Geoff Plint is a second-year neuroscience student who says, when it comes to our relationship with the environment, we need to start taking less and giving more.
As recently announced, Carleton received $52.5 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments to create two new waterfront structures on our campus. I am told these buildings are meant to serve a great purpose for the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs, the School of Journalism and Communications, the School of Public Policy, and accommodate new programs in biomedical, energy, environmental and aerospace engineering, as well as nanoscience.
Whoopee. Progress is progress and we must continue moving forward, right?
But what is progress when we are only hindered by the process? Better yet, what is progress when we are hindered by the result?
Once we have finished one structure, one testament to the power of sheer human determination, there are but a few blissful seconds of contentment before our ambitions turn to the sky as we look towards new options, new glories, more progress.
I have beaten the argument of progress versus stagnancy to death with my roommate over the past year and as far as I have come to realize, there is no answer – except perhaps that we should strive towards a happy medium. And perhaps I would let the argument rest; however, progress has now reared its ugly head in my backyard.
A few weeks past, I embarked upon a blissful bike ride to Carleton’s campus and was greeted by the sounds of death. Intrigued? It would probably have been more chilling if it were a living being (like a dog or friend) that were in the midst of being slaughtered when I arrived at the university that day. Fortunately, it was only the trees next to the building I was working in.
"Trees next to the Steacie Building take their final breath as they lie waiting for removal to make room for the newly funded River Building parallel to the Ottawa River."
Hold on a minute. Only the trees? Do we not rely upon the photosynthesizing powers of our leafy friends to protect the carbonated planet we throw up on every day? Do they not mark beauty and life at every corner? Do we not rush away at any chance we get to just be with nature, and witness the glory and simplicity of life?
For me, as I stood watching the powerful digging machine crush our leafy friends and throw aside their browning remains with contempt, it was like watching my best friend die. A family member die.
Why do we choose what is of merit to protect? If I’m living, and the tree is living, why would there only be sadness if I were to pass away? Relationships generally function as give-and-take. But when it comes to our relationship with trees, plants, flowers, or any other natural being, I see the relationship as particularly one-sided.
We live in a take, take, take world with the neighbours we share this planet with, and all for that one extra convenience. One more iPod; one more Dasani bottle of water. Take five minutes and write down everything you have done for a tree in the past month. Then in another column write down everything the tree has done for you. You may be surprised at the results.
"Contract workers clear the last remains of several trees outside the Steacie Building in preparation for construction by the waterfront."
I feel it important to recognize that everyone, and everything, has a breaking point. How far will we push our earthen protectors before they are not able, or perhaps unwilling, to lay their limbs on the line for us?
In an age where we demand benefits, higher paying careers, an optimistic economy, do we have the ability to digress from our short-sighted requests in order to not only protect Nature, but more critically, ourselves?
The Earth has managed to survive for almost five billion years without the dramatic presence of human life, and certainly it has demonstrated an ability to adapt to the environmental degradation that a large portion of humanity has imposed upon it. The question we have to ask ourselves now is, will we be able to adapt? Will we be able to survive?
"Greenspace on campus fights a losing battle as construction begins for the highly-anticipated waterfront additions."