We are not conquerors of the land
community; we are simply citizens. Global warming is an ongoing issue which the human community
has faced as a species. Over the past couple of decades our earth’s temperatures have been dramatically increasing. Scientists have been working on this issue for over 15 years. Little progress has been made in attempts to solve this earthly crisis. While a concrete solution has not been found, through research and experiments scientists have concluded that humans are in fact inducing global warming. In order to find a solution one must seek the source of the problem. People are the source and we are destroying the one thing we need the most, our habitat. When looking at this issue from a physical aspect, the human race must change our ways. We are responsible for one of the biggest threats facing our planet. Ethically we are held accountable for what we have caused. We will suffer for attempting to conquer the land, rather then utilize it.
The ethical points made in “The Land Ethic,” have slowly become a disturbing reality. Global warming has directly affected not only the human community, but the animal and plant kingdoms as well. According to Aldo Leopold, history has proven when someone attempts to conquer they are self-defeating. The explanation to this is simple; a conqueror is arrogant and thinks he knows how everything works in a community. A conqueror feels he knows what and what is not valuable and the worthiness of others. In the end the conqueror faces the harsh reality; he knows neither and finds himself in confusion. Ultimately his conclusions and ideas of knowing everything are self-defeating. We as humans are the
conquerors. As individuals we usually use common sense and do the ethically moral thing. As a society we are evil and we our using and abusing our land with no remorse. As a majority the human race feels they have figured out our
environment. This idea has unfortunately forced us into a trap. The way largest economies work result in tremendous pollution to our planet. One may suggest a quick fix, why don’t we just stop polluting. This would be done by making climate treaties through out the world. Countries like the United States would never commit to this, in fear of hurting our fragile economy. At the same time, if we do not stop polluting the air money will be the least of our worries. Global warming has directly affected the health of humans. On a smaller scale this increase in climate change has lead to many allergic complications; one particularly dangerous allergy is asthma. . The emission of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas directly resulted in the rise of asthma. Asthma rates have been increasing globally and global warming has been the only cause scientist could see. General asthma is usually caused by ragweed, pollen and fungus. All three of these irritants have increased due to global warming. On a larger scale, global warming has lead to an increase of natural disasters. The rising temperatures have lead to extremities in weather patterns. Such extremities include hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding. All three natural disasters have caused spreading of diseases and infections. According to the reading man is part of a biotic team. In history characteristics of the land have determined the characteristics of the people who inhabited it. As we continue to destroy our environment we slowly devastate the lands characteristics. History is a guideline for future things to come. Since our past has shown a relation between people and our environment, our future will not be different. If humans continue to use the land as a waste basket, dumping chemicals in the waters and toxins in the air; we will suffer greatly. It is a possibility that we continue to hurt our environment not only because we are economically trapped, but we are also ethically unknowledgeable. One ethic, Ecological Conscience, says it is our duty to obey the law, vote right, join some organizations, aand practice what conservation is profitable on your own land; the government will do the rest. This idea gives no limitations on our current philosophical ways. There is no right or wrong and no obligations we are required to fulfill. This is just another problem when attempting to solve this hast issue.
Global warming is a problem we have brought upon ourselves. We have treated our land with no respect and done things to the environment with no remorse. We have consistently acted as the conquerors of this planet. We as a species have the gift of rationality. People can think and using past experiences and knowledge make conclusions. This does not mean we know everything, and we certainly do not understand as much as we think. As long as people play the role of the conquerors of this planet, self defeat is inevitable. Our self defeat has begun with increased natural disasters and other factors which bring our race closer to self destruction. We as men must realize the actions we perform on the environment will eventually come back to us. There is much irony in this harsh reality; because aren’t we in fact part of the environment. We are just on of the infinite pieces of the structure of our environment. One piece can have a dramatic effect and we are continuing in a path of self defeat.