Much has been made in the last few decades about how humans are destroying the world and if something isn’t done now to stop the destruction we will lose many things that we enjoy now. We are already starting to see that this process has already begun as many species are becoming extinct and many land features are becoming unrecognizable. Man has held a long belief that the earth acts as a permanent life source of goods and products that will always be available to us for our use. Only recently has that view started to change but is it too late?
There was a study done about the rate of extinction and I can’t exactly remember what the exact study was about but the moral of the story is what stood out the most to me. The results came back that after 10% of the “unnamed” goods had been eliminated over the past few years nobody had really noticed the difference or loss. After the pace of extinction picked up over the next few years to 25% people started to realize that something should be done in the future to combat the loss, but after all was said and done nobody did anything. Only a few short years later the extinction rate had jumped to 50% and people and legislation were beginning to realize that something needed to be done now and they started to make the appropriate actions to fight the extinction. Amidst their efforts the rate of extinction had grown too fast for them to overcome the destruction and all was lost. What I remember from this study was that by the time people began to realize that it was “go time” to act and do something about it, it was too late and something that they cherished was completely wiped out.
Another image that has stuck with me was a demonstration showing lots of clocks after different hours representing the earth and its age. 1:00 AM being the first, noon following later going all the way to midnight. Each clock had a percentage associated with it and it represented the amount of extinction the earth was experiencing. From the first clocks in the morning until about 11 o’clock at night the percentages were really low in the single digits with not much change. The rates then began to slowly rise exponentially. By 11:15 the number was around 10%. But compared to earlier times it was not that much different. By the time 11:30 had rolled around the number was around 25%. By that time it was a significant change and noticeable. By the time 11:45 rolled around it was near 50% extinction. Then by 11:59 it was around 95%. Again, this was another display like the previous paragraph that shows that we have lived on this earth taking and taking and taking and eventually it not only going to catch up with us but it is going to eliminate everything that we know. Our expectations and way of life is going to have to change dramatically in the very near future in order to preserve what we currently enjoy.
There has been much debate about whether government should step in and take control or should the people be left to decide where our money is spent and the best way to use it to combat the extinction of the earth’s resources. Because the economy is where it is at today I just don’t see many of the legislatures caring enough to take an active role with money to make a difference at least in the near future as it is going to take at least a decade to get out of our current recession. This puts the ownership on our shoulders. Although great things probably can’t be done like the gov’t could and its billions of dollars, a large accumulation of little acts can make dents. Although groups and organizations are gathering and pooling resources for their cause it just might not be enough. It might just be a little too late to really stop what is happening in the world today. I guess it all really depends what time is it? Is it noon, dinnertime, late night snack time? Or is it 11:30 or even 11:45???? Is the time to act already past us?
The people have more power then you grant to them. The only reason government has millions of dollars or the ability to do anything is because the people have granted the government that right. If you really want the people to do something then go organize some people. If you really feel passionately and try hard enough your cause will catch on, and people who choose to participate in something willingly will be more committed than those who do something because the government enacted a law. If you believe that the time for change is now or never, seek to make the change now.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up an interesting point and perspective. Where are we really at? I found it interesting that you weren't able to recall where you had gathered some of your facts. Isn't that the truth about this whole problem? Here are the facts in my view:
ReplyDelete1.) There is a problem with human stewardship over the planet, we aren't doing a good job. We are being irresponsible with what the Lord has given us. But that isn't new news.
2.) The global climate and extinction rate is changing at a rapid rate. Though this is true, that doesn't necessarily mean the end of the world. Sure, the past shows gradual change blah blah blah but the truth is that we don't know what will happen if we keep doing what we do.
3.) Animals are dying out at a rapid rate, but there is also more diversity, more species to die out than there has been ever before. Not to mention that we don't have a complete record of the death rates of the past- fossil records only give us so much.
4.) We need to change, but I think the changes won't come, they won't be sustainable until America finds a moral foothold. We need people to care, care about anything, before they will care at all.
This brings to mind how much power the "environmentalists" have in our country. I am an outdoorsman and find that the "green" guys have stepped in and made many changes in the management of the outdoors. I am always ticked off by their efforts. The most ridiculous program is the Sierra Project. They want to drain Lake Powell and restore it to its natural form. I wonder if their efforts could be expended in more productive projects that will actually benefit the environment. These groups have a lot of power, but they should use it for better causes. Perhaps it is possible to come to a global environmental ethic. All we can really do is start with ourselves and our communities and stop worrying about the globe. If I complain and campaign about how bad the Chinese are with emmisions, the problem will not go away. We can only show by example in our communities how being "environmentally aware" has improved our state of living.
ReplyDeleteif i recall correctly the japanese said something to the affect of, we like to kick their pillow before we attack. we had many, many warnings on the day of the attack on pearl harbor, yet it went down in history as an american tragedy. i personally and i can imagine much of america still are the same way. it takes a kick in the face to realize, hey there's a problem we need to fix and as in the case of the mentioned animal, it is often too late. it is important that we aren't so satisfied and complacent that we overlook small and important indicators.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the blog. I agree that the government at this current time will not bailout the earth. I also agree that it has fallen to us. We need to be better stewards. Draining Lake Powell is ridicules. I think extinction is relative. Organisms go extinct everyday that we do not even know exist. I do believe that if we become better stewards we would be able to discover more new species that could help the human race.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this blog. I think you brought up some interesting thoughts. The government has a lot of power and so do the environmentalists. I think we need to realize, however, that any sort of extremist view will not solve our problem. We're always taught about moderation in all things. That means we need to practice moderation in how we use the earth. This will help our the extinction rate, resource usage, etc. Moderation will be the only way we can reverse the destruction that is occurring.
ReplyDeleteI heard a similar thing in my mammalogy class. It said if you put a pregnant fly into a jar at one in the afternoon and it is full by 3:00, when was the jar filled half way? At 2:59. It is very important that we pay attention to what we are doing. I fear that by the time we realize and act enough to stop the rate of destruction, it will be too late.
ReplyDeleteThis comment is primarily political, but I don't know how to completely separate religion, the environment, and government. I think it is very naive to think that the government will solve our ecological problems. The government isn't a group of well-meaning scientists that brainstorm about how to fix environmental issues. They are professional politicians whose primary ambition is to stay in power by creating good publicity. I know I sound negative, but the point is that we are responsible for our planet's wellbeing. Don't think for a second that someone else will fix the problem. We have to.
ReplyDeleteThis comment brought to my mind a news story I read a few days ago. In it, Prince Charles stated that we had 100 months to save the earth. Now, I don't know if that's true, but I do believe the clock is ticking. I'm just not sure about the right way to slow it down. Many of the comments talk about how we as individuals need to save the environment. It is true that we need to do our part. but I believe that it is only through large organizations that large changes will be made.
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