I liked this title (or some variation of it) so much that I had to use it eventually. Also, I’ve rewritten this post three different ways. Finally, I decided to finish the post based on the conclusion that in order to help the North American masses realize the importance and reality of our natural systems, our media regarding it needs to change. I will offer three starter solutions to this at the end.

All across North America, and unfortunately in record numbers in the United States, visits to National Parks are reaching dismal lows. In all seriousness, I’m not trying to get anyone to stand in line at your local gyser, camera over shoulder, hip-pouch protruding in an obtuse manner under your shirt, etc… But I am trying to get you out of urban centres, and out to see what your country, reflexes, and body chemistry is made of. The reasons for the declines in park visits are broad; ranging from travel costs to overall economic worry (which has that mind-numbing effect), but I still believe the need for nature in youth’s blood is as strong as ever.

I do fear the health of our environment if general perception of nature stays as-is. It’s not something to be only photographed and idolized. It’s not about where the closest Starbux is (and whether the one in XXXX National Park is Green Compliant).

1) We need to start portraying our historical connection to the land in a truthful manner, and no more ‘out of sight, out of mind’. First and foremost, industry has always viewed it as a resource that’s there for the taking. It must be understood that yes, it is a resource, but it is a resource beyond what we harvest it for.

2) Nature has some sort of mystical, odd connotation to it (open to interpretation). It’s normal, and it’s everywhere:

Foggy Fright

Spooks

snow-white-magical1

3) Finally, don’t leave working for our land and its health to only the specialists. The more everyone understands and enjoys what we live with the harder specialists can work.

No offence, but I fear that brave hippies have excluded the normals from ’saving the trees’ by not always being quite on target with their demands – and putting goals out of reach.  The case of a certain few ruining it for the rest, perhaps. Lastly, I look forward to the current economic climate (I love pinning everything on that) having a massive impact on producers and exporters; perhaps then will we see the true value of our resources, and the real costs of extracting them.

If after all that you still feel empty, my point is made. We have much, much more to do. Until then, perhaps a certain disaster can get people moving…