It's fascinating to note the contrasts here. A huge majority of Americans support properly funding the ESA...
and yet it's not adequately funded,..
and it's only acting on the downstream effects, not the causes.
All of this makes me think: in their hearts, people know what the right thing to do is: properly protect biodiversity. I'd go further and say that in their hearts (perhaps without realizing it) they know the proper role humans should play as part of nature - regenerating not extracting.
Which all points to where the real work is to be done: changing the culture. We've got to go deep - to the causes, which are historical, spiritual, psychological - otherwise we're just using band-aids or, worse, distracting ourselves from the serious, difficult work to be done.
Jason notes the (disturbingly large) number of species that have been delisted from ESA consideration and concern simply because they became extinct; it seems likely to me that many more species have suffered this fate than have been delisted because of successful implementation of the ESA. Anyone have the data? Is this perhaps true?
This is such a thorough and readable overview of my favorite law. :) I came of age after the enviro wave of the 70s when all these laws were passed -- my entire career as an environmentalist has been in opposition to political priorities, those of both parties. It's hard to even imagine practicing environmental law in those first heady years when attorneys and the public must have imagined that the bevy of new laws would solve our major problems. What the energy must have been like! By contrast, everything is such a long slog these days, always fighting headwinds.
I like the idea that most Americans are actually in support of environmental protections, that it's corporate priorities for their captured politicians and agencies that are directing some of our destructive actions. At least maybe it doesn't all (or mostly) reflect the public's will.
Thanks as ever for your writings. Never make a resolution to stop writing. You are one of Substack's finest. You're twenty years ahead of me in your maturity. Not until my seventies did I reach the decision to stop making promises to myself I knew I would break. Yes, I remember your story about freshwater mussels- it was revelatory. I also remember Nixon well. But also the President he followed. It was the high tide of liberalism and we owe so much to their vision. No doubt Nixon, conservative in almost all ways, would be considered a RINO today, as would Reagan. Protecting habitats...yes! Let's rewild the planet 50% of it at least! Better yet reduce our own numbers by at least 50% Negative population growth. No doubt every species would be grateful.
A waiting list for extinction. A horrifying thought.
“We’ll see, but certainly snow and ice are increasingly good candidates for the endangered list.”
I live in Vermont. I do not like to think on it for too long, but global warming here in the Northeast is a fact. We are unable to turn our back and look away , the evidence surrounds us in every season .
You are correct snow is now considered at the very least here in Vermont, a special occasion. Ice, well I think the freeze and thaw cycles of mid winter are here to stay. As one who lives and breathes skiing in the backcountry for more years than I will mention, very sad indeed.
Thank you for leaving us with a poem by Robert Frost, my favorite poet.
The poem is one of my favorites. As you state, there are many interpretations. I have my own. Which isn’t even close to Mr. Frost’s interpretation. That’s quite ok with me.
After all, poetry is gifted by the poet to the reader. It is the reader that breathes in the words allowing themself to feel and imagine.
The song is quite lovely. After reading the disturbing reality of your post, the song was like a cleansing breathe .
It's fascinating to note the contrasts here. A huge majority of Americans support properly funding the ESA...
and yet it's not adequately funded,..
and it's only acting on the downstream effects, not the causes.
All of this makes me think: in their hearts, people know what the right thing to do is: properly protect biodiversity. I'd go further and say that in their hearts (perhaps without realizing it) they know the proper role humans should play as part of nature - regenerating not extracting.
Which all points to where the real work is to be done: changing the culture. We've got to go deep - to the causes, which are historical, spiritual, psychological - otherwise we're just using band-aids or, worse, distracting ourselves from the serious, difficult work to be done.
Query to the interested:
Jason notes the (disturbingly large) number of species that have been delisted from ESA consideration and concern simply because they became extinct; it seems likely to me that many more species have suffered this fate than have been delisted because of successful implementation of the ESA. Anyone have the data? Is this perhaps true?
Scottish Highlands has some of the most unpolluted watercourses in the UK but even here freshwater mussels are under threat. Interesting observation in your earlier articles about dams, we have a lot of hydro schemes here. There is local action happening though, checkout this substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/highlifehighlandranger/p/mussels-and-fish-unlikely-allies?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=yalpe
This is such a thorough and readable overview of my favorite law. :) I came of age after the enviro wave of the 70s when all these laws were passed -- my entire career as an environmentalist has been in opposition to political priorities, those of both parties. It's hard to even imagine practicing environmental law in those first heady years when attorneys and the public must have imagined that the bevy of new laws would solve our major problems. What the energy must have been like! By contrast, everything is such a long slog these days, always fighting headwinds.
I like the idea that most Americans are actually in support of environmental protections, that it's corporate priorities for their captured politicians and agencies that are directing some of our destructive actions. At least maybe it doesn't all (or mostly) reflect the public's will.
Looking forward to reading part 2.
Thanks as ever for your writings. Never make a resolution to stop writing. You are one of Substack's finest. You're twenty years ahead of me in your maturity. Not until my seventies did I reach the decision to stop making promises to myself I knew I would break. Yes, I remember your story about freshwater mussels- it was revelatory. I also remember Nixon well. But also the President he followed. It was the high tide of liberalism and we owe so much to their vision. No doubt Nixon, conservative in almost all ways, would be considered a RINO today, as would Reagan. Protecting habitats...yes! Let's rewild the planet 50% of it at least! Better yet reduce our own numbers by at least 50% Negative population growth. No doubt every species would be grateful.
A waiting list for extinction. A horrifying thought.
“We’ll see, but certainly snow and ice are increasingly good candidates for the endangered list.”
I live in Vermont. I do not like to think on it for too long, but global warming here in the Northeast is a fact. We are unable to turn our back and look away , the evidence surrounds us in every season .
You are correct snow is now considered at the very least here in Vermont, a special occasion. Ice, well I think the freeze and thaw cycles of mid winter are here to stay. As one who lives and breathes skiing in the backcountry for more years than I will mention, very sad indeed.
Thank you for leaving us with a poem by Robert Frost, my favorite poet.
The poem is one of my favorites. As you state, there are many interpretations. I have my own. Which isn’t even close to Mr. Frost’s interpretation. That’s quite ok with me.
After all, poetry is gifted by the poet to the reader. It is the reader that breathes in the words allowing themself to feel and imagine.
The song is quite lovely. After reading the disturbing reality of your post, the song was like a cleansing breathe .
I’m sure Robert Frost would have approved.
Thank you for sharing it all.
A very thought provoking and haunting piece of writing. I also loved the musical setting of the poem, in fact I preferred it to just reading it.