Why It Matters, Ethics of Eco Property Management
The basic question could be asked; Why should we spend our hard earned money and precious energy doing any of this stuff? Why not build a conventional home, get all our food from the grocery store and mow our lawns like most "normal" people?
There was a time in our history when humanity was a struggling species. We scratched for barely enough food, we worked hard to maintain even basic shelter and we lived in fear of being attacked by other humans and/or other species. In order to overcome all this, we evolved an "attitude" or a way of thinking or believing - and a way of living. We drastically altered our surroundings and our environment. We cleared forest so we could see predators and let in more sun for our gardens. We fashioned tools and weapons and we began to store food. We needed to live largely on the land - conquer or be conquered. Our actions were species selfish - at that point perhaps they had to be.
Looking at it now, it's obvious to see that this strategy worked well for us. Our population soared and we continue to do well for ourselves as a species. However here we are at a time in history when we have perhaps been too successful. We have severely overpopulated our planet - and are driving unconscionable numbers of other species into extinction. In addition we are trashing our air, water, and land so that future generations will have many more challenges. But still, you might ask, why does it matter if I have more birds in my yard or if I grow a garden or not?
We have evolved believing that our species is superior to all others - that we are truly the only species that matters. We go so far as to believe that the Almighty God created us in HIS image - and only WE have souls and go to heaven. Well, I ask you, where has this belief system gotten us? Let's imagine that we adopt a different belief system. Let's imagine that we believe ALL species are equally important. Wow - this changes EVERYTHING doesn't it? Now, with our new belief system, if we want to build a coal fired power plant we need to consider everyone - including all other species. That coal fired plant probably would not be built because we know how damaging it is to mine coal - we'd be taking homes from other species and polluting water that we all use. And when we think about running that coal fired plant, we realize that mercury and other metals and pollutants will be cast out upon the earth and we will all be affected. So even though we are the only species taking advantage of this power all other species will have to live with the consequences.
Imagine that one day some other civilization from another planet decides to come and use our planet for some kind of dumping ground. They simply come here every so often and dump some noxious chemical on planet earth and leave. This noxious chemical is a by product of their energy system on their planet. We don't see any benefit from their energy what so ever - we are victimized . This is what we are doing to other species here on earth. And in doing so, we are inadvertently strangling ourselves along with them.
Other species are here on this earth - they have a right to be here just as we do. It is a crime to pollute their home, and take their home and lives without their consent. (watch the movie "Earthlings"!) http://earthlings.com/ and Cowspiracy: http://www.cowspiracy.com/
It becomes apparent that when we are compassionate and altruistic regarding all species, it benefits us as much as it does them.
In addition to all this, we can argue that it is only right for future generations of humans to be able to see and enjoy other species just as we have. I don't know about you, but I personally feel robbed that I cannot see a huge flock of Passenger Pigeons take to flight - or that I cannot go hike for days in old growth forest or hike for days in endless unbroken native prairie. What part of humanity are we robbing when we can only interact with ourselves, when we only see cities, when we only care about ourselves.
I know very few people these days who think humanity and the earth are going in a good direction. Most agree that our overpopulation and our exploiting of other beings and of our environment is not a good thing. Most of us know that humanity is heading in the wrong direction and we're taking a lot of other species with us. This is why I think it is so very important to care. Perhaps you think your little one acre won't matter - it will just be easier to mow your lawn and keep your head in the sand. I believe that it all matters. If we do nothing we can expect no changes. But if we act, no matter how small, we have a chance - perhaps a very little chance, but a chance. Besides, I'd rather go to my grave knowing that I did something to help rather than just give up and let myself become another parasite on earth. And if nothing else, may I suggest re-wild your property in protest of what mainstream society is doing. Protest what is not working and what has not been working for a long time.
So, I say do it for us - do it for them, do it because it IS the right thing to do. Go to your grave with a smile - a giddiness even. Laugh knowing that you were different - and that you had the guts to do the right thing.
There was a time in our history when humanity was a struggling species. We scratched for barely enough food, we worked hard to maintain even basic shelter and we lived in fear of being attacked by other humans and/or other species. In order to overcome all this, we evolved an "attitude" or a way of thinking or believing - and a way of living. We drastically altered our surroundings and our environment. We cleared forest so we could see predators and let in more sun for our gardens. We fashioned tools and weapons and we began to store food. We needed to live largely on the land - conquer or be conquered. Our actions were species selfish - at that point perhaps they had to be.
Looking at it now, it's obvious to see that this strategy worked well for us. Our population soared and we continue to do well for ourselves as a species. However here we are at a time in history when we have perhaps been too successful. We have severely overpopulated our planet - and are driving unconscionable numbers of other species into extinction. In addition we are trashing our air, water, and land so that future generations will have many more challenges. But still, you might ask, why does it matter if I have more birds in my yard or if I grow a garden or not?
We have evolved believing that our species is superior to all others - that we are truly the only species that matters. We go so far as to believe that the Almighty God created us in HIS image - and only WE have souls and go to heaven. Well, I ask you, where has this belief system gotten us? Let's imagine that we adopt a different belief system. Let's imagine that we believe ALL species are equally important. Wow - this changes EVERYTHING doesn't it? Now, with our new belief system, if we want to build a coal fired power plant we need to consider everyone - including all other species. That coal fired plant probably would not be built because we know how damaging it is to mine coal - we'd be taking homes from other species and polluting water that we all use. And when we think about running that coal fired plant, we realize that mercury and other metals and pollutants will be cast out upon the earth and we will all be affected. So even though we are the only species taking advantage of this power all other species will have to live with the consequences.
Imagine that one day some other civilization from another planet decides to come and use our planet for some kind of dumping ground. They simply come here every so often and dump some noxious chemical on planet earth and leave. This noxious chemical is a by product of their energy system on their planet. We don't see any benefit from their energy what so ever - we are victimized . This is what we are doing to other species here on earth. And in doing so, we are inadvertently strangling ourselves along with them.
Other species are here on this earth - they have a right to be here just as we do. It is a crime to pollute their home, and take their home and lives without their consent. (watch the movie "Earthlings"!) http://earthlings.com/ and Cowspiracy: http://www.cowspiracy.com/
It becomes apparent that when we are compassionate and altruistic regarding all species, it benefits us as much as it does them.
In addition to all this, we can argue that it is only right for future generations of humans to be able to see and enjoy other species just as we have. I don't know about you, but I personally feel robbed that I cannot see a huge flock of Passenger Pigeons take to flight - or that I cannot go hike for days in old growth forest or hike for days in endless unbroken native prairie. What part of humanity are we robbing when we can only interact with ourselves, when we only see cities, when we only care about ourselves.
I know very few people these days who think humanity and the earth are going in a good direction. Most agree that our overpopulation and our exploiting of other beings and of our environment is not a good thing. Most of us know that humanity is heading in the wrong direction and we're taking a lot of other species with us. This is why I think it is so very important to care. Perhaps you think your little one acre won't matter - it will just be easier to mow your lawn and keep your head in the sand. I believe that it all matters. If we do nothing we can expect no changes. But if we act, no matter how small, we have a chance - perhaps a very little chance, but a chance. Besides, I'd rather go to my grave knowing that I did something to help rather than just give up and let myself become another parasite on earth. And if nothing else, may I suggest re-wild your property in protest of what mainstream society is doing. Protest what is not working and what has not been working for a long time.
So, I say do it for us - do it for them, do it because it IS the right thing to do. Go to your grave with a smile - a giddiness even. Laugh knowing that you were different - and that you had the guts to do the right thing.