For Future Generations
After reading Olson's speech, I realized that preserving nature is important, not only for people today but also for future generations. Nature really help people reconnect with themselves. It is a place to slow down and take a break from busy life. Olson discusses why we have the responsibility to help preserve nature. He states that human dignity is lost when nature is lost. I agree with this strong remark because I understand the power of nature. Nature is connects the world. Olson speaks of how powerful humans connection with nature can be; however, future generations may not be able to experience this connection. With technology and urbanization, nature is slowly being destroyed. It is our responsibility to preserve nature so that future generations can enjoy its power and beauty.
Another person who understands the power of nature is Aldo Leopold. In his writings, he illustrates how interconnected nature is. The deer, the wolves, and the hunter all play a role in how nature functions. I feel that he shows how important it is to help preserve the environment. Humans put stress on the environment and this in turn disrupts natures flow. Leopold describes the death of a wolf and how the green fire within it's eyes fades away. He understands how influencial the death of one living creature is in nature. I think that people today should look at seemingly insignificant occurances in nature as something powerful. This would help people to connect with nature.
Olson and Leopold both show how important it is to preserve nature. It allows for future generations to connect with the environment. If people stop having the mentality that one person's actions will not make a difference, then maybe nature has a fighting chance. Everyone has the responsibility to help maintain the little nature still left. Future generations deserve to be able to enjoy nature, just as we do.
Comments
Allison, I agree with you how it is our responsibility to leave nature in a way that future generations can enjoy it. I also understand when you say that nature has the power to help people connect with themselves. I strongly agree with this statement and I think that without this connection we can acquire through nature, there is no real way to escape the fast-paced lifestyle of the modernized society in which we live. It would be a shame to leave nothing left of the natural world for future generations. We need to put ourselves in their shoes and think of what an awful world to live in that would be if they were not able, like us, to connect with the natural world. You're also right in saying that we all need to do something so that nature at least has a fighting chance.
Posted by: Anna Bode | April 5, 2007 6:23 AM
Allison, you ae completely right. People need to change their current mentality of thinking that other people will fix things for them. Each individual should do their own part in order to preserve the world for future generations to come. In addition, I really liked Leopold's example of relating nature to everything. It really caused me to realize what seeminly unimportant actions, the killing of wolves here, really do have a large impact on a great scale. I hope that the views of the rest of the world change in the near future in order to allow our kids and their kids to enjoy and admire the natural surroundings that we were able to.
Posted by: Scott Pavletich | April 5, 2007 11:32 PM
You're probably right about us needing to think we can make a difference, but do you think we really can? I mean to say, do you really think we can get everybody to believe they can make a difference themselves? I highly doubt it. In the long run, i don't think one person can make a difference just by not littering, let's say, or watching their carbon output. One person means very little to the environment, when in reality it's the whole group or population that would make the difference. It'd probably be better and more efficient to put laws and regulations into effect to preserve our nature than to hope in good faith that people will change because "one person can make a difference." It's well documented and lots of experiments have been done to show that people don't go out of their way to help those in need because they expect somebody else to help out instead. I guess in a way this is supporting your argument... oops. you're probably right.
Posted by: joe peterson | April 13, 2007 4:40 AM