“I used to think the top global environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that with 30 years of good science we could address these problems. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a spiritual and cultural transformation, and we scientists don’t know how to do that
James Gustave (Gus) Speth
This is one of my favorite places to sit in quiet and journal. It is at the south end of Reservoir Ridge Natural Area and is about a mile from Overland Trail road. So, with the trees between me and the road there is virtually no traffic noise, just the music of nature. Directly behind me is beautiful Claymore Lake and the trailheads off to my right. I’m posting this quote because I believe he is spot on. Our environmental problems will only happen when a psychic change occurs. Because there are some people deeply rooted in selfishness, greed and apathy, who will look at this scene and not see an open meadow untouched by a plow, but they will see an object for exploitation, not a living, breathing ecosystem.