Almost as soon as you commit yourself to caring about the planet (or anything else), you commit yourself to a lifetime of disappointment (but also infinite room for improvement). As proof, I present news I received in just the last 24 hours specifically related to my work. I am not even talking about the 200,000 potential Haitian earthquake victims, health care and the Massachusetts election, or the use of drones in the military -- I'm merely referring to some back burner conservation news:
1) The UK's Chief Scientific Advisor, John Beddington, is opposing plans to create the world's biggest marine reserve. His company holds a government contract to manage fishing in the area, which would be banned if the reserve were created.
2) Miami-Dade County commissioners are now considering creating a recreational area for off road vehicles in the middle of the Everglades. Yes, OFF-ROADING in the EVERGLADES.
3) To top it off, a new study shows that conservation biologists are slower than other biologists at submitting research articles -- with a median delay of nearly two years. In contrast, taxonomists took about 20 months, behavioral scientists 17 months, and evolutionary biologists a mere 6 months, the team reports in Conservation Biology.
That's just the last 24 hours. It is easy to feel overwhelmed but it is impossible not to care. Caring is the new nihilism. There will be good news to come...
Environment
Comments
Caring is the new nihilism.
If you believe that, you might find this comic funny.
Posted by: Jason R | January 23, 2010 3:20 PM
One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise.
Aldo Leopold, Round River
Posted by: Dan L | January 24, 2010 2:02 PM
Antidepressant medications and ecological apathy.
It is extremely difficult for a western culture that is heavily medicated [Sedated] to really “Care” or engage the powerful human empathy gene about our quickly degrading environment when our “Feeling Centers” are glossed over with happy pills.
“...The CDC says between the years of 1994 and 2000 the number of adults in this country using antidepressants tripled...” Remember to figure in that this is stated for use up to the year 2000. The amount of antidepressant prescriptions has exploded since the year 2001.
This “Happy Pill Society” has been a major reality for years, and it has only grown in size and dependency on many levels. While I am not saying all of our environmental nihilism can be abated by altering our awareness about how the use of antidepressants can essentially make cultures habitat careless, but it is an extremely serious challenge. Yes, environmental degradation news is painful and depressing, but if cultures avoid downer news instead of embracing it, ignored degradation will fester and get worse. While not trying to judge this medication addiction reality as right or wrong because it is highly complex, the truth is, at least in America, the mantra of emotional prescription nirvana is rampantly dangerous. If anyone doubts this awareness, just attempt a serious conversation about any ecological crisis situation with anyone, who is medicated with an antidepressant. Has anyone ever noticed that humans that are sedated generally do not get angry when they should?
Well, now that I am totally depressed, perhaps I should ease my cultural/environmental angst and see if I can find a nearby “Happy Hour...” or “Happy Meal...” to soothe me.
Antidepressant Use: Are We Overmedicated? Article link:
http://www2.wspa.com/spa/lifestyles/health_med_fit/mental_health/article/anti_depressant_use_are_we_overmedicated/616/
Posted by: Chris Martell | January 24, 2010 6:23 PM
On my bad days, I just assume that one day I will be watching as we eat each other on the streets of New York, with air nearly unfit to breathe as we choke on our own sewage. On that day I want to go to Dan Inhofe and say "See you in hell -- oh wait, we're there! I hope you are happy."
On better days I think people will figure stuff out just enough to muddle along.
I don't think antidepressants, honestly, have much to do with any of this. I think it's that if you think for too long it can be really overwhelming, especially when faced with ordinary human stupidity. I mean. the problems are so big, why bother? Really? Why not just kill yourself? Why have children? This question appeared long before antidepressants did.
Sometimes putting the problems aside is the only way to get through your day. Sometimes, caring about anything bigger than your immediate family can be horrible-- it is the most depressing, suicide-inducing thing in the world. This I know, coming from a family of political radicals.
Some people see bad things and want to do something, some people experience bad things and come out of it with a renewed determination to do something. But I know that not everyone is like that, and in fact I'd argue the people that come out with renewed purpose are a minority. I long ago learned to acknowledge that, and try not to judge people too harshly for not being activists.
Posted by: Jesse | January 26, 2010 8:35 AM
SOrry, James Inhofe.
Posted by: Jesse | January 26, 2010 1:05 PM
Greed and power is the American way, when will it end? It's sad that The UK's Chief Scientific Advisor, John Beddington, is opposing plans to create the world's biggest marine reserve. This would be such an excellent project, which all mankind would benefit from. He is wealthy enough, but it'll never be enough. This man could've retired years ago and still have lived out the rest of his miserable existence spending his fortune. Wonder if he has an alternative motive. For people that don't know, his company holds a government contract to manage fishing in the area, which would be banned if the reserve were created. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if there was money in doing the right thing, and being recognized for your actions not your bank account.
Posted by: chris donofrio | February 17, 2010 4:44 PM