Losing Touch
Environmentally, it’s no secret that the world isn’t doing so great. We have a major climate issue in conjunction with a world running on fossil fuel energies, which are adding to the climate issue, as well as having other negative environmental effects. Is it just us, or does it seem like even though the writing’s on the wall, but nobody’s reading it?!
A recent report released by BBC News Science and Environment shared that, sadly, children’s health and education are losing touch with nature. The three factors declared as responsible for this phenomenon are: increased traffic risks, children’s preference of video screens, and parental anxiety. If we look at all three of these factors closely, we can see a relationship to industrialization, which can also probably be looked at as the root cause for all of these issues. We are living in an industrial-focused society that is sadly turning a blind eye to nature altogether. Not only are environmental issues not being tackled strongly enough, but interactions with nature in general are having a seriously diminishing rate. A confirmation of this suspicion is the new urban initiative to disperse “nature” throughout cities is the development of parklets. Parklets are miniature public parks (generally the size of two or three parallel parking spots) installed in urban areas, which are growing rapidly in popularity.
Does the requirement of parklets in urban areas, and their increasing popularity, not indicate that people are not only losing touch with nature, but that they are wishing they had a deeper connection with it? With nature becoming less of a play area or area of interaction, we are making ourselves submissive to the urban developments that are rapidly expanding across our planet whether we like it or not. Industrialization has created a detachment between humans and nature, making the impacts of climate change seem less important because, frankly, we don’t see them.
To initiate change in our environment, we must first become more in tune with that same environment. Step away from your television and take a walk…and take your kids with you…and don’t let them bring any gadgets. One of the best ways to battle climate change is to take the time to see its impacts, and to do so is simple: start spending more time outdoors. Once we regain a strong social connection to nature, we might finally start to create positive environmental changes, and maybe even integrate industrialization within nature, like this school commons, designed for learning nature-centered outdoor learning. Maybe then we can prevent future environmental catastrophes like the drowning of an entire nation.
photo courtesy of inhabitat
