EPILOGUE
Text excerpted from the book: COMING FULL CIRCLE: A Sweeping Saga of Conservation Stewardship Across (ISBN: 978-1-80074-568-1)
by
Budd Titlow & Mariah Tinger
In the overall history of human life here on Earth, we have never faced
more broad-based and existential environmental threats than those posed
by the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. On a geologic timescale, we
are accelerating toward our own oblivion at laser-focused warp speed.
Right now — every day — the world is adding more layers of
atmospheric pollution and species disintegration to the enveloping
shroud that may eventually doom our own species (Homo sapiens) to
extinction.
These twin towers of environmental degradation are not something
that might become a problem in the future — maybe by 2100, or 2050,
or 2030. They are problems right now, and they’re getting worse every
day that we sit by and pretend that nothing is really happening.
But here is the good news. The climate crisis and biodiversity loss
do not have to remain problems. In fact — if we focus and work together
— both of these conundrums can be well on their way to full resolution
in less than ten years.
If we play our cards right, we can use the perpetual, inextinguishable
energy of Earth — the sun’s glorious rays, the wind’s constant breezes,
and the water’s endless waves — to work for us all. And, in the process,
we’ll leave the polluting fossil fuels right where they belong — buried in
the ground, never to see the light of day.
Renewable energy here on Earth is abundant and omnipresent.
Think about it: Renewable energy here on Earth is abundant and
omnipresent. Each time you go outside, you see and feel it everywhere.
It’s like an endless symphony written by a master composer and played
by a world-class orchestra. The golden rays of streaming sunlight are the
strings — always there, maintaining the basic rhythm of the interwoven
movements. The wind provides the percussion — rising from gentle
whispering breezes of the snare drum to the bold resounding gusts of the
tympani. Then moving water blends in with the woodwinds and the brass
— transitioning from gently lapping melodic notes of the flute to lazy
ripples of an oboe’s dulcet tones and concluding with rolling waves of
trumpet blasts.
We are now right on the cusp of what will be the Renewables Revolution.
We are now right on the cusp of what will be the Renewables
Revolution — providing a mighty parallel to the Industrial Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution resulted in the transformation of our nation
from a rural agrarian society to an urban, manufacturing society. Now we
are about to transform ourselves again — from a hard-edged, fossil-fuel
driven economy, to a softer-sided renewable energy world.
This transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy is already
possible. The Solutions Project (www.thesolutionsproject.org) lays out
immediate plans for converting each of our states — plus many countries
— from fossil fuels to renewable resources. And we can accomplish this
at the same time as we create numerous new industries in the wind, solar,
and water power sector.
The Solutions Project (www.thesolutionsproject.org) lays out immediate plans for converting each of our states — plus many countries — from fossil fuels to renewable resources.
In fact — right now — ‘Big Oil’ has the wherewithal to lead the
transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy. They know it’s
coming — they’ve known this for more than thirty years! They’re
already planning for the transition. They just want to delay things as long
as possible because — in the short term — they will take a financial hit.
But — in the long run — they will actually make more money from
renewables than they are currently making from fossil fuel production
and processing. The sooner we can make the fossil fuel giants make the
switch, the better off we’ll all be. Over the short term, the mighty impetus
created by nationwide conversion to renewable energy will bolster every
sector of our economy. As the old adage goes: “A rising tide lifts all
boats.”
This renewable energy boom will create millions of new jobs —
leading to increased financial security for everyone. Now that’s a win-win
scenario we can all live with. Plus, our children, grandchildren, and
all future generations will look back and be forever grateful to us for
being proactive in tackling and resolving the current climate crisis and
biodiversity dilemmas.
So, now the decision is in our hands. The issue is about preserving
the existing quality and character of the human species here on Earth.
Will we ‘come full circle’ and decide to make the changes that will save
our ice sheets, tundra, oceans, coral reefs, rain forests, and polar bears?
Or will we just watch while our world slides into oblivion — at least for
Homo sapiens?
Author’s bio:For the past 50 years, professional ecologist and conservationist Budd Titlow has used his pen and camera to capture the awe and wonders of our natural world. His goal has always been to inspire others to both appreciate and enjoy what he sees. Now he has one main question: Can we save humankind’s place — within nature’s beauty — before it’s too late? Budd’s two latest books are dedicated to answering this perplexing dilemma. PROTECTING THE PLANET: Environmental Champions from Conservation to Climate Change, a non-fiction book, examines whether we still have the environmental heroes among us — harking back to such past heroes as Audubon, Hemenway, Muir, Douglas, Leopold, Brower, Carson, and Meadows — needed to accomplish this goal. Next, using fact-filled and entertaining story-telling, his latest book — COMING FULL CIRCLE: A Sweeping Saga of Conservation Stewardship Across America — provides the answers we all seek and need.Having published five books, more than 500 photo-essays, and 5,000 photographs, Budd Titlow lives with his music educator wife, Debby, in San Diego, California.
CONSERVING NATURE WITH WORDS & PHOTOS 