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PhilosophyAfter graduating college I began looking for a job doing television production. I was amazed how many of them revolved around getting consumers to buy things they didn’t necessarily need. I told myself that unless I became absolutely destitute, I was going to try to use my skills in production doing projects which didn’t push mass consumption.In the early 90’s I was lucky enough to get to know famed 20th century conservationist David Brower. What struck me most about David Brower was his uncompromising view towards wilderness preservation. ‘If you enjoy this wild country, you have a duty to preserve and protect it for future generations.’ David once said. Simple enough of a concept I suppose but hard to do. I try to approach life like it’s one big backpacking trip. Every time I find myself in the wilderness, I am reminded how little one needs to truly enjoy life. Taking a low-impact approach, whether in the wilderness or in your every day life, is not only good ethics it’s vital to maintaining the quality of life we’ve grown accustomed to. As populations continue to increase so does the demand for resources. It’s easy to blame it on the big corporations or a myriad of other producers, but what I propose is that we look within. Let’s each one of us look within our own lives and ask, what can I do to decrease my demand for resources? Every year approximately 80 million acres of rainforest are destroyed. Much of the wood is for ‘us’ the developed nations of the world. Becoming an educated consumer is something we can all do to help thwart the threat. By this I mean by asking questions about where the goods you’re using to sustain your own life or your family’s lives come from. If you’re building a home or are involved in other construction projects, know where the wood is coming from. Make sure it’s coming from a reputable company and has been harvested in a manner, which minimizes environmental and social impact. That is one of many examples. From recycling our newspaper to using mass transit, there are many things each one of us can do to lesson our impact on the only planet we’ll ever know. As Brower used to say, Let us not destroy the wildness the ages have made perfect. |
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