Nuturing Nature

Last week's issue of The Economist highlighted what geologists are starting to call the "anthropocene", a new age in the natural world's history that is human-centric. Previous geological categorizations of the world's 4 billion+ year old history put flora and fauna front and center. Humans and man-made products were peripheral to Mother Nature's movements. As we encounter climate change, developing nations' industrial growth and a human population approaching 7 billion, it's clear that our perspective of the environment has to change. 

I can't think of any other photographer who so perfectly captures the beauty and gravity of this dilemma than Yann Arthus-Bertrand (four of his photos above). Specializing in aerial photography, he has used his birds-eye-view images to call attention to the endangered relationship between humans and nature. 

I was first introduced to Arthus-Bertrand's work when his Earth from Above exhibit was featured in downtown Bangkok. Accompanying his photos were quotes from the World Wildlife Fund.

Reading the Anthropocene article and re-visiting Arthus-Bertrand's portfolio reminded me of this quote, featured in The Sun magazine a couple years ago:

"Myth: we have to save the earth. 

Frankly, the earth doesn't need to be saved. 

Nature doesn't give a hoot if human beings are here or not. 

The planet has survived cataclysmic and catastrophic changes 

for millions upon millions of years. 

Over that time, it is widely believed, 99 percent of all species have come and gone 

while the planet has remained. 

Saving the environment is really about saving our environment - 

making it safe for ourselves, our children, and the world as we know it. 

If more people saw the issue as one of saving themselves, 

we would probably see increased motivation and commitment 

to actually do so" 

- Robert M. Lilienfeld & William L. Rathje