POLITICS AND NATURE

Defenders of the short-sighted men who in their greed and selfishness will, if permitted, rob our country of half its charm by their reckless extermination of all useful and beautiful wild things sometimes seek to champion them by saying the 'the game belongs to the people.' So it does; and not merely to the people now alive, but to the unborn people. The 'greatest good for the greatest number' applies to the number within the womb of time, compared to which those now alive form but an insignificant fraction. Our duty to the whole, including the unborn generations, bids us restrain an unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations. The movement for the conservation of wild life and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose, and method.
President Theodore Roosevelt; A Book-Lover's Holidays in the Open, 1916 http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/quotes.htm

The influence of nature on social health should not be underestimated. The photos here are taken in the Coconino National Forest, where untold numbers of citizens of these United States spend time to build health; learn the values of solitude, peace, and serenity; and seek restoration of the spirit. National Forests around the nation present people with opportunities which would quickly erode if decisions are ever made relating to privatization in the name of anti-government ideology based on flimsy evidence, we will lose vast acres of our heritage. This road runs through the forest. How quickly this area would be perverted through privatization of lands by million dollar homes, owned by folks living far away from the little paradise of Flagstaff,  and gated communities keeping regular folks out. 

This goes back to the recent article responding to the media statement regarding federal "ownership" of land in Nevada. It is extremely important for people to know.......the federal government does not "own" the land. Federal agencies: The Forest Service, Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and The Fish and Wildlife Agency, all play a role in crafting rules and governing the era for every American citizen.

There is a fair deal of anti-federal feelings out here in the West. Generations of Westerners have derided the federal government for their control of grazing, water rights, agriculture, and the hated Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Protection Act, to name the two most hated. It is funny when examining the incredible growth through the Southwest thinking about what the true results of privatizing public land would be.  

The Loss of Freedom

Environmental movements started in the United States long ago. The reality is far from the extremism certain people bent on taking from nature without consequence would accuse those of us who care about conservation and preservation. The history of the United States is imbued with references to Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and other frontier folk who's love of the land has become legendary.

Johnny Appleseed walked around what was then the wild west planting trees and supporting the notions of Christian charity and love of God's creation. He tried to reduce his material possessions and live accordingly to simple principles and he found his way into the collective memory of the people of this country. The spirit of these great Americans was fashioned in the natural world. Abraham Lincoln's upbringing reaches mythic proportions as a child of the wilds of Kentucky and Illinois. The stories of old concern themselves with the individuals who created the American character--crafted it out of the wild and untamed territory. Fascination with Indian culture and history are intertwined with the modern American experience. Centuries of Native American life generated rich and vibrant cultures living in relative harmony with the natural world and many people have learned from their examples

Letters from the American revolutionary times show the intersection of the hopes and dreams of the founding class with the natural world. Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia starts with an examination of the natural boundaries of the state and then heads into descriptions of the rivers, mountains, one waterfall, caves, and other points of nature. He does this to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the state and to show how commerce can be conducted and, in so doing, he illustrates how important nature is to the foundation of American capitalism.

Others, like Ansel Adams, Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau brought nature to life through art and the written word. The depth of nature's influence upon the spirit of this country evolved over time to provide a richness and diversity benefiting the overall health of the country. Teddy Roosevelt understood the importance of nature to democracy. He believed preservation of nature allows processes of renewal and revitalization which elevate the soul and allow people to return back to their normal lives invigorated and with a new sense of the importance of both the nation and their own lives. The result is a stronger support for democratic principles and a more vigorous workforce. Too often, the precept of environmental conservation and preservation are set at odds with business and capitalism. This is a false dichotomy and, as we learn more, we understand how to conduct business in a more sustainable manner, which captures the minds of business leaders while saving money as well as protecting nature.

Environmental Creativity Won the War

The current environmental movement began, according to most analysts, with the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring in 1962. Through the '60s and '70s, we learned more of the industrial excesses and problems resulting from the business as usual mentality and groups like the Sierra Club and EarthFirst gained national attention by getting people active and, at times, direct confrontation with polluters. Conflict overwhelmed environmental battles over the past thirty years and the divisiveness became the way many people know about what environmentalism is and how two sides fight over the spoils of money. This is a popular attack from the right wing. They repeat certain sayings so often, listeners begin to believe in them. These include: it's either jobs or the environment; wackos fight to eliminate industry for some endangered salamander or, better yet, an owl; forestry jobs have been decimated by protectionists; and these sort of tales. Before I get into some of these, it is important to look at the overall ideas supporting American life.

Environmentalists won with the Clean Air Acts, the Clean Water Act, the National Environmental Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, The National Forest Management Act, and other regulatory actions which have made the environment cleaner and healthier for every one living within our borders. But on a broader scale, the vast majority of citizens support environmental benefits. People want things to be done better and they would like for industry to pay more attention to how business is conducted. There is a wide understanding of the importance of so-called "green" technology and slowly, people are learning to use their power as consumers to guide the market toward Earth friendly measures. There is a great deal of work to be done, but the trajectory is cleary moving in the direction of conscious action and this will never harm American business.

As for the accusations which prove effective if they are repeated enough, they are short sighted. The problem with jobs versus environmental health include facts about all the possibilities open with a more conscious action. In an anti-governmental creedo, it is important to use the fear of job loss to advance an agenda. It does not take into consideration forest destruction or habitat loss into any equations. The job loss relating to forest products is way overstated by the owners of capital. Looking at photos of the West over 100 years ago show massive trees which rarely exist anymore. There are more trees, but so many of them are small and spindly, the giants of old have been taken, and, it might be added, with government subsidies. Looking at various small animals provides an overview of the health of an entire ecosystem so, when they say all jobs will go because of some tiny animal, they are losing sight of larger goals. These animals eat insects, for example, and are food for larger animals in the cycle of life in the wild.

There it is, in the end, people are behind environmental health and this has been one of the most successful aspects of the environmental movement.