OCR Text |
Show THE ZEFHYRDECEMBER 1991 Especially because of the local arid ctimatobsl riparian corridors should bo viewed ascrMcaL Many wildlife & plant spedas can exist here only because of the riparian element, many more exist In greeter numbers because of It The latter Includes humans, which, unfortunately, tend to never be satisfied and, Inevitably, tend to Inftict unnatural dteturbances that most other species are not adapted to cope with. Thus strands of the web become severed. And whether we are wilting to admit It or not, all of these strands make up the web of life that Is our own Hfe support system. But we commonly proceed se a cancer obHvfcxia to Its own destruction. In past centuries It was possible to be "cancerous" & not upset the equilibrium of a given ecosystem as a whole. This Is no longer possible. In fact, not Just given ecosystems, but the entire world environment Is beginning to tremble at the hands of man. Human population growth and Its dsmands are having their effect. Poorer countries demand more food Just to keep their bMlons from starving to death. Theweslthlsr countries dsmand Just about everything slse possible; Itams that wore once luxuries are now considered necessities. A culture baaed on continued economic growth and material gain ensures a continuance of this trend. But what la the result? Does the drily confrontation with an artificial environment really add richness to one's Hfe, or is It Just a groping, hoping something more meaningful happens? Does continued material gain equal an equivalent Increase in true happiness, or Is the continued desire for material gain the result of true happiness being continuously elusive? Do we regularly consider and appreciate the intrastate web of Hfe that allows our existence, or do we consider It only when the wind doesn't blow sand Into our eyes and mess our hair up? Does our passion for things regularly extend beyond human elements of creation, or Is It more often restricted to things like fouMwheellng, sitting before the TV and eating Egg Mac Muffins and really real Ice cream? And what of our compassion? For many Ifs not as much a lack of concern as it Is a lack of awareness of the true nature of other plant and animal species. As Intel Ugsnt as we may be (or think we are), we are yet to be able to apeak a single other species' language. In fact we find It difficult to even begin to understand an animal's behavioral cues, whereas many of those snimsls msnage to understand the behavior of other species quite well, often before they are a year old. The problem lies in our being so Increasingly removed from the natural realm of things that we are losing our awareness of a large extent of reality. Our perception has become restricted to a narrow viewpoint. We are no longer confronted by as diverse a natural repertoire during our dally enactment of human rituala In a predominantly environment that encourages a creation of more of the same. When any type of human development does not Incorporate a strong appreciation awareness and for, of, the natural environment, the result may be Increesed human use end population growth, and a material gain for some; but more people and more money doae not equate to a truly richer life. In fact It tends to result In the opposite: a degradation of true values and quality of life. over-increasin- PAGE 9 NELSONS HEATING and REFRIGERATION tt serving Moab since 1962 g human-dominat- ed MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM IZZY & LOIS AND THE TEAM 1070 Bowling Alley Ln 259-562- 5 Land Before Time Rocks 5 No. Main & Fossils Moab 259-664- 4. featuring: Dinosaur Bones Crystals MERRY CHRISTMAS (also home of Canyonlands Telephone) zeke and maralee frauds' Four Corners Design PETRA (across from the post office) IN SPITE OF A GROUCHY SANTA WE HAVE .COMPUTER SERVICES 25&252 Service Supplies Sales 9 Upgrades SEASONS' GREETINGS BARGAINS GALORE o Christmas designs on sweats & Ts o Hanes sweatshirts for the whole family o n:M Tie-dye- MOT" Grouch y sweats, shirts, dresses s (I A an 1 bW oldest irt shop in moab estb. 1980 20 South 10Q East (across from the library) |