The Environmental Solution

The Environmental Solution

Throughout history, mankind has had differing ideas on how to treat the environment. This differing opinion can be seen both within a single culture and time period, and between different cultures and time periods. In today's society, this idea is more prevalent than ever, we see battles over where to dump wastes, how to reduce their production, and also how and if to reuse them. This recent interest in the environment at large has also spawned various national organizations and committees whose purpose is to influence the way people act and think about the apparent problem. Though no one seems to have a perfect solution to the environmental problems facing the world today, it seems that there must be something to be done about this growing issue.

Over the course of history different cultures have had differing opinions with regard to the way the environment should be treated and used. An example of a culture that deeply values the environment and all of nature is the Native Americans. This society has a rich culture and religious background that includes the worship of the spirits and gods of nature, seasons, weather, and animals. They believe that these spirits and gods watch over them and bring them good fortune in the form of plentiful harvests and good weather, and thus treat the earth, including all animals, plants, and other aspects of nature, with due respect and consideration at all times. Chief Seattle tells of this relationship in his statement, "The air is precious to the red man... What is man without the beasts... Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth"(602). He writes this in a letter to President Franklin Pierce in regards to his views of the "white man's" treatment of the land and environment. The early Americans he speaks of in his letter had a differing opinion of the environment all together. Until recently Americans have used the land and all of its resources until they are use up and just moved on to the next parcel. It was their practice to hunt animals to near extinction, clear-cut whole forests, and pollute waterways without any consideration of what the effects might turn out to be.

In the society of today Americans as a whole are more conscientious of the environment around them. People in all walks of life now are educated on the impacts of our lives on the environment as a whole and what can be done about different aspects of the problem. This ranges from outspoken politicians who push their opinions and possible solutions into view all the way down to the general public who participate in local recycling programs. Past Vice-President, Al Gore, was one such politician and his views are plainly stated when he says, "we are now running out of ways to dispose of our waste in a manner that keeps it out of either sight or mind... we are now disconcerted-even offended- when the huge quantities of waste we thought we had thrown away suddenly demand our attention"(603). Authors Rathje and Murphy also make their opinions known in their article, "a recycling program... can save natural resources, can help reduce pollution, and can divert solid-waste from landfills"(620-21).

Since the early beginnings of the so-called environmental