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Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2020; 11 (2) 

 

 

 

 

Editorial  

Environmental Ethics Vol. 11 No. 2 

Cambridge online dictionary offers the meaning of the noun term “environment” as the air, 

water, and land in or on which humans, animals, and plants reside1. The environment can also 

be mixture of factors that influence both organic and inorganic ecosystems and their shared co-

existence. This co-existence is the last idea that is given significance in the sophisticated and 

busy life styles of the modern day. In other words, in our own attitudes lies a large portion of 

causal conditions for outward environmental disruptions and imbalances. The challenges we 

face globally have their origin in local settings, the threats we face at the surface level of our 

location have their origins at 'deep level' in our very own way of living, in the very way of our 

behaviour towards others. With this absence of senses, species of human beings not only put 

themselves at risk, but also put other species of life in danger all over the world. It can be said 

that the ecological sufferings what we are experiencing today are seemed to have deep roots in 

anthropocentric views about the dominion of humans on earth. Without major societal changes, 

including changes in the habits of human beings, these exploitative, consumerist practices 

cannot be resolved 2. 

The papers in this issue on Environmental Ethics emphasize the need of the sense of morality 

towards the surrounding environment.  

The first paper entitled Environmental Ethics through Value-Based Education by 

Ravichandran Moorthy and Gabriel Tyoyila Akwen highlights the philosophical roots of 

environmental ethics to signify that there exists a moral obligation for humans to secure and 

protect the surrounding non-humans species. As a means to inculcate such attitude from early 

childhood, the paper implies that value-based education should be part of school curriculum.  

The second paper on Reflections of the Ethics on Coexisting with Disaster by H.W. Angela 

Lo, Vincent Shieh, and Yung-Jong Shiah explores the effectiveness of rehabilitative function 

of disaster service workers through the action research of Typhoon Morakot and the 2014 Gas 

Explosion in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Using the case study, the paper suggests that self-

discipline is to be prioritized among the human service workers during times of disaster. It also 

recommends to formulate indicators for a post-disaster “community of health and wellness;” 

and to establish bioethical principles of heteronomy for disaster service workers.  

The third paper on Detrimental Consequences of Unethical Anthropogenic Interventions 

upon the Ecosystem of Teknaf Peninsula, Chattogram, Bangladesh by S Ahmad argues how 

the Cox Bazar coastal zone had declined environmental quality owing to unethical 

anthropogenic interventions. As a restorative measure, the paper proposes that ethical 

awareness of the local communities to be enhanced by developing ‘Knowledge pool’ about 

coastal environment and improving moral ethics among the varied stakeholders. 

The fourth paper on Implementation of Nagoya Protocol and its Ethical Dilemma – the Case 

Study of Indonesia by E Sukara, S.K. Ragamustari, and E. Sinaga pinpoints that biodiversity 

in Indonesia depends on the strong connection between people and environment. Using the 

case of Indonesia and with reference of Nagoya Protocol, the paper emphasizes that the 

mechanism on access, fair, and equitable sharing of the benefit from the utilization of 

biodiversity and its component are certainly full of ethical dilemma. And to resolve the 

dilemma, the paper recommends that ethical standards cannot depend solely on rules or 



Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics 2020; 11 (2) 

 

 

 

 

guidelines but also on the recognition on comprehensive rights of stakeholders contributing to 

the conservation of the biodiversity. 

The fifth paper entitled The Relevance of deep ecological principles in Aquatic Crisis: A 

philosophical Analysis by Osebor Ikechukwu Monday recommends an ontological shift to 

address the water pollution affecting aquaculture. Drawing on philosophical analysis, the 

ontological shift, the paper suggests, will bring in the environmental consciousness to protect 

the common good of the society. The paper argues that for such shift in consciousness, an 

implementation of deep ecological principles is required by the policy makers to give birth to 

ethical thinking and judicious use of environment and its resources. The paper concludes with 

the prescription of the integration of the deep ecological principle into school curriculum, so 

that citizens can be taught environmental consciousness for the common good of the society 

from early lives.  

As the guest editor of the issue, I thank all the authors for selecting the journal and adding value 

to the journal through your contributions. I convey my heartfelt gratitude to all the reviewers 

for giving your precious time to review the papers of the issue and also in providing valuable 

insights and comments for the contributors to improve. I am also grateful to Professor Shamima 

Parvin Lasker and Ms. Tahera Ahmed for their trust on me.  

Finally, I hope readers will enjoy in going through the diverse and insightful papers of the 

issue. So, happy reading everyone! 

Thank you, 

Rhyddhi Chakraborty FHEA 

(Programme Leader (HND-Health Care Practice), Global Banking School, London, UK 

Visiting Faculty (Philosophy & Global Health), AUSN, USA 

Senior Associate Member, Royal Society of Medicine, London, UK) 

Guest Editor, Bangladesh Journal of Bioethics, Vol-11, issue 1-3 

 

   

References: 

1. Cambridge Online Dictionary. 2020. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/environment. 

Last Accessed 15 Nov 2020.  

2. Chakraborty, Rhyddhi. Insights of Hinduism and Buddhism: A Study of the Possible Remedies for Deep 

Ecological Problems. M. Phil. Dissertation. Dept. of Philosophy, University of Calcutta;2007. 


