The Path to Harmony between Humans and Nature

Gilfford Pinchot was one of the founders and leaders of the U.S conservation movement. He defines conservation as, "the wise use of natural resources to meet human needs and desires," and describes the principles of conservation as "exceedingly simple." (8, Easton) Conservation recognizes the right for the current generations use of resources, so it demands the welfare of the current generation first, and then takes into consideration the next generation. The first principle of conservation is development, which is the use of natural resources for current generations. The second principle is the prevention of waste and to control the earth we live on. Resources must be developed and preserved for the benefit of many people and not for the profit of a few. (9, Easton) Pinchot believes by following the principles of conservation, it should provide the greatest good, to the greatest number for the longest time. Pinchot makes me question, how can we really know a respectable amount of resources to use? At what level do we cut our welfare off? When burning fossil fuels for our current generation, we must take into account the next, but what if there isn`t enough and we can`t find a replacement resource? Should we sacrifice ourselves for the next generation?

Aldo Leopold  was an American preservationist who was concerned with the relationship between people and earth. He believes that humans do not respect the land they live on, and he believes the source of this problem is our educational and economic system. Our educational and economic system does not consider or take into account land ethics, but rather it is more considerate towards technology and "physical gadgets." (12, Easton) Leopold says "a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. And it is wrong when it tends otherwise." (12, Easton) Leopold is certainly right that are society is consumed with technology, and with the evolution of technology it certainly has taken us further and further away from nature. Although technology has also provided us with longers and happier lives, in order for us to even have a life we need a place to live. Our earth, for billions of years have given us land to build on, food to eat and the materials to create shelter and clothes. Our earth deserves respect and to be treated properly, and by doing so we are respecting ourselves and ensuring a future.

Lester Brown, who founded the World Watch Institute, is concerned with environmental degradation and population growth. Environmental damage will effect the global economy as well; with the collapse of fisheries from over fishing, the loss of timber from deforestation and wasted cropland from erosion are economy is bound to suffer in the form of food scarcity. From evidence, it was determined agriculture has often been connected to environmental deterioration and economic decline. Brown believes rising grain prices will be the first sign that we are living unsustainably, and that humans are in need of a wake up call. We must stabilize population and climate which is dependent on reproduction and reconstruction of the economy. "The futures food security depends on creating an environmentally sustainable economy." (145, Easton) With a growing population, which is supposed to be around 9 billion by 2050, how can we control our poopulation? There are far too many people to control! Does that mean we should create a law on reproducing? Will it become that the government decides who can have a child? Or, will it be a limit as one per household? Our quality and freedom of life is taking a very serious turn for disaster. Soon, not only will we have restrictions on reproduction, but our cities might be redesigned so we don`t have to drive to the super market or to get our hair cut. Will we have to walk everywhere, even in -50 weather?

David Pimentel discusses the time when farming was organic and compares it to today`s farming techniques, which are much more harmful to the environment and to public health. Farming techniques today consist of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which cause, just in the USA per year, 12 billion dollars worth of environmental and health care costs. Organic farming allows the conservation of soil, water, energy and biological resources. (150, Easton) Although, organic farming has to major problems; nitrogen deficiency and weed competition. Personally, I do not want to eat a bunch of hormone injected, pesiticide filled fruits and vegetables. I also want the animals I eat to have a life filled with quality and time. We should reflect back on how hunters and gatherers lived and learn from their respect for animals and the moderation they exercised.

Wendell Berry discusses how humans no longer live with the land and instead are too focused on technology and how advanced it can become. He spent his childhood in Henry County, where his family owned a small farm. On this farm, they would eat the eggs and drink the milk they produced and grow their own gardens.. Now, Henry County has become `increasingly  mechanized,`` where the lands have become larger and instead are owned by professionals from the city rather than local farmers. (137, Easton)  By farms becoming larger and larger a dependence on machine forms and instead of having a nurturing farmer who tends to his crops, you have a technician focused on size and profit.
Berry thinks we should live by the philosophy, ``act locally, think globally.`` (137, Easton)
At our population and demand it is very difficult for a farmer not to depend on technology to maintain his or her farm. But with a decrease in demand, the farmer is given more time and can be more patient with his crops. Humans must begin to live sustainably and respect the convenience of going to Superstore and buying a dozen eggs, or a loaf of bread. If we keeps on the path of improving technology and disregarding the environment we will undoubtedly be the cause of our own extinction.
Vandana Shiva, a feminist, contrasts women and nature within our patriarchal society. As women are considered the `second sex,` nature is also placed as second. Nature is not seen as valuable, but rather the profit gained out of it is what is concerned important. As diversity is the foundation of women's politics, it is also the foundation for ecology. Since women have such experience in dealing with diversity, Shiva believes women are greatly beneficial to the preservation of biodiversity. In Shivas opinion, women are much more knowledge in the preservation of biodiversity as they are producers, reproducers and consumers. Women are certainly, in most cases, more sensitive than men, and since they reproduce, they naturally are caregivers. Although I agree with Shiva in a lot of her argument, many men are just as capable, if not more capable then women to care for our environment. Since it is an issue that affects both genders, it becomes important to both, and regardless of gender if a person is concerned with the envrionment they will care for it similarily.

Sustainable development, is ``the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.`` (198, Easton) Sustainability strives towards the satisfaction of all human needs and it requires a society to increasing `` productive potential`` and making sure every one has equal opportunity. Sustainable development must not endanger the atmosphere, water, soil or living beings. That being said, we must use renewable resources in ways it will not be depleted and it the resource is still able to regenerate itself. Non-renewable resources can be used as long as it does no degrade the land in a way it wont recover. In order for sustainable development to become a common interest it must be integrated with the education system as well as law enforcement. It must become of every ones benefit to take into account the environment. We must create harmony between humans and nature in the pursuit of sustainable development.