Often, in a consideration of America’s future relationship with nature, environmentalists are prone to evoke today’s children, and even the children yet-to-be-born. I’ve heard comments like “What will the future earth look like?” or “Think of the children.” The follow-up question of “what to think” about those children, of “what to think” about those yet-to-be-born is not often explored nor expressed. Theo Colborn does it. And in the clip below, Carl Safina takes this question of “what to think of the unborn” head on.

Ever consider the meaning of the word creation? What does it mean to you? I asked this question of Cal DeWitt, who considers its meaning in the context of his faith. His reply in the video clip below. I’ve also asked the question of E.O. Wilson, and most recently of Carl Safina, who each replied in the context of their secular world-view. Safina’s reply will be featured in my next blog entry.

Working out how to capture the wonder of dragonflies. This still was pulled from yesterday’s work at the pond outside our barn studio.

It is amusing that so many natural history sequences in series like PLANET EARTH or even our own SUNRISE EARTH focus on “who eats who,” but the fact of the matter is that this sensibility is central.

Simply noticing and recording the disturbing trends of a degraded world is a virtue of science and all those practicing it. The process reveals a lot of information about the world around us. But information alone is not enough to mobilize action on the scale required to make that world a healthier and more desirable place for our children. A set of political relationships with this, that, or the other political party is not enough. Nor are relationships in the marketplace. Nor a broad appeal to beauty. In the video clip below, the writer Carl Safina speaks about the kind of relationship he believes is required.

“If you had as much fun stuff to do inside when you were a kid, you’d have been inside more too!” This is a memorable comment from an eleven year old boy to his father, an accomplished fisherman and outdoorsman here on the coast of Maine. That father is a friend of mine. His son, a friend of my son’s. Often, I’ve found myself mulling over its significance, within my own household. Pretty astute comment, actually. Aside from the lure of television, not much interesting DID happen inside when we were kids.

To care, we need to know. To know, we need to experience. If we cannot get outside enough, how will we ever care? Sometimes, a creative solution can bridge the generational and media gaps within a family. Like the one that the pastor Tri Robinson writes about in a chapter called The Garden Shed: Practical Ideas (from his book Saving God’s Green Earth).

“I asked people to enlarge personal pictures of them enjoying the outdoors and bring them to church for display in our lobby for an art exhibit. If people didn’t have any pictures, I encouraged them to get out there so they could take some.” Another way of knowing and talking about what’s happening outside.