The Green Way
Most of us are aware of the idea of conservation and ecology. Some of us choose to take part in the media driven current of "Green" ideas and products. Still, some of us choose to ignore the barrage of images and sound bites, treating them as a fad.
There are many reasons for the division in action. The deficiency of conservation education in our schools as well as the lack of a unified understanding and action by leaders on the worldwide front is major issues for this generation to tackle.
It is even difficult to get people to agree on a definition of what conservation is. For some it is buying the right products and for others is stopping companies from drilling oil wells and cutting down trees. Although both of these views have good points they don't clearly define what conservation is.
A Clear Definition
Conservation is the act of creating standards of conduct that outline the best interest of the people, the preservation of natural resources and the standards that set our moral ideals.
So what does that mean?
It is quite obvious that we can't just cut down forest, create waste and use our resources haphazardly. Protection of our earth is as important as continuing to develop our society.
Our natural resources have their limits and how we use them will define the ethical structure of our society as well as the construction of our progress.
Future generations will look back at the way we acted and judge our actions just as we have done to past generations. If that is not enough pressure to do right we must continue to look for new ways to continue our progress. As they say, time is money and money stops for nobody. So how do we find balance?
Societies Big Picture
We cannot expect any society to halt its progress. Discontinuing the use of resources like petroleum, natural gas, coal and woodlands is impossible if we wish to continue living in the style the world is accustom to. It would be foolish and ultimately ineffectual to expect and demand this to stop.
For over 150 years Americans have been leading the charge in the advocacy for the preservation of natural resources in our country and around the world, but is that enough?
Over the year's naturalists, politicians, authors, artists and scientists have been identifying the numerous features of our natural resources. The discussion about the importance of how we use them and who gets the right to use them has caused controversy, raised global concerns and has changed political agendas.
The distinction between what we want and what we need to do is complicated. These political agendas, economic concerns and the scientific perception of natures balance are continually jostling for attention.
How do we find balance, what is proper use of these resources and should there use be for the benefit of us all and profit the few?
Leadership
Leadership in the area of human welfare and environmental conservation is sorely needed. Today's conservationist must ask himself or herself how do we balance human welfare, progress and uphold a strong set of standards that will help future generations.
No matter if you are for drilling oil or not, preserving our pristine forests and vast oceans will take a group effort. We must stand together and demand organized truth from our leaders so that we can make an informed decision together.
The Fight Between Conservation and Progress
Some people will argue that conservation means the locking up of our resources, hindering the progress of society. Ceasing to cut timber, drill for oil or discontinue using any of our resources is not likely to happen. The reality of the situation that we are all in is that Conservation means only wise and careful use.
Conservation is as much as a story as it is an act. It is keeping tabs on what we have used, what we have wasted, how we are using our resources, how long we have at the present rate of use while trying to understand our responsibilities to ourselves as well as others.
Each person and each nation has an impact on the world ecology and taking responsibility for that is a global concern that must bring us together.
There is a fine line between progress for prosperity and reckless abandon. A campaign for education is ultimately the only way the people of the world can gain an accurate appreciation for the importance of nature.
The Balancing Act
The human struggle to survive has been a continually changing paradigm since the mechanical revolution. Clothing is easier to make, transportation has become a trivial part of life and food is packaged in neat, plastic, airtight bags. Waste has become a huge problem.
As the use of machines grew so did the need for resources. Our economy grew with the use of our natural resources faster than we could imagine and life became more comfortable. A society that was already dependent on nature began to refine its needs and exploit the world because of its naivety and greed.
Today we have a past full of extravagant use of natural resources and a hunger to continue using them at a rate that could destroy our ecosystem. Like an alcoholic that can't stop drinking despite knowing how self destructive it is, we soldier on.
We are in a race with time, hoping that technology will change our path once again. Buzz words like "Going Green and "Global Warming" circulate through the media raising the consciousness of our ecological issues with out presenting information that is informing.
These terms have been bought and sold by politicians, to corporations for consumption, producing fear instead of being planted as seeds of knowledge and grown into ideas of invention and discovery.
Over 150 years later detailed education on the subject of ecology and the philosophy of conservation is still lacking in our public schools. How can we hope to teach conservation when agenda and idealism rule our public view?
The Bottom Line
Ultimately it is the life and health of the people that matters. True conservation needs enthusiasm, ideas from people that want to make the most out of themselves and get the highest degree of usefulness from our natural resources. Today’s conservationist must look for innovation and discover ways to develop our natural resources with the smallest amount of waste as possible.
The time has come when we can no longer continue to waste what we have. It is time to set a worldwide standard, study what we have and make the most of it while we explore other avenues, hoping to find new resources with sustainability that are free of waste.
Link to part 2: Logic Bomb or Bombed Logic
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