McKibben Bioregional Quiz

McKibben talks about very important points concerning the environment. He especially brings up points on how humans will make mother nature crash. Like in Turtle Island and Island Civilization the texts eventually come to the point that something serious has to be done or there will be no more life on planet Earth. McKibben in his argument talks about how the earth is not the same planet it was 30 years ago. Earth today has changed into a completely different place; a place that is on the verge of catastrophe due to our own actions. The basic problem is there is too many people and not even resources. 

Marine Pollution

From the rappers of our lunch to the chemicals we use to kill bugs, almost all of the waste we produce on land eventually finds its way floating in our oceans. Pollution is the number one marine problem today, with 80% of marine waste being from land-based activities people start to consider  “Island Civilization” as a solution.

As one national geographic article claims, the ocean has been suffering from the hands of mankind millennia, as far back as Roman times. Nonetheless research has recently showed that the damage made over the last 60 years is vast worse than all the previous years combined.

The problem is getting worse every year, due to other factors other than garbage being dumped into the waters but factors such as oil spills and noise pollution. Pollution is not always physical ships, earthquakes and sonar devices carry sound waves for miles, which offset migration, communication, hunting, and reproduction patterns for many marine animals.  

The theory of “Island Civilization” would benefit this environmental issue because every household would be held responsible for their own waste. Hence building a more sustainable community. Most responsibility would be upon those settlements near the shores for they’d be condemned if the oceans got polluted. That’s a perfect scenario of course.

The place that would befit the most from the prevention of marine pollution are all the islands around the world. The floating garbage, contaminated water and poisonous marine life will eventually pollute these small pieces of land. Places like Easter Island, Alcatraz also known as the Prison Island and Greenland amongst many other places.

Source: http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-marine-pollution/

Island Civilization

Our planet with the current patterns in which we live today will in time destroyed in time. Current generations do not think of the distant future i.e future generations. The furthest an average person would plan out their future is about 3 years down the road. Island Civilization brings out the point, that mankind does not see itself as a group but rather as individuals that do not play large roles. This ideology is what results in the consequences clearly seen today in our environment. The idea of Island Civilization is one that is bizarre, and seems to be rather impossible. It will cause much controversy, but in the long run it will lead to a lasting planet Earth. Saving the planet, after the trends and behaviors that humans have set is the hardest obstacle for mankind.

Island Civilization talks about how the relationship between man and nature has changed in major ways over time. Before the term wilderness did not exist. This term became part of our vocabulary when people started to divide themselves. Flattening out land and building sky scrappers means success for mankind today. As time progressed the way humans viewed nature began to change and develop proportional to technology advancements. During the time period in which Island Civilization compares today to, people were able to the beauty and enjoinment which, wilderness held within. This helped the arguments for the preservation of the wilderness. The humans’ perspective of wilderness changed yet again when they viewed it as an equivalent. Wilderness is a natural part of life hence it should be preserved in order to obtain sustainable living.

           

Overall, Island Civilization means removing new technologies put into the wilderness. This theory would mean that, our homes could be on poles in the mountains in order not to disturb the natural settings.  

           

I believe that motivation is an important ingredient for any change that is going to be made for our environment. Humans cannot save the earth and ‘go green’ unless they can see why they must do so. This is were education can help, raising awareness will induce people to make change. Even if it is a small change that only affect their own space, its still a step forward. Also civilization needs to further understand their affect on the wilderness and learn how to live lives that will allow them to maintain a modern lifestyle while still being sustainable.

Island Civilization is an extreme take to the problem, however it is a solution in the right direction. Its rigorous approach itself makes people interested. I do not think Island Civilization will work; however I do believe that it is making people more aware of their actions. There are much less extreme alternatives that would allow mankind to continue on a comfortable lifestyle whilst adopt new behaviors and actions. New living behaviors will slowly start to restoration process.