When I think of the degredation and destruction of the natural environment, the desperate situation of the salmon in northern California rivers and streams comes to mind; and I find it extremely upsetting. I know that other animals are closer to the brink of extinction, and that the most serious environmental problems--the increase of carbon in the atmosphere, the destruction of the rainforests, the erosion of topsoil worldwide, and so forth--these are the big, global problems in which the life of the salmon plays only a small part. But what a noble life these creatures live. Swimming hundreds of miles sometimes to return to their place of birth; leaping over the walls of major dam systems to make their way back home. When I read a recent article describing how the coho salmon might become extinct within the next year or two in the Klamath river system, I wanted to tear my hair out.
Some environmentalists scoff at the layperson's concern for individual species of animals, like the African elephant, the Siberian tiger, the polar bear or the northern California salmon. But I think we do need these examples of perfect beauty, grace or nobility to inspire us to act on the bigger, global issues...if I just keep repeating to myself, "Good god--what will be left of the natural world when my son turns 18?" such a question will only produce inertia and fear inside of me, not action. And I do want to act, more significantly than I have done up to now, in this particular arena.
And now that I've talked so much about the salmon--I'll start there.
No comments:
Post a Comment