Thanks to a post on Blog Catalog, I was led to an interesting site that uses a weekly prompt to encourage people who love to write. The most recent prompt on Writer’s Island asks, in part, “Tell us your feelings about this island earth, as it hurtles through space and time….. Is it in imminent danger right now? If yes, are we too late to save it? Is all the concern just unjustified paranoia?”
As readers of this site will know, I am certainly a fan of treating Mother Earth with all the respect we can. My reasons for this are a bit different than you might think. I have absolutely no fear that Homo sapiens, now the dominant species on the planet, will do any serious, long term harm to the Earth itself. The only reason many people think this is because of our biological tendency to see our species as the center of everything. The truth is we are too insignificant to the universe and even to the earth to be more than the proverbial fly on the camel’s back, always in danger of being swished off by the coarse tail of Mother Nature.
The reason I have been a supporter my whole life of the philosophy now trumpeted as “being green” has nothing to do with the ultimate preservation of the planet and everything to do with our responsibility to the other inhabitants of earth, human and otherwise, now and in the future. This responsibility means that we should not be contributing any more than is necessary for our survival to changes that affect the community of the earth. It is this community we have the awesome power to disrupt, not the planet itself.
Earth has undergone many cataclysmic changes in the past and will survive many more in the future. At some point in the future one of the changes will eliminate humans from the earth’s community. It is likely that before our final day, the species will face challenges of survival unthinkable to most people alive today. Whenever the ultimate end of the planet occurs, we humans will be insignificant contributors.
Fortunately, the human instincts of optimism and survival are not perceived on the incredibly huge scope of time involved with earth changes, but on the scale of the present and the coming few hundred years. Because of this, I believe we, as a species, will ultimately survive anything we can do to harm ourselves. (There is the optimism.) And, we will survive because even if something happens that crushes the human population, any survivors will make the best of what is left to go on.
In our ultimate end, we will disappear because of some change well beyond our control. Current global warming trends are concerning and we need to address them so that we delay effects as long as possible. This will give us time and technology to help cope with the climate changes that will eventually come, human contributions or not. Eventually most of the current coastal cities of the world will be under water. At another point in the future, many of these same flooded areas will be under a mile thick sheet of ice. These futures seem long on the scale of human time, but they are short and repetitive on the scale of earthly time. These things will happen regardless of anything humans do.
We are temporary occupants of earth. Our significance, and our responsibility, is to our fellow humans, both present and to come, and to all other species currently sharing the planet with us. The earth will survive into the unfathomable depths of time without us. By religious, political, and environmental responsibility, we can positively shape our part of the coming trip.
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{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Will, I agree we as humans will survive or make the best of a bad situation because the survival mode will cut in and we will do what we have to do, the key is to do what we have to do as early as possible to keep the damage as low as possible, other then that the Earth will be for another 4.5 billion years at which time the Sun will expand and envelope us and bye bye Earth.
Will,
Powerful compelling write. I am with you in your cause hand in hand supporting your conviction. I hope many more will join hands taking care the earth and preserving our future and the next generation. We maybe insignificant but we have in our little power to make the difference.
Note: I’ve noticed you haven’t posted this to the writers island link. I think this is a great contribution. Please note of the instructions on how to post a link to your blog found in the right side box of the writers island site.
I wish you well.
~ Jeques
Excellent, well-conceived, and thought provoking post Will. I agree with you on this matter. The earth, as a planet, seems quite resilient. However, I believe we humans will eventually be done in by our arrogance. When, I’m not certain — but I believe we are accelerating to our extinction at an unfortunate pace.
I found my way here to your blog via the link you posted on Writers Island. Your site is most informative… good stuff! I hope you are able to contribute to the island again in the future.
I was thinking along very similar lines too for my response to the prompt! (It will be a day or too before I get mine up though.) Its what we’re doing to species such as polar bears and tigers that really worries me, that we can have that amount of disregard
never mind, figured it out! Great post, good entry for the island!
Thanks Jeques! I did put the link at the end of my comment at Writer’s Island. Did it not work when you tried to use it? Or was I supposed to put it somewhere else, also? I just found Writer’s Island yesterday and want to be sure I am doing it correctly.
I made a couple of comments on your site, but to anyone else reading this, check out Jeque’s unique writing style!
Also, someone told me that my digg and stumble buttons on this post did not work for them. I did just change the code a bit yesterday, but it looks OK to me. Has anyone else tried to use them and not been successful? Thanks.
-Will
Hi Jen! Glad to see you here! What did you figure out? Was it the Digg and Stumble buttons? If there is something about commenting or those two buttons that is causing some to “stumble”, (ok – bad pun!), I would like to know so I can fix it. I don’t want anyone to have to figure out anything. It should work as seamlessly as possible.
Thanks!
Hi Rob – Welcome! Your post in response to this weeks prompt is great. As I commented on your site, it is very interesting to see all the different styles of writing applied to the same prompt.
-Will
Hi Juliet – and welcome to you too! Your site is great. Nice job on those gloves in your latest post, although they are not exactly my party style! LOL!
-Will
Will,
What a nice post! Somehow you make me feel safer living at the base of Yellowstone.
In the scheme of things, it’s really just a little speck of a volcano…right??
LOL Chelle! Yes, I agree, it seems just a little speck to me also. But…. then again, I live in Oregon and the jet stream goes west to east!
-Will
Well said Will.
The whole national discussion on the environment, in the US anyway, is in complete chaos. We have people believing that scientists are debating climate change when in reality they are just debating the CAUSE of the change that is occurring.
By looking at the big picture, and focusing on making sure that humans don’t destroy our own habitat, is more important than assigning blame or worrying about the Earth itself.
Well said Will! Homo sapiens have this illusion of grandeur, of too much self importance, of owning the earth and claiming the universe! You are right. We are insignificant, inconsequential compared to the overwhelming power and might of the elements, and the natural forces that created us, the earth and the limitless universe.
Too serious talk? And Christmas Eve is just hours away! Ok let’s take deep breaths and relax. Happy Holidays Will! And Cheers to the future!
Good post, Will. I really like your take on this controversial subject.
Welcome Ben! Thanks for the comment. Cheers to you also!
Thank you Patricia!
-Will
Hi Will, I think the earth will survive. However, I have to tell you that I will be off blogging probably during few days, so I will come back to read all in detail especially knowing that I love commenting to all your stuff – still have the vision of the lips, lol.
Well kidding aside, thank you for your kind wishes on my blog. I would like to also wish you and your family a wonderful holidays, and happy new year 2008, and I think blogging year will look great for you in a new year as your posts are reminder sometimes we all need, and also to be aware of. And I would like to take this moment, to thank you for all your valuable comments on my blog, and visits and constructive criticism that only makes me better. All that is appreciated. Thank you so much, and all the best, Anna
Thanks for a much broader perspective than one generally sees.
Thanks Anna, and the same to you. Your comments here are very appreciated and valuable. And congratulations for keeping your #1 spot on the “Top Commentators” list all the way through the end of 2007.
Alan – Your Welcome!
-Will
This is very well written, Will. As I read the entire article, I couldn’t help but kept imagining how our own populations will decline (and eventually become extinct), like the fate that befalls the turtles today.
Thanks for inspiring the imagination
BRAVO!!!!!!!! i was so afraid this topic would be nothing but people crying out for us to save the planet.. go green.. do anything to distract me from looking at myself and my real place in this continuum we call life.. you made my day!!!!!
eloquently stated!!!!!
“my truth”
This was a very thought-provoking and nicely done post. I’m not sure I agree with your premise that human beings have no impact (perhaps not on its core, but certainly on its outer shell), but I certainly agree that we need to be doing much more to safeguard this precious inheritance we call the earth.
Welcome to Writers Island Will, I look forward to reading more of your work.
Robin, your comment prompted me to reread Will’s post. I don’t think he is saying – in any way – that we have no impact. In fact, he is stressing the fact that our impact is greater than ourselves and ends up affecting the rest of the human population. We will drive ourselves out of our own human habitations long before we do any permanent damage to the earth itself.
Evolutionary adaptation, by its very nature, indicates that the outer shell of the planet will continue to support life no matter what we do,. It just may not be human life. Some shrimp have evolve to live in the high temperature, toxic environments surrounding deep sea volcanic vent. I don’t think there will be any problem for SOME life form to make its home in what we leave behind.
See: Volcano Shrimp
Thanks, Pelf! Coincidently, I saw an ad on the Discovery channel last night about an upcoming show that explores what earth will be like after humans are gone. I was sleepy, (from too much turkey?), and did not get the exact time and date, but I will try to find it today.
Welcome Paisley! Great to have you here and I am very glad I made your day! I hope someone else can do it today. Wouldn’t it be nice to go through a week with a different person making your day, every day! I love your poetry. Your images are very unusual, also. Are any of them your original artwork?
-Will
Welcome to you Robin! Great to have you here and commenting. JD, (techfun) says it well. I really do believe humans have an impact and as you said in your comment, “perhaps not on its core, but certainly on its outer shell”. It is this outer shell that we share with all other living species. The earth at its physical core and at the core of it’s life supporting system will go on long after we disappear. It is our journey to our ultimate end that we need to focus on making a more responsible one.
-Will
Yours is indeed an optimistic comment and I for one was glad to read it.
We sure can Will, now if the rest of the world reads your post we might get some decisive, positive action! Have a Fantastic 2008 ;~)
If more of the worlds people thought in the way you do, there would be no need for a debate such as this. Too many folk subscribe to a ‘live for today’ attitude, and at times I have to admit to brushing environmental matters under the carpet myself.
Welcome to the Island. This is the first prompt I’ve not contributed to simply because for once in my life I find myself lost for words! ( don’t cheer fellow Islanders!)
Welcome Redness – Glad you are “Over It”. As your blog shows, that is indeed a good attitude to cultivate. Is that your 92 year old Dad? Congrats to him. Was he a fast walker? LOL!
Thanks for your comment. Wow! If “the rest of the world” is really going to read this post, we better get it even more Diggs and Stumbles!
-Will
Hi Keith! I see you decided to contribute to the Island this week after all. I liked your post. Daffodils in December is really strange to us. Here in Oregon, we never see them bloom before March or April.
-Will
Hi Will, I think we are intelligent enough to recognize the dangers, and I think we will survive including the earth. However, the other day when we were walking around subdivising (the 3k walk), I asked, what would happened if the gravity suddenly died, we would just fall off the Earth into space. I live everyday and follow the healthy style, however, if something would happen to the Earth unexpected we have no control – lets say sun dissapears, moon is moving away, meteor hits etc. Then we may not survive. But then never know what can be next. I think you can tell I been hanging out around Bob too much, lol. Will I think that it is our responsibility to care for the earth, but I also believe that things can happen that are beyond our control. This does not sound too optimistic, but that is why I try to live good life day by day. Excellent post Will, really enjoyed reading. Looks like you got great response on this one. Anna
You are right, Anna. There are dangers out there in space that might indeed end the existence of earth. Humans can not do anything to the planet on that scale. If and when it does happen, I wonder if it would be best to have some warning, or to go all at once, in an instant, with no warning?
Oh my, maybe we are spending too much time around Bob’s “Astrostuff”. LOL! Although, in fairness to him, Bob really does focus on the positive aspects of what is out there…. except maybe in the 3rd paragraph of this post he did! Although, that is for Mars and not Earth, thank goodness!
-Will
Wow, this was a very interesting and thought provoking post. I am glad I didnt miss it. Esp. .liked the last paragraph where you summarize it all …oh yeah…we are temporary visitors on this earth, so why dont we act like a proper visitor? Beats me! happy 08 to you.
Hi Ul! I like that…. proper visitors. I see from your site that you write poetry. Interesting as I have had several people with poetry sites post here. Nice to have another good one to visit.
It will be around for another 5 centuries or so… but due to all of the pollution and greenhouse gasses, eventually it’s going to take its toll and the earth will be gonzo.
hai will,
thanks for info. I think its time for us to make action for better earth. Maybe you can help our project to make earth for better life place.
Please visit me, thanks
Thanks for the comment! I looked at your site. Good cause! I would edit the title and posts to say “add more trees” instead of the singular “Tree”. I realize English is not the first language, but still…. Good Luck! Indonesia is one of the places on earth that has been the most decimated by forest loss.
Wow! An extremely thought provoking post.
Fingers crossed that we will begin to treat the planet we live on with a little more respect.
As our knowledge of the universe improves we should be able to overcome any problem thrown at us. The Earth is the human’s first home and not it’s last.
To the stars and beyond…
I’m sure the land we raped will grow back in a millenia or so
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Thanks for your the post, Will. I really like your take on this controversial subject.
Will thanks for this great post.I am happy to see topics like this.? would want say some things about topic but you didnt’ leave anything to me to say
The reason I know it will survive is because the Bible says “the earth remains forever.”
I like your style of writing, Will, but I fear it may be far too optimistic. Of course people would rather feel that things will just keep going as they “always” have. However, after reading a number of scientific books (though popular, such as “Collapse”) and speaking with scientists and policy makers, there is a good deal of danger to survival of humanity. If you are willing to see us die back to, say, 500 million, in a catastrophic way, and not be concerned, then you may be correct, there is nothing to fear.
We do need to strengthen our spiritual side. However, the image of billions of people starving on a planet that is 19 F hotter than today is not one that I find easily acceptable. I am not sure how much in-depth study this audience has, but to shorten it, the Permian Extinction was brought on by release of frozen methane compounds under the ocean. That is one of the great fears: we may well be on the way to causing that to occur again.
It is good to have an optimistic attitude in life, and I do, but I also feel that I am guided by reality, and that if urgent actions are not taken worldwide, and if we wait until the danger is very obvious to all, it could be too late.
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Pretty good, but….it isn’t arrogance that says we can destroy the earth and every living thing on it, but plain science. The term ‘tipping point’ doesn’t mean we tip over. It means we set in motion things that cannot be stopped. WE as one species aren’t the action that is going to kill every living thing on the planet. The reactions which we set in motion are. Your post is naive and pandering to the ‘cooler heads’ crowd who think that as long as we don’t rock too many boats, the tidal wave won’t kill us. We already see the signs of what we have done. The CO2 levels are beyond the tipping point, methane is being released that was stored under pressure and frozen in the oceans and in frozen beds beneath Siberia. Once those let go, all bets are off. The climate change isn’t just a couple of degrees to worry about anymore. Everything they said about rates of change has been shown to be extremely underestimated and conservative. Just like the ‘housing bubble’, which was going to be ‘temporary’ is now a full blown Depression-style disaster. We are being lied to in order to keep us consuming right to the very end because everything that we have been doing has been at the behest of the few rich families that control the industrialized world.
What is the purpose of Life? If you truly dig and discern the answer, you will find that it is to create future usefulness. Species are moderated through various means of predation, disease, etc. Humans have compromised all of the systems which should have kept us in check, and the result is that we are now eating the future and releasing the past. There is something like 3 billion years of stored carbon and methane (ancient sunlight), and we have released a good percentage of that stored energy in a matter of 100 years AND WE ARE ACCELERATING THE RATE. Do the frackin’ math on that and see how much impact we have. It may be arrogance, but that doesn’t change the data. I’ll take my version of arrogance over your naivete on this subject.
Great post and a great read! I don’t know if I agree that humans are THAT insignificant, but it’s a good thing to think about. Makes me think about that show “Life After People” that was just on TV.
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There is a review here of the Life After People show. It was pretty bad. I can’t believe they are making a series out of it.
It’s interesting that this post or comments doesn’t discuss the 2012 apocalypse prediction. I think there will be some sort of nuclear calamity around this time. 2012 was predicted by both the Mayan’s and also Nostradamus for the end of the world.
I’m not sure if I actually believe this prediction, however…
I was a boy scout and the motto was “be prepared”. I’m planning to stock a large quantity of food as this may well be in short supply. I’m not a libertarian, however good to be ready.
I am not sure if I believe it either. But I guess we will find out. I remember when 2012 was a date so far in the future. Now we are looking at only a few years!
When people say we are destroying the planet, they do not mean that Earth will disintegrate. Mostly, we mean will the great bulk of the “services” that Earth provides continue to be available and unencumbered by pollution. These services include clean fresh water, farmable land (with topsoil), air with the right amount of oxygen that allows us to breath, temperatures that are livable as opposed to an ice age or a 19F increase (such as in the Permian Age).
We humans are way, way beyond a “fly on the camel’s back”. We are already filling parts of the ocean with plastic giving off toxic chemicals and particles of plastic that are literally choking fish and sea birds, and causing the soil of the planet to be laced with various leachate from the plastics. We are causing the temperature of the planet to far faster and further than it would otherwise.
This post, though well-meaning, does not seem particularly well-informed. Humans have managed to extinguish themselves in a number of past environments, as written about in Jared Diamond’s book “Collapse”. In Greenland and in Easter Island, for a number of generations everything went just fine. Yet within 100 years of being at their respective peaks of civilization, they were 100% gone, due to loss of all food sources.
The post here does touch on the inspiring nature of our bond to each other and to all life on the planet. However, the illusion that we are not important enough to inflict major change and damage on the systems of our planet, and in effect “destroy” life as we know it for many of the larger beings on the planet, is very real and has already started in terms of a sudden up-tick in extinctions that has been unheard of for a very long time.
I hope we will take our responsibility, and power, seriously enough to avoid further damage, and to reach our great potential as human beings on this planet.
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Hey David – Thanks for your well thought out comment. I agree with much of what you write. You are correct that I put several ideas into this post and I am glad you picked up on the bond we humans have not only to other humans but to the everything else here too. To sort of simplify, what I meant by insignificant is not in our impact, but in how utterly insignificant our absence on the earth will be to the planet and all other species, (except perhaps our domesticated pets), when that day comes.
Thanks for being a good sport, Will. I am mostly trying to convey that seeing only the long-term view of an entire planet will miss the urgent need for us to do things better right now and in the next 100 years, as we have a major impact on the future of our own and most other species, at least in the animal kingdom and to some degree the plant kingdom. The suffering of people and animals that is already underway and that may grow dramatically if clean water and food become less and less available (for a variety of reasons), that suffering should at the least be limited as much as we can. I am certain that you agree.
If our actions are so insignificant compared to the size of this planet, I take it you are not a believer in global warming then…
Mike – You need to read the post more carefully. We are not insignificant in our effect on the planet. When the day comes if, by our actions, we make the planet unlivable for us humans, we will not be missed.
And if you want to advertise your music store, I have very reasonable rates.
I am so glad I am not the only one who realizes we have pushed Mother Earth to the brink. Mother Earth is a living being and whilst She has done a brilliant job of looking after us, we have treated Her with contempt. I have felt for the last 20 years that we had limited time here. Mother Earth will destroy us (or most of us) before we destroy her. I just hope we don’t take all (or most) of the other species with her.
I have long watch the destruction of Mother Earth by way of mining, land clearing, over population etc. And the destruction continues and will not end until it is too late. Mother Earth will destroy us in order to survive and I just hope we don’t destroy too many more species in the meantime. We are running out of water quicker than most realize and yet here in Australia we continue to use drinking water to flush our toilets. It makes me ashamed.
I am an adopted member of the Walbiri tribe of Central Australia. The fact that the Earth is our Mother is the cornerstone of all our beliefs. The Walbiri still protect and nurture their sacred sites and I am confident that the Earth will survive, but as for us, do we really deserve to be here after what we have done to our Mother? It gives me comfort to see my adopted family protect and pay homage to their sacred sites with ancient ceremonies that continue to this day. Having been to many sacred sites has left me with no doubt that Mother Earth is a living feeling being.
I was glad to find that I am not the only one who thinks as I do. I am not afraid but very sad to know that I will see unprecedented levels of destruction in the years ahead. I would very much like to communicate with anyone who shares my views as I feel like mine is a lone voice.
I like the way you think. We are nothing than dust in the wind.
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I couldn’t agree more. James Lovelock’s Gaia Theory seems to ring true. Good post.
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Well .. one day we will all die.. lol and 2012 is near.. very near.. =P