title: The natural holistic imperative.
abstract: Biodiversity is nature's expression of the principle of holism. This 'natural holistic imperative' is manifested in all aspects of the environment. While environmental health originated through a concern for protecting humans from environmental risks, it is now concerned with protecting the environment from the activities of humans. In order to protect the health of humans, there is a need to be concerned with protection of the biosphere. Moreover, the environmental crisis is essentially a crisis in spirituality, and a spirituality that respects and nurtures the non-human parts of our universe as much as it does the human ones is likely to be the only means of securing the health and happiness of humanity.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Health Care Practices, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore NSW 2478, Australia. skermode@scu.edu.au
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kermode
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000639:trends*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004782:Environmental Health; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D011639:Public Opinion; D011640:Public Policy