Evaluate or Value: Our Interconnections with Nature

I have been thinking today of the interconnectedness of life, sparked mostly by an interview of Louie Schwartzberg. Not going to give a bio here, but look him up for some of the most amazing nature films that you will ever see. His work reveals in vivid detail the dynamics of connection in our world. Life of all animate and inanimate species depends on our relationships with each other. Ecosystems are built around relationships of all elements within a given range — interconnections. Sometimes we as humans consider some things gross, some beautiful, but a salient point is that we, alone, among all of this creation can do exactly that: Consider.
Humans can analyze and make choices. In addition we can evaluate, appraise, judge anything, but beyond that, we can value, place a relative significance and worth on anything. Not belaboring this here, but I wonder how much we value our connections with nature. It would seem, in many cases, not that much.
I know that people get tired of hearing about some things like the destruction of the rainforests. I think that’s usually because it’s something that they don’t want to face or to deal with. Yeah, I know the whole array of arguments and reasons, but the fact is that we are the only creatures that can reason extensively enough to figure out other solutions. Unnecessary destruction of ecosystems or plant and animal species are not driven by those who know themselves and listen to their hearts.
What response can you and I have to nature? Well, we can start by acknowledging our connectedness and interconnectedness to life. We can walk out the door — at anytime — and just observe the elements of nature all around us. We can observe simple things — robins eating worms, crows keeping watch from the boughs of the pines and oaks, a bee sucking nectar from Asian lilies. Then, think about our link with them. Think about the fact that at the very least 33% of our food supply depends on pollination, according to Louie Schwartzberg.
In my opinion, we just don’t spend enough time thinking about those sorts of connections. We have the ability, then, to take it past simple observations and think about politics and policy that can dramatically impact our world and the myriad of ecosystems that exist in it. Before I get too far afield, I also want to encourage you to think enough about our connection with nature to express it in some way — thought, word, and/or deed. Me? I write about it and speak about it, too. I read about those connections. I watch it and let the work of people like Mr. Schwartzberg wash into my soul. You can do any of those things and a thousand other options.
My intent was to get to some more of Walt Whitman’s poetry, not to mention the work of most other American and British Romantic writers. That will come, though. For today, I will settle for having us think about how many evaluate the economic, political, and societal considerations when deciding to destroy ecosystem components. I choose to value and lobby against destruction. I will also settle for sharing my discovery of Louie Schwartzberg and be thankful for his work and our connections.