The three principles for the Environment which reflect our relationship with nature are: 

Principle 10: The impact of our home and work spaces 

Principle 11: Belonging within our community and networks 

Principle 12: Our care for and respect for nature 

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Your relationship with the environment and with nature  

Good care for our environment, both local and global can greatly affect our physical health, quality of life, sense of belonging and the survival of people and planet. The more we think about our environment and our relationship to it, the more it becomes clear that this forms the basis of our entire relationship with life.  

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Within these principles we look at the effects of environmental factors in our personal spaces, our communities and globally, on our health, illness and survival. What is our impact on the planet, and how does our environment affect us? Many of us live in ignorance of the health risks we take through exposure to chemicals in our lives, and may be unaware of the extent of our own environmental footprint or what we are ‘costing the Earth’. When life gets rushed we can lose awareness of the beauty and richness of life around us and the great health benefits of living in tune with nature. We ask the questions:  

• How do environmental factors affect our physical health?  

• How do environmental factors affect our mental health?  

• How do environmental factors affect the state of our spirit?  

• How is our relationship to ourselves reflected in our relationship to our environment?  

  

We have all been made aware of the threat to our planet and her people, plants and animals that is occurring through the unconscious, greedy or uncaring actions of humans. It is time for every single one of us to play our part in restoring balance. Rather than being overwhelmed or demotivated by these messages, you will find within these three principles a host of ways that you can contribute for your own benefit and for the benefit of all. These times represent unprecedented opportunities for people to wake up and show their love for planet, for nature and for people. We are living in a time of intense and vibrant focus on the value of life, social justice for all people, and if you need to find really heart-warming inspiration and antidote to eco-despair, watch the YouTube clip of Paul Hawken entitled ‘Blessed Unrest.’  

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Principle 10 - Your Space  

Modern design, technology and legislation affect the quality of the buildings in which we live and work. We need to be aware of ‘sick-building syndrome’, and to think about whether the places that you live and work are making you ill. We will look at the new branch of medicine called ecological or environmental medicine which helps us to understand the toxins that affect our health and how our individual biological responses dictate whether we suffer from environmental illness. Most important of all, we look at how we can take action to help to prevent such illness by understanding the basics of ‘green chemistry’, and also by realising that our shopping choices and consumer behaviour affect our own health and that of everyone else on the planet. In this section we will address how well our space reflects and protects us, giving us the opportunity to express ourselves and spend time in a place that really regenerates us in body, mind and spirit.  

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In this principle we will look at:   

1. What creates a ‘sick building’?  

2. Environmental illness and environmental medicine – recognising and dealing with the effects of toxicity in our environment  

3. Creating healthy, pollution-free buildings 

4. Freeing yourself from clutter, smells and mess 

5. The impact of your location 

6. Dominant people or presences in your environment 

7. Our need for personal space 

8. Access to nature, light and air 

9. Expressing your style in the colours and feeling of your home and work-space 

10. The Feng Shui or energy of your space  

  

Principle 11 - Your Communities  

In Principle 11 we will look at how we relate to our local environment and the importance of belonging within and contributing to our communities and networks. Of great importance to our health and wellbeing is how we connect and interact with others. We are social beings with a strong need to belong and be recognised within a community. It is extremely important to reverse the trend of social isolation and family breakdown which has been a hallmark of modern living. Even introverts need love, attention and social interaction to keep brain, body and genes in good working order! Learning to connect with and contribute within our communities and networks has very protective effects on our physical and mental health, as does volunteering and positive social action.  

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There is a substantial body of compelling scientific evidence which tells us that those who do live and feel a part of a community, be that a family, social community, club, group, religion or team, are at considerably lower risk of heart disease, cancer and psychological problems than those who do not. There is a strong movement back into community living at this time, as many seek to find loving, low cost, sustainable ways of living with others of like mind and values.

  

In this principle we will look at:  

1. The importance of belonging  

2. Being a valued contributor  

3. Networks and communities to which you belong  

4. Involvement with neighbours and friends  

5. Communication networks  

6. Helping those who are vulnerable  

7. Taking action to engage with and support your communities  

8. Building community resources  

9. Developing community values  

10. Finding ways to give and receive – the benefits of volunteering  

  

Principle 12 - The Natural World  

MIND and other mental health researchers have proved how powerfully being in nature positively affects our state of mind. Eco-therapy (involving time outdoors in the great green) has been shown to be as powerful as anti-depressants in the treatment of depression. So, in this principle we will be encouraging you to get outside and get involved with people, plants and planet. Underlying this is the need to understand our primary connection with nature and the profound interrelatedness of life. As we look more deeply into this subject, we find that basically, there is no action we can take as an individual that does not affect everything and everyone else. So, becoming conscious and responsible in our relationship with nature is at the very heart of restoring our own health and wellbeing and ultimately the health and survival of all.  

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In this principle we will look at:  

1. The importance of our relationship to nature 

2. The health benefits of being in nature 

3. Recycling our waste 

4. Reducing pollution  

5. Using renewable energy, and reducing energy and fuel consumption 

6. Growing our own food, buying seasonal and local-grown produce 

7. Protecting wildlife and ecosystems 

8. Becoming an environmental activist  

9. Developing green policies for cities, home and workplace 

10. Coming into conscious connection with nature