The Van Gogh thing was awesome! Could you let me know where exactly in San Francisco this is located? I'm planning to check it out the next time I'm there. On a more serious note, when it comes to preservation, the issues of reforestation and re-wilding immediately come to mind. Often, the planting of trillions of trees becomes a major headline, yet very few are focusing on stopping deforestation. Similarly, the Silicon Valley mindset provides people like George Church with millions of dollars to revive woolly mammoths (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/13/geneticist-george-church-gets-funding-for-lab-grown-woolly-mammoths.html) However, I work for a natural history museum where we are struggling to find, train, and support taxonomists and data scientists to understand and preserve endangered species. But I agree that "there are a number of ways for each of us to be involved in our local environmental decision".
Hi Sharif! Thanks for interacting with the article.
If I'm following your comment correctly, you're pointing out that the issue is far more complex than simply a preservation vs cultivation dichotomy.
If that's the case, then I agree. It should be said that there is an element of preservation in cultivation. That said, though, my point in drawing a dichotomy between these two paradigms is just that, a dichotomy of paradigms, not a dichotomy of methods. There will be an overlap in methods among people from both paradigms. To use your example, there will be people who view humanity as a scourge on the planet and people who see humanity as the cultivators of creation who both seek to understand and preserve endangered species.
Further, I think your point about reforestation getting the headline is excellent and indicative of other issues. Often, the American media focuses on what someone does to remedy a problem, instead of delving into what caused the problem to begin with. They run a headline like you mention, but fail to look at what caused the need for trillions of trees to be planted.
Hence, the Wendell Berry quote. We've got to stop and focus on how to get at the root of a lot of these problems, which often begins with our assumptions. Personally, I believe that that solution comes most effectively at a local level (which also pushes back on that Silicon Valley mindset you mentioned). That's the reason for my exhortation.
Hopefully all of that clears things up and doesn't further muddy the waters.
The Van Gogh thing was awesome! Could you let me know where exactly in San Francisco this is located? I'm planning to check it out the next time I'm there. On a more serious note, when it comes to preservation, the issues of reforestation and re-wilding immediately come to mind. Often, the planting of trillions of trees becomes a major headline, yet very few are focusing on stopping deforestation. Similarly, the Silicon Valley mindset provides people like George Church with millions of dollars to revive woolly mammoths (https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/13/geneticist-george-church-gets-funding-for-lab-grown-woolly-mammoths.html) However, I work for a natural history museum where we are struggling to find, train, and support taxonomists and data scientists to understand and preserve endangered species. But I agree that "there are a number of ways for each of us to be involved in our local environmental decision".
Hi Sharif! Thanks for interacting with the article.
If I'm following your comment correctly, you're pointing out that the issue is far more complex than simply a preservation vs cultivation dichotomy.
If that's the case, then I agree. It should be said that there is an element of preservation in cultivation. That said, though, my point in drawing a dichotomy between these two paradigms is just that, a dichotomy of paradigms, not a dichotomy of methods. There will be an overlap in methods among people from both paradigms. To use your example, there will be people who view humanity as a scourge on the planet and people who see humanity as the cultivators of creation who both seek to understand and preserve endangered species.
Further, I think your point about reforestation getting the headline is excellent and indicative of other issues. Often, the American media focuses on what someone does to remedy a problem, instead of delving into what caused the problem to begin with. They run a headline like you mention, but fail to look at what caused the need for trillions of trees to be planted.
Hence, the Wendell Berry quote. We've got to stop and focus on how to get at the root of a lot of these problems, which often begins with our assumptions. Personally, I believe that that solution comes most effectively at a local level (which also pushes back on that Silicon Valley mindset you mentioned). That's the reason for my exhortation.
Hopefully all of that clears things up and doesn't further muddy the waters.
Hey there! Thanks for the shout.
Appreciate the feedback on deforestation, and on D.T.'s paradigm of preservation v. cultivation.
D.T. - any thoughts?
Don't quote me on this, but it looks like Greta is at 414 Mason Street:
https://hoodline.com/2019/11/18-meter-greta-thunberg-mural-brings-flood-of-controversy-commentary/