This article by Nash is extremely interesting and thought provoking. Nash is extremely concerned about the future of our planet and well being. In his mind, there is proof that humans can not continue the growing trend that they are on. Humans are reproducing too often, soaking up too many resources, stealing wilderness from other species, and not caring about the sustainability (or lack their of) of their environment and/or planet. Nash thinks that there are four possibilities for what is going to happen to our planet in the fourth millennium. The first possibility is a wasteland in which every bit of “goodness” is used up and humans are left with a wasteland for a planet. The second possibility is what Nash calls the garden scenario in which humans have found a way to modify every part of the planet without biodiversity or any other species. The third possibility is one where technological advances were no where to be found and technology was completely abandoned. The last scenario (Nash’s proposal) is titled Island Civilization. This is an idea in which humans have various islands on the planet and are completely sustainable within their islands. Outside of the islands, animals have completely dominance over the wilderness. If humans choose to go outside of their island and into the wilderness. it must live within the wilderness rather than take over the wilderness by building a house, etc. Nash firmly believes that this is the best option for the future and believes it is possible in its entirety, but humans are currently lacking motivation.
While Nash’s idea of island civilization seems to me to be appealing, I think it is completely bogus. Yes, it is obvious to all that something needs to be done about the environment. Yes, it is obvious to all that we cannot live the way we are currently living forever. Yes, it is obvious humans do not care much about the existence of other species. However, I am a believe that everything happens for a reason. I am confident in the human race that we will be able to figure this out without going to drastic measures and completely reorganizing the entire planet, as Nash wants us to do. I do believe that it is the government’s responsibility to step forward and write legislation that supports the environment because humans will not change their ways on their own, rather they will only change their ways when punishment is threatened. This is why the government needs to get involved.
Another reason that I do not approve of Nash’s island civilization model is because what if we never make it to the fourth millennium to begin with? What if God comes back before the millennium and saves the Christians and sends everybody else to hell? Then we have done an extreme amount of work reorganizing the planet, but were not able to reap the benefits before God came back. What if God knows that humans were going to suck all of the resources out of the planet and was planning to come back to save them before humans ruined everything completely? God knows exactly where we are headed and I am not fearful that we will have to live in a wasteland.
I feel that you are correct that something needs to be done about this environmental issue, however, I do not share your optimism in human ability. I believe that the government will continue to be arrogant of these issues and state that the "wilderness" must continuously be destroyed until nothing is left, they will justify it by saying someone else can deal with it until eventually it piles up so much that it causes a total collapse in biodiversity and resources. This in turn will cause humanities downfall. Although I do believe in God, I am not as well rehearsed in the bible as you may be; I also do not wish to turn this into a heated religious debate, but I will agree with you on the point that I feel humanity will not last another millennium.
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