Viewpoint: Respect precious Earth and all its lifeforms

Jerry Covault

Together we can make the natural world better for people, for wild and domestic animals, for wild and domestic plants, for the soil, the water, the air and the climate. Or, together we can continue to exploit natural world and deteriorate life.

HOW can we adopt attitudes toward natural resources that include respect, thankfulness and choose to CARE for the Earth and all living residents - plants and animals.

The natural resources the Earth provides have allowed human innovation to develop everything from potato chips to computer chips. People’s daily comforts and securities are products of Earth’s natural resources from water to rare earth minerals. And yet we seldom consider how these natural resources are extracted and the effects (other than economic) of what we put them to.  We give ourselves credit for innovation and advancement without appreciating that the basic resources are here, given, for our use.

People have degraded and polluted the gifts of productive soil, water, natural beauty, and the daily building blocks of a comfortable, safe and enjoyable lifestyle. Now, respecting and caring and appreciating Earth’s natural resources are necessary if we are to continue to live safely and comfortably. Together we must make this change from economic exploitation of natural resources to their caring and perpetuation - everything from butterflies to bison, aquifers to atmosphere.

Facts, as in the above paragraphs and scientific conclusions do not change people’s minds, or cause us to care and change behavior. Feelings do that. Feelings and caring are changed in humanity through art:  stories, poetry, pictures, conversations with those we love, with acquaintances and with strangers. Changed feelings are the path to changed actions.

Communicating, thankfulness, respect, understanding and listening are the vehicles that can bring us together, caring for one another and this Earth.