Bill McKibbens Podcast

Author Bill McKibben's, Eaarth is a very vivid and powerful writing. The title has important meaning; Eaarth was given two a's to show that the planet has drastically altered since its start. McKibben mentions issues involving environment, food sources, fossil fuels and other global impacting topics. There's a lot that's taken  for granted by humans as far as Earth goes, and many are ignorant to the subjects brought up in this book. These are not typical things the average person talks or thinks about.  Recently, an assignment was given on a bio-regional quiz and not many questions were relatable to the students. There is a problematic lack of knowledge when it comes to the planet, and McKibben's stresses this.

Pollution

Roderick Frazier Nash's Island Civilization discusses several factors that have contributed to the damage of our environment. One that stuck out in particular to me was pollution. Nash states how the word pollution was introduced to society in the mid 1960's. Recently it has become a trending topic amongst environmentalist and set off an alarm to people all across the world. Pollution can be defined as "the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that causes adverse change." As humans, we've contributed more pollutants to our environment than any other species on Earth. If we damaged it, we should be the ones to find the solution.

Over thousands of years, people have introduced technology that has had a bitter sweet effect on us. Think of how people were living thousands of years ago in huts but they were not harming their surroundings. Today we have cities such as New York City with thousands of buildings that house millions of people but with this come destruction to the environment due to pollutants. I have aspirations to live in New York when I graduate from college but after reading Nash's statements about how selfish humans have been with our surrounding neighbors; it makes me question my decision to move. I may just remain a small town boy, contributing to the demise of the world as little as I can. Still, I want to live out my dreams in New York whether I distribute many pollutants or not. That's the issue, finding a balance for humanity's technological advancements and the well-being of the Mother Nature.

http://www.nrdc.org/air/cleanairact/default.asp?gclid=CNWf_4zS-7ECFc2b7Qod_wsAgQ 

Island Civilization

                Geoffrey Gore

Author, Robert Nash, discusses his views on how mankind’s relationship with the environment has changed over the last several centuries. He states that the purpose of the essay was to find a way to uphold the whole ecosystem (not just humans) and to have it work in the long run. Wilderness, being considered a state of mind and geographical feature, was mentioned throughout the passage. It mentions how people haven’t always shunned the so called “wild.” It didn’t begin until mankind considered themselves above nature, and the domestication of land and animals allowed man to feel superior. These so called barriers between man and nature led to “wild” people, such as the Native Americans centuries ago, to be killed or outcast. As the 20^th century began, some environmentalist and others decided that it was time to modify the status quo of the wilderness and civilization. With hopes of progressing the Wilderness Act of 1964 was passed, creating the first national parks, but Nash argues that it was for the benefit of people. In the latter part of the century, a new theory came along in which people realized they weren’t supposed to be the beneficiaries of the protection of the wilderness/environment. Words such as “environmentalism” and “pollution” emerged in the 1960’s causing a rise in support for the rights of nature. People’s minds seemed to be on the right track, but destruction to the environment continued into the current millennium. Nash mentions how there are several ways the world can be destructed a thousand years from now if the bad habits of people carry on that long. Humans have been terrible neighbors to the other inhabitants of the planet and even Earth itself. With limited space on the planet and the increasing amount of people on the planet, it’s only right to admit that people have taken up more than their fair share.  In reality though, what are one’s options if people don’t continue as are? To help the situation, some say reverting back to primitive ways could help, but it seems far fetched.

“Perhaps humans of the distant future could choose on a seasonal basis between ways of life centered on computers or campfires,” Nash mentions, meaning the future stands on sacrifice. Something has to be given up by people for the relationship amongst themselves and nature to sustain. Personally, I’m at a crossroads internally on this battle. A part of me believes sharing the world with all species and nature is the right thing to do, but how could our current society survive with “primitive” ways. Our generation thrives off of technological advances. Not that my view points are the exact same as Nash’s, but I appreciate his efforts to reach a solution. The relationship between mankind and nature is a very important one. It’s just as a man and woman’s relationship. It’s obvious that if either one in the relationship is putting in less effort, it results in a strain on the relationship. For last several centuries, man hasn’t been contributing to the relationship, resulting in the current situation. Hopefully a solution will be offered and action will be taken soon because people are ruining something that I feel was once beautiful. “Growth was confused with progress.” This is my favorite line in the essay. Years of environmental neglect have resulted in the entire ecosystem suffering and some of the effects are irreversible. Nash made good points throughout his writing and as he mentioned it’s going to come down to choice. People, compared to other species, have been selfish beyond measure. Is mankind willing to give up unnecessary treasures to better the ecosystem? It’s hard to determine at this point, but I agree with Nash as far a “glass half full” attitude. Have to be positive for a problem such as this to be solved.