“…The Lungs of our Land”

                 

I love living in Columbus, Ohio. This city is culturally diverse and offers various opportunities to indulge in festivals¹, the arts, sports, nightlife, and (my favorite), nature.

Ohio has done a magnificent job of preserving its natural resources, such as scenic parks and sanctuaries² where people can enjoy quiet, clean air, beautiful nature, and safe places to meditate, spend time with loved ones, or exercise. Local citizens recognize the beauty and value of our natural resources³ (especially trees), and through partnerships with relevant organizations, strive to maintain and educate people on how they can contribute to preserving our environment.⁴

Roosevelt once said, “a nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people”. And he was right.

Current news and social media are filled with worrisome accounts about worldwide environmental degradation, climate change, eradication of endangered species, and the violent abuse of our vanishing natural resources. It is common to hear about the destruction of forests and parks, despite scientific proof of the negative effects that deforestation has on the plants and animals that need these spaces to survive.

According to National Geographic, forests account for 30% of the world’s land area, but each year, large tracts of forests are decimated for a variety of reasons (agriculture, forest fires, greedy politicians, and powerful industries).⁵

Trees are vital because they provide oxygen, stabilize soil, sustain the life of wild species, provide materials for shelter, and store carbon.⁶ The negative effects of deforestation include biodiversity loss, soil erosion, air pollution, soil and water pollution, and climate change.⁷ Given what it means especially for the air and soil quality, we each have a duty to protect our natural/green surroundings, which begins with replacing every tree that we cut down.

Each year, Columbus, Ohio celebrates the Columbus Arts Festival⁸, one of the best and most anticipated events in the state. “Music, spoken word, dance, theater, acoustic, and jazz and blues stages, hands-on arts activities, exhibitions of local student artwork and local artist collectives, and a wide selection of quality food and beverages round out Columbus’s favorite outdoor summer event.”⁹

The combination of a beautiful location and the celebration of diversity make this a highly anticipated event. I attend this festival each year and particularly enjoyed it last weekend. The Arts festival is held in the scenic downtown Scioto Mile¹⁰ riverfront of Columbus. Even outside of the festival, this is one of my favorite places to spend time in, particularly in the warm summer evenings, given the peaceful ambiance and preservation of nature in this area.

Just as I was celebrating this beautiful festival, news came in about a lethal mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.¹¹ With each day, we learn more about the motivation behind this senseless act of violence. This tragic incident has once again led to heated discussions about gun control, extremism, and prejudice.

Almost on a daily basis, we read stories about prejudice, intolerance, violence, and suffering. Our society has become one where we view our differences as a threat. As such, many fall into a trap where we allow our differences to divide us, thus leading to environments of hate and mistrust.

So why is it that some people embrace different cultures/differences/diversity, while others fear and reject them? Maya Angelou said “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength”.

Those who embrace, respect, and appreciate diversity learn early on in life to look at differences as a source of information, strength, and inspiration. Instead of being fearful of what they do not understand, they have learned to step outside of their comfort zones, read, learn, think for themselves, and interact with those different from them. As such, whatever stereotypes and biases they have of others eventually disappear. They, therefore, light a proverbial candle that is passed on to others and create communities that no longer look at “being different” as a problem.

As I consider how we perceive differences, culture, diversity, and respect for the earth…I question the type of legacy we are leaving for future generations, and what kind of earth they will inherit. All over the world, various countries/states/cities are experiencing weather extremes that were certainly not the norm years ago. In addition, we continue to experience violence fueled by hate, prejudice, and intolerance.

When asked whether I believe that there is still hope for humanity, my answer is always the same: there are many times I have lost faith in the human race, particularly when we commit inhumane acts towards others, animals, and the environment. But my hope has been repeatedly restored by those who move beyond words and volunteer their time and talents to making our world a much better place. As Gandhi said, “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.”

References

1.      Festivals and Events. (2016). Retrieved from: http://www.ohio.org/interests/festivals-events

2.      Ohio State Parks. (2016). Find an Ohio Park. Retrieved from: http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/findapark

3.      Ohio State Parks. (2016). ODNR Division of Ohio State Parks.  Volunteer for Ohio State Parks – Ohio State Parks Volunteer Opportunities. Retrieved from: http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/volunteer

4.      Keep Ohio Beautiful. (2016). Retrieved from: http://keepohiobeautiful.org/about-us/

5.      National Geographic. Deforestation. Retrieved from: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation-overview/

6.      Royal Parks Foundation. (2016). Why are Trees So Important? Retrieved from: http://www.supporttheroyalparks.org/visit_the_parks/the_regents_park/tree_map/why_trees_are_important

7.      Clay, J. (2004). World Agriculture and the Environment. World Wide Fund Global – Palm Oil & Forest Conversion. Retrieved from:  http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/palm_oil/environmental_impacts/forest_conversion/

8.      Goldstein, J. (2016). 55^th Annual Columbus Arts Festival Brings Art, Music, & More to the Riverfront June 10-12. Greater Columbus Arts Council. Retrieved from: https://www.columbusartsfestival.org/contact/press-room/55th-annual-columbus-arts-festival-brings-art-music-more-to-the-riverfront-june-10-12/  

9.      Goldstein, J. (2016). 55^th Annual Columbus Arts Festival Brings Art, Music, & More to the Riverfront June 10-12. Greater Columbus Arts Council. Retrieved from: https://www.columbusartsfestival.org/contact/press-room/55th-annual-columbus-arts-festival-brings-art-music-more-to-the-riverfront-june-10-12/

10.  Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. (2016). Columbus Downtown Destination. Inside the Scioto Mile. Retreved from: http://www.sciotomile.com/

11.  Alvarez, L., & Perez-Pena, R. (2016). Orlando Gunman Attacks Gay Nightclub, Leaving 50 Dead. The New York Times, Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/13/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting.html?_r=0

Images

1.      Vervroegen, E. (2008). WWF: Lungs [Image], Retrieved June 10, 2016: http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/wwf_lungs

2.      40 Days of Prayer Against Racism May 26 [Image], Retrieved June 10, 2016: https://www.pinterest.com/kimmyrachelle/against-racism/