Living Earth as the context within which we find meaning – in our lives,communities, environments. Engaged Ecology moves us beyond an intellectualunderstanding of the world to the realization and embodiment of what it is to be aconscious participant in the larger-than-human community of life. The trees, plants, our animal cousins, the eagle, the deer, the rabbit and all the others are our partners in the cosmic journey that this planet of ours takes in the Universe.

With concern for the entire biosphere, Engaged Ecology extends compassion and respectbeyond the human to encompass all living creatures and the Earth. Therefore, bringing about outward change in our perception of and relationship with our surroundings is only half the story – ecological awareness is an opening of the heart to the whole web of life by widening our sense of care to all beings and the totality of Nature. Values such as simplicityof lifestyle, sharing with others, taking responsibility for our actions, and compassion for allliving beings are necessary to generate positive change.

– Vince L. Lopes, Ph.D
Professor (retired)
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX 78666