Somebody dumped an old car or tractor in this pond. Every spring, it sprung a new oil slick.
Just one of the things I like about Ode Magazine is that it reminds me that there are optimists in this world and they’re mostly a lot smarter than me. So, I figure, if people smarter than me are optimistic, it’s okay for me to continue my bright and cheerful outlook on life.
I get the magazine, and I also subscribe to the blog by Jurriaan Kamp. You can read his latest here. He talks about the earth’s ability to repair itself, or more accurately, perhaps, to compensate for the immense screwups of the human species.
I remember one time as a teenager, when I was trying to train my father on environmental protection, for example. He and I were hunting and as we walked along, I was likely bemoaning the summary lack of respect for the environment that industry displayed. He was tolerating my rant, as he always did. At one point, he stopped, turned around and said, “Do you realize you’re standing on and old mill site? I think the sawdust pile was right where you’re standing now.” He then pointed out where each of the mill buildings would have been. I was looking down through a fairly thick stand of pine and I could see an old car in the bush. I made my way down to it. It was a mid-20s Star Durant. It had mature trees grown right through it, towering probably 25 metres above the rusted hulk. Dad figured the sawmill had wrapped up in the early 30s. I figure, If I went back there now (that was 40 years ago), there’d be even less left of the Star Durant and the road in to the mill might be so overgrown, I’d never find the site again.
I learned quite a bit about nature’s regenerative abilities that day, not to mention my father.
I hope you’ll read Juriaan Kamp’s blog – it will change your perspective on the Deepwater Horizon and give you some hope to share with the folks suffering in the gulf.