I was thinking of the topics I could write about today, and what came to mind made me step back and think: "This is why lots of people don't read environmental blogs. The subject matter always seems to be depressing." I decided to start blogging again because I felt, as I did previously, that it is important to highlight the environmental issues that exist. Some topics are more uncomfortable than others to deal with, but I have tried to make it a policy in my life to not hide from the dark realities that are out there.
But why does it seem there are more negative environmental topics to write about than positive-feel-good topics that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Unfortunately that is reality. There are great environmental stories to write about that discuss things such as conservation success stories, a species being saved from near extinction, the discovery of a new species, resilience after an environmental disaster, etc. However, for each one of those news items, there are at least two that highlight the sorry state of affairs our global environment is in.
Part of that lies in the fact that nature has always been a very tough "mother". Stephen Fry said it best a few years ago, remarking, "You have to account for the fact that almost all animals in the wild live under stress with not enough to eat and will die violent and bloody deaths. There is not any way that you can just choose the nice bits . . ." (Fry, 2009). Yes, if you reference that quote online, you will find Stephen Fry is talking in terms of atheism/proving the existence of God, but I feel that it fits here. The environment is a rough and tumble place, undergoing constant (though sometimes slow) and chaotic change, punctuated by abrupt, violent episodes of natural disaster. It is amazing and complex, and I am always left in pure amazement by all this planet has. Despite this, it has always dealt biological life some depressing cards.
Beyond the day-to-day reality that the environment is a tough place that taken alone will have plenty of depressing stories, is the fact that we as the human species have been and are the cause of many of the depressing changes in the global environment. Sometimes our activities are indirectly causing these negative changes, such as the disappearance and stress put upon coral reef ecosystems due to sea level rise/increase in carbonic acid in oceans which is linked to climate change. Others are directly linked to our activities such as oil spills, climate change, the near-extinction of many species of plant and animals, etc.
We will always have an impact on the environment. That is how biological life works. Plus, we don't always know when we are having a direct or indirect negative impact on the environment. Thankfully, science exists to help us determine what is influenced by our impacts on the environment. When it comes down to it, I often write more about these alarming topics because only when we become informed of an event and what it is we are (not) doing, can we begin the path of changing. I believe strongly in the ability of humans to move away from destructive habits when they are educated about what it is we are doing wrong. I believe in our ability to address the issues we face through innovation and corrective action. That is why I always urge some sort of action on our part at the end of each post.
Writing about and caring about the environment is tough. At every turn there is another disheartening story of a species going extinct, a major industrial accident that has significantly impacted a local ecosystem, or climate change deniers preventing meaningful change in how humans consume energy. I remain dedicated to the environment not just because it is the only thing we've got, but because it is something unique and special. The type of life and the varied ecosystems it thrives in on this planet is spectacular. What's more, we are a part of it and because of our intellect we have the ability to correct our course of action before things go horribly wrong. It may be depressing to read all the bad news, but the bigger picture I see is that we can stop more depressing news from reaching us by acting now on the knowledge we are acquiring. The truth, in this case, can indeed set us free on the path to conserving all our planet has to offer.
But why does it seem there are more negative environmental topics to write about than positive-feel-good topics that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Unfortunately that is reality. There are great environmental stories to write about that discuss things such as conservation success stories, a species being saved from near extinction, the discovery of a new species, resilience after an environmental disaster, etc. However, for each one of those news items, there are at least two that highlight the sorry state of affairs our global environment is in.
Part of that lies in the fact that nature has always been a very tough "mother". Stephen Fry said it best a few years ago, remarking, "You have to account for the fact that almost all animals in the wild live under stress with not enough to eat and will die violent and bloody deaths. There is not any way that you can just choose the nice bits . . ." (Fry, 2009). Yes, if you reference that quote online, you will find Stephen Fry is talking in terms of atheism/proving the existence of God, but I feel that it fits here. The environment is a rough and tumble place, undergoing constant (though sometimes slow) and chaotic change, punctuated by abrupt, violent episodes of natural disaster. It is amazing and complex, and I am always left in pure amazement by all this planet has. Despite this, it has always dealt biological life some depressing cards.
Beyond the day-to-day reality that the environment is a tough place that taken alone will have plenty of depressing stories, is the fact that we as the human species have been and are the cause of many of the depressing changes in the global environment. Sometimes our activities are indirectly causing these negative changes, such as the disappearance and stress put upon coral reef ecosystems due to sea level rise/increase in carbonic acid in oceans which is linked to climate change. Others are directly linked to our activities such as oil spills, climate change, the near-extinction of many species of plant and animals, etc.
We will always have an impact on the environment. That is how biological life works. Plus, we don't always know when we are having a direct or indirect negative impact on the environment. Thankfully, science exists to help us determine what is influenced by our impacts on the environment. When it comes down to it, I often write more about these alarming topics because only when we become informed of an event and what it is we are (not) doing, can we begin the path of changing. I believe strongly in the ability of humans to move away from destructive habits when they are educated about what it is we are doing wrong. I believe in our ability to address the issues we face through innovation and corrective action. That is why I always urge some sort of action on our part at the end of each post.
Writing about and caring about the environment is tough. At every turn there is another disheartening story of a species going extinct, a major industrial accident that has significantly impacted a local ecosystem, or climate change deniers preventing meaningful change in how humans consume energy. I remain dedicated to the environment not just because it is the only thing we've got, but because it is something unique and special. The type of life and the varied ecosystems it thrives in on this planet is spectacular. What's more, we are a part of it and because of our intellect we have the ability to correct our course of action before things go horribly wrong. It may be depressing to read all the bad news, but the bigger picture I see is that we can stop more depressing news from reaching us by acting now on the knowledge we are acquiring. The truth, in this case, can indeed set us free on the path to conserving all our planet has to offer.
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