Understanding the Environment

We now have an extensive and objective understanding of the environment. The term “ecosystem” refers to an understanding of how living creatures interact with the physical features of the planet. Almost every student in modern schools learns the basics of ecosystems and can tell you that we need clean air, clean water and food to sustain human populations. Some of these students will take the lessons seriously and act more responsibly toward their local environments. Most students, like most adult citizens, treat knowledge of ecosystems as an abstract exercise and will consume, pollute and ignore the negative environmental consequences of their actions. This is not to argue that these are irresponsible or bad people. It is to argue that school, book and television knowledge is too abstract to be widely applicable and that humans only respond to locally perceived environmental conditions.

Humans adapt easily to deteriorating conditions and will persist in following daily routines even when air pollution is severe, traffic is congested, water and food supplies are at risk, and social order is unstable. The tolerance for environmental destruction is ancient and human history is littered with civilizations that failed because humans indiscriminately exploited natural resources and spoiled their own nest. The human tendency is to plunder and pillage nature and to move on when resources are depleted. The solution to this tendency requires strong leadership by smart, well-educated compassionate humans who understand that nature is divine and understand that human survival depends on healthy ecosystems.

Good parents have a sense of responsibility to ensure a healthy happy future for their children and subsequent generations. Some adults well qualified to be good parents have explained their reluctance to have children because they were not optimistic about the future. In the 20th century humans changed planet earth; we have done much harm to each other. One of our accomplishments is to extract and burn most of the fossil fuel deposits on the planet. We have increased the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and are now observing the changes in weather patterns and climate that are a result of our actions. Despite scientific evidence, governments in most affluent countries have ignored their responsibility to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The changes we are causing in the Earth's biosphere will return to harm our children individually and collectively through unwelcome changes in weather, climate, food and water. The cost of these adverse changes will continue to grow and will exceed by far the cost of effective remedial action. We are all like smokers who know that smoking causes cancer but we are not willing to stop. Our only hope is that negative consequences will not catch up with us for several years.

Changes in human behavior must come from all people who sense danger, seek to understand their options and change spontaneously. The same issues come up in personal and public health concerns - constructive change is required. Ignorance and denial obstruct constructive change; wishful thinking and fantasy solutions become more popular. Self-interest and greed dominate the political process. Mother earth shudders and complains.

Some of the most responsible parents that I know have taken the environment seriously and have educated themselves and their children about the ways of nature and the proper conduct of humans in the preservation of natural environments.  Schools often include environmental studies in the curricula. The best teachers are well informed and make an extra effort to take children on field trips to study and enjoy natural environments. They inform children about the problems we have created in the context of finding local solutions that the children can implement close to their homes and schools.

Children can learn about distant human problems in the context of communicating with and helping less privileged children.

Reduced consumption is an essential strategy in affluent countries. No child should believe that selfish consumption is proper conduct.  For example, driving a car is the most polluting act an average citizen commits. Air pollution would be reduced if each car-driving person drove their car less. If children understand the connection between car-driving and the damage caused by "natural calamities" such as floods, fires, hurricanes, and droughts -  a more responsible use of motor vehicles will emerge.

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Children and Family

The  Psychology & Philosophy series was developed by Persona Digital Books. The books are copyright and all rights to reproduction by any means are reserved. We encourage readers to quote and paraphrase topics from Children, Adolescents and the Family published online and expect proper citations to accompany derivative writings. The author is Stephen Gislason MD.  Published 2010. The URL to this book description is Children and Family.

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