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STAND UP STRAIGHT
Wednesday Apr. 22, 2015
Q. What is THE grand prize in this human race?
A. Survival of our species.
When we ceased being monkey-like, origin of our species, when we first stood up for ourselves, humanness emerged in Africa’s great rift valley 200,000 years ago, we’ve all been in search of THE grand prize.
Human civilization, in pursuit of more, better and grander prizes and achievement than survival itself has treated earth as its/our personal non-sustainable garbage dump with little care for non-sustainability consequences …
Paying that price, that ultimate sacrifice for that legacy is neither new or NEWS.
Earth will survive.
Volcanoes will erupt, winds will blow. Oceans will bathe beaches.
Sun will rise and set. Moon will make tides and inspire poetry …
But will we survive?
This Earth Day, should we celebrate, or move along to eulogizing?
An easy question for current earthlings if we speak only for ourselves.
We celebrate progress, improving science, improving practices and improved concern-levels in our consciousness.
Where do we start that most effectively?
With children, in school.
They are the decision makers whose job it will be to improve on ours, to fix what we’ve failed to fix. To fix it better than we did. And their children will fix it even better.
I AM afraid.
Not for me.
Nor my grandchildren, or their children.
What awaits their children’s children?
We can’t give them this GRAND PRIZE if they can’t make it to the presentation.
Will there be a GRAND PRIZE for whales, dolphins, spotted owls?
We need to stand up for ourselves, more than ever, or we will see every joy of life as we know it extinguished. Not our own lifetime, but far sooner than most of us have been thinking.
Is it too late already?
Are we really saving dolphins?
Looking at the list of species in trouble, I’m surprised I don’t see MAN listed as ‘doubtful’.
Not yet. But soon. Blame easily belongs on short-sighted previous generations, but there is no comfort saying that.
That weight sits very heavily on ours.
Collectively AND individually – there is no escaping.
We could colonize Mars, or our moon, but for burgeoning billions, this place is home.
We talk conservation, being green and reducing our footprint. We listen to the teachings of Jane Goodall-types while ignoring planet’s most basic needs – so how could we come out as winners, as survivors?
Are we doing what we are doing well enough, or in time, to make a difference?
Likely, it is too late for polar bears. Too late for spotted owls and countless species. Is it too late for us?
As much as we could dream/scheme how to win this human race, or save it from itself, altruism of being good to ourselves and our planet is where we fall so profoundly short.
Earth day is every day, is it not?
Worth caring for every day, like people.
Most would agree it isn’t money, things, position or power.
Each – delicious, highly enjoyable to acquire – lacks joy of a giggling child, falls short of feeling completely full, free.
Could someone please tell me what defines their grand prize of life?
Are we using EARTH, as though we are each guards, guardians of treasured resources?
How are we doing?
Not well.
Not enough.
Mark Kolke
P.S.: check out 60 amazing photos for Earth Day
column written/ published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 6C/42F at 6:00AM, clear and comfy – one man, one dog, one poop-bag – walking through a typical street of life and debris on display, suburbia at its ‘average’ sleeping late or rushing to work in car-clogged traffic like lab rats on wheels and treadmills, running in place and learning too little too slowly for anyone’s real good I’m afraid
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