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Conservation: retaining Earth's assets as they are now - the forests, the sea, rivers, mountains and agricultural land.

People: preserving the rights of present and future generations to feed, clothe and shelter themselves.

These two "terms" have been on a collision course, traditionally since the Industrial Revolution, but going much further back in history to Anglo Saxon times, when the Celts were driven off their land by invading Germanic tribes seeking more farm land. Already in Germany and later in Scandinavia, there were more people wanting food and shelter than there was available land.

Today's world is much the same – agricultural land is being taken over by urbanisation or mining or natural gas interest. Forests are being cut down or locked up, yet people still require timber for building and home construction. People still burn wood in fires, although it is always said to be scrap wood. You do wonder when you see the wedges of firewood - it looks as if it has come from quite large trees, whether old forest or new. There is little new agricultural land left in the world, although some still try to create more by rapid deforestation as in Brazil and Malaysia. The petro-chemical industry has answered the need for clothing as the population grows but at what cost? Wool is a natural product but sheep have caused massive erosion in Australia alone. Cotton resulted in long term slavery in earlier times and over fertilisation has led to toxic run-off into the waterways.

Is there any hope that the conservation/people dichotomy will improve in the future? Certainly, now, there is more awareness and monitoring of agricultural practices that degrade rivers and the sea. But the fish stocks are in rapid decline all over the world from over fishing. Rampant consumerism seems to be on the decline and recycling becoming common place. There are a lot of other hopeful signs. Will it be enough and in time? Do we ever learn the lessons of history?

© Frances Coll   17-8-2012

Clarence City Council
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