Nature Journal Fourteen (NJ14): A Reflection on "Before the Flood"


Nature Journal Fourteen: Before the Flood Response

            After a semester of traveling and participating in activities outside in nature it was very difficult to watch “Before The Flood” documentary by Leonardo Di Caprio. While in response to Hurricane Katrina, the title of this documentary does have some meaning to it as it essentially equates the human race as this toxic flood. A powerful current that cannot be stopped without the collective effort of a group of people. It is sad that the world around us is changing at an accelerated path that may be too far advanced to revert. Our rapid industrialization and lack of awareness has led to a massive crisis that is not only affecting the present but has far-reaching applications for the future. How could we be so ignorant? Is it the fact that most humans do not care? Do we discount future experiences so highly that the present is the only picture covering the screen? Animals that I have witnessed and love, very well may be extinct by the time my children or grandchildren walk these very gravel roads. I cannot help but blame myself as there are countless activities that I have been aware of that hurt the environment, yet I take the easy route and leave it to others to carry my burden. If everyone had the same mindset that they are an individual and individual actions will not affect the future, then we have no hope. Awareness needs to be brought upon the collective group that if change does not happen now, we are going to witness forced change by mother nature, and it will not be pleasant. I am a big believe in the idea that animals have emotions and feelings and it is imperative that we treat animals how we would treat humans. While hard to watch, the film opened up a new door for me and my view on climate change. I need to be better and keep a careful eye on my contributions to the problem. Whether that is recycling more, planting a garden, or eating organic meet then that is what I can do on a small scale to help. This video would not have had as profound as an effect on me if I had not taken this class. I got to experience nature from a new perspective and intertwine my daily life and thoughts. You truly do not realize how much you love something into it is gone and that is where we are heading as a human community.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nature Journal Three (NJ3): The Koi Sadness

Image
Nature Journal Three: The Japanese Garden             I decided to take a walk through the Japanese Garden at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden Center. I was curious how the cultural differences in nature appearance could be assimilated to urban Fort Worth. I thought it would be an especially interesting opportunity after listening to Tomoko Arakawa speak to our class in our urban shoebox.             I walked through a large dojo door to enter into the preserve. It was full of luscious flora as a greenbelt filled my vision. Small stone paths with sand carried my feet through the exhibit. The smell of Jasmine and Thyme tickled my nose as the aroma dripped down from the plants arching the pathway. A bamboo palisade guarded the flora from any outside inhabitants. As I made my way through the jungle, I saw a rock formation sitting in a pit of sand. Absolutely still as if ...
Read more

Nature Observation Two: A Berry Good Time

Image
           Nature Observation Two      Under the canopy of an oak tree sits a berry plant, full of vigor and vitality. The adolescent berries are lucid and extend out against the backdrop of the leaves. The berries are circular, like fish eggs, yet soft as watered down clay. They are still young as a little bit of force causes one to break in a juicy eruption. The berries extend from their nest and begin to build a fortress around the outreaching stem. A squirrel begins to examine the hand of food. Are they safe to eat? Are they poisonous? Is it worth my risk? The squirrel delays its meal for another time. Perhaps these natural paintballs were not ripe for the taking or may be disturbing to the stomach. A question for another day.
Read more

Nature Journal Thirteen (NJ13): A Windy City

Nature Journal Thirteen: A Windy City             Growing up in a suburb of Chicago wind has always been a common natural element of my life. Until this class, I never really thought anything of it. I decided to spend some time outside over Thanksgiving break and reflect on the atmosphere. No one seems to fancy wind; it amplifies cold weather, or it can destroy lives through tornadoes. While wind is always portrayed as a negative element, it can do some beautiful things as well. It can transmit smells and sounds across the earth. I could hear animals whaling in the distance as their cries were miles away yet echoed so clearly. As the wind chilled my soul, I began to notice the leaves falling from the trees. The simple process that many anger at as it requires work to clean was a stepping stone to new life. The falling leaves will soon disappear and make the soil stronger and more nutrias for it's inhabitan...
Read more