[Book Review] Great Tide Rising: Towards Clarity and Moral Courage in a Time of Planetary Change

Author: Kathleen Dean Moore

Year:  2016

Pages: 272 

Publisher: Counterpoint 

Reviewed by Fitri Aulia Ikhsani - Research and Development ISAFIS 

Even as sea rise against the shore, another great tide is beginning to rise a tide of outrage against the pillage of the planet, a tide of commitment to justice and human rights, a swelling affirmation of moral responsibility to the future and to Earth's fullness of life.

Philosopher and nature essayist Kathleen Dean Moore takes on the essential question: Why is it wrong to wreck the world? What is our obligation to the future? What is the transformative power of oral resolve? How can clear thinking stand against the lies and illogic that batter the chances for positive change? What are the useful answers to the recurring questions of a storm- threatened time? What can anyone do? Is there any hope? And always this: what story and idea will lift people who deeply care, inspiring them to move forward with clarity and moral courage?

With compassion, practicality and clarity Kathleen reminds readers of the interrelatedness of all living things trough the probing and lyrical book. She combines the thoughtful and creative immersion in the two worlds of philosophy and nature. She provides a compelling introduction to environmental ethnics, applying those perspective to the immediate challenge- how to confront the climate crisis and giving us thirteen good reasons on why we should save the earth. Though this book, Moore giving her insight from her deep research and her personal story about what can we do toward the climate catastrophe. 

There are two main points that basically become the questioned that we have now when we address climate crisis, what we can do toward earth and how we can solve this big problem. First of all, human being should save the earth so the next generations are able to enjoy and utilize the earth as it is the fundamental basis of human right to life, liberty, and security of person. However, at the same time human must let the beauty of the earth inspires a love. In her book she writes: is to be present to the beauty and joy that is in the world right now.

Do you love a person less who is dying? However, the answer is not as simple as to be present and enjoy the beauty that we have right now but there is a serious work that needs to be done "maybe civil disobedience is not about justice and obligation. Maybe it is about love. Maybe we called out to act... not from obligation to disobey laws that are destructive, but from love for what is being destroyed". 

After all, as we try to show our love to address the climate crisis, we often left to feel powerless by the thought that this huge problem cannot be fixed by ourselves. However, through this book, Kathleen gives us the deep and powerful message that we need to stop thinking for being one person. Since thinking by single minded way is such as moral failure. We need to work together with other who shared anger, sadness and hope. Alliances with the like- minded not only strengthen the movement toward a better future, they can help a person to keep going when it seems all is lost.