by Adam Cramb Despite the possible fear of being exposed to human interference, the wild Great Blue Heron made an effort to preserve itself and returned to its nest at Powell River Recreation Complex. Here we have made an effort to preserve habitat and in the process have saved the home of a rare species. We live in one of the few forested places left on the planet that provides life to a multitude of species.
With access to global market and environmental information, we understand that the majority of our income has come from the use of, and is used at the removal of the world’s resources. The reality is that the world’s resources are limited.
Under the influence of a contaminated process of conditioning (we are using consumerism as the condition), we continue to purchase vast amounts of stuff that we only use occasionally, if at all. The path that brings about an end to this condition is necessary to relieve the Earth of our increase in demand for its resources. We recognize the reasons for climate change as we make an effort to rid ourselves of the causes. The destruction of habitat to feed our need for more can be limited if we choose to own less. If the cutting down of trees to make room for land in the rainforests of South America sounds like a terrible thing, it is. Powell River has an opportunity to limit its own damage by creating urban density within the land already deforested. Powell River will no longer be a paradise of wilderness if we refuse to start taking advantage of the land that is already deforested.
Urban density boundaries can bring up our property value and increase the natural value of our wilderness. Creative and innovative ways are being supported by provincial and federal government because government knows we need to do things differently. Pulp and paper values are decreasing rapidly with recycling and technology.
As consumers we now have the power to buy something or buy nothing. We are a better informed, more intelligent society today. We have moved away from the blind purchasing of the last 50 years toward a conscious consumerism. We have accepted that our actions are the cause of death and destruction for many species around the world.
With this acceptance comes a new responsibility for all of us. It would be wonderful to say to our daughters and granddaughters, sons and grandsons, “We have made a lot of mistakes, but we have realized our mistakes, we have begun to repair the damage and nature is returning.”
When we recognize our mistakes we can make stronger efforts to preserve habitat for wildlife. We can control our own needs by service to the needs of others. We depend upon wildlife and nature more than we realize. By sharing and preserving what we already have, nature has the chance to grow and support all life, not just human life.
Adam Cramb lives in Westview, is a writer and member of the Vision Committee on Sustainability.
