Lessons from Exploring: We need to Protect Earth

Exploring the planet is quite a humbling experience, especially when you venture out into the wilderness and catch glimpses of the beauty awaiting explorers out in the wilderness. Going on expeditions through forests, up mountains, along rivers and so on introduces you to a world that is full of wonder and serenity that seems like something straight out of a sci-fi movie or fantasy novel.  It also makes one realize that we need to protect and preserve this planet so it stays this extraordinary for generations to come.  Today the environment’s health seems to be on the decline according to recent statements from scientists, this is quite saddening to hear.  As the dominate species of a planet so unique and precious to the Universe we should be protecting it and helping the other species that call this planet home to thrive in it.  Guided by our greed and our inability to change and learn from our mistakes we, as a species and I include myself in this, are slowing destroying the planet making our worst enemy ourselves. We are driving species to becoming endangered and extinct and eliminating things that we don’t even know exist. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson recently said in a Twitter post that “Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes – traditionally ‘Acts of God’ on Insurance Forms. But as climate-change continues and coattails flooding from hurricanes worsens, the forms might now include ‘Acts of Humans’.” In fact in a recent article published by the Smithsonian, which covered evidence in a report from 91 scientists from 40 countries, stated that the world is already clocking in at 1 degree Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels and a 2 degree rise could lead to widespread disaster (Wu, “The World Was Just Issued 12-Year Ultimatum On Climate Change”).

We have this Earth, this planet. It is our home, our place where we fell in Love, went on extraordinary adventures, came alive, and discovered ourselves. Felt pain, sadness, joy and excitement. It is here where we made our mark, our light in the Universe, which finds us significant. Brian Cox once said that “We are the cosmos made conscious, and Life is the means by which the Universe understands itself.” The beauty of this planet needs to be kept, not for our sake, but for our children’s sake and for their children. Protect it so that one day, they may walk in the same beauty that we have.  If you do not feel that the Earth needs protecting I ask you to take a walk out into the wilderness for yourself and discover the wonder and beauty that was given to us.  For we as humans together are Atlas, the mythical Titan who held the world on his shoulders. Carrying this world to something better and protecting it is worth more than money, for it is what keeps us alive.  The Earth has allowed us to live and we most return the favor. Together we can find peace and help keep this planet beautifully bizarre.

Video for thought: “Shoulders” by Shane Koyczan and The Short Story Long

    – Dustin

 

 

 

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