Climate Change

Slow Burn: I thought this concept, applied to how human beings regard environmental catastrophe, was brilliant. We, as a people, only view environmental catastrophe, or any threat to mankind for that matter, as an emergency only if it threatens us in the now, in the immediate present. If the catastrophe is something that will impact us down the road, great, then we can put the end of man on the back burner. This is evident with environmental catastrophe, potential terrorist and domestic attacks, and disease. The glaciers are melting but because we are not directly exposed to the consequences too severely why not let it slow burn into compete environmental devastation instead of acting steadfast now. Terrorist attacks will continue until we remove ourselves from reliance on foreign oil, Middle East conflicts, and complete Israeli support. But who cares? At least until another 9/11 occurs. Disease is not controlled with preventive measures, at it should be, but rather as treatment once the disease is contracted. We, as human beings, prefer our fight or flight response to disaster, let it happen and when it does then we act, as opposed to a more rational approach, do something to remedy the situation before it becomes a disaster.

Photo provided by E. Erickson on Flickr June 19th, 2013

Small creature looking at old Friend: I loved the story of a nature photographer traveling the world looking for one of the most smallest, elusive creatures in the world. The story was full of amusing anecdotes and insight as well as an interesting epiphany. I particularly found the photographer's epiphany fascinating although I may have interpreted it a little different. The photographer mentioned as he finally found the elusive creature and looked at it, as it looked at him, for the first time he saw the story of primitive man living with primitive creature replaying in his mind. I believe rather that the creature was looking at modern man, completely separate from his natural, more primitive self. I like to think this small creature was looking at the photographer not as man at all but rather as a symbol of betrayal.  200,000 years ago man was a part of nature, living with nature as all other animals do today. Now man has turned into something completely different. Something against nature that has lost its way. The small creature knew what man has become and feared him like never before. Man has become stronger than nature able to destroy it effortlessly unlike any animal ever known. The small, elusive animal soon scattered after seeing new man, terrified of what has become of a once natural species and what the future holds after such an unnatural transformation.

Photo provided by Jack B. on Flickr May 19, 2012