From EcoCritic to EcoHopeful – Blog8

(529 Words)

What feels like eons ago now, in September, I wrote a masterful take down article. I was rather critical on the Globe and Mail’s article “After long wait, 11 new names added to Canada’s list of species at risk”. I did little to hide my initial reaction for the article; my complete and utter disdain over that author’s modus operandi. There was a genuine concern that was being shared with us all. The environment is in peril and not enough is being done to protect it. Truly a unifying concern in 2019. But, and it is a large butt, the superficial means the author used to stir us up just rubbed me the wrong way. There was chaffing.

This week we’re looking at another bard of the web. Emily Chung (2018), published a scintillating article called: 60% of world’s wildlife has been wiped out since 1970. After reading that little treat, I’m singing a different tune. While she engaged in similar clickbaitery as our boy Ivan, I can truly say I was able to look upon her wordsmithing in a much more positive light. Her PhD in chemistry isn’t just for show, as seen in the way she writes. This article looked at a much broader picture and drew great connections between several sources, explaining solutions as well. 

Figure 1. Edited screen capture of Rick and Morty. From RICK AND MORTY, Adult Swim, 2019, https://www.adultswim.com/videos/rick-and-morty/inside-vindicators-3-the-return-of-worldender

While breaking down information from the 2018 edition of the Living Planet Report she offered quotes from James Snider, the VP of science, research and innovation for WWF-Canada (Chung, 2018). This kept the information flowing and helped connect the dots and show us where the dry data from the report relates to us. 

Rather than just whinging about inaction by committees and government, Chung (2018) relayed Sniders’s words that “rotecting [sic] forests, wetlands and coastal areas to preserve wildlife can also have a side benefit, as those types of ecosystems also store carbon and prevent it from being released into the atmosphere” (Chung 2018).

It’s shocking and disheartening to learn that so much wildlife has been lost, but she kindled a little hope by pointing out why protecting ecosystems can help. Protecting ecosystems to save the slugs and mold just don’t butter my croissant, but the idea of protecting ecosystems to store carbon? Oh that butters me up real nice. Saving the slugs and mold will just be an added benefit. Chung (2018) delivered her information in a way that just felt a tad more sincere. That kept my mind open and focused on WHAT she said rather than noticing HOW she said it. 

Now I for one don’t trust Big GOV, and don’t want them telling me my business; however, I also don’t trust peoplekind to people-up and solve the problem. We’ll need Big GOV on this one. We can start with pushing for Federal GOV to follow through on their commitment to the UN Convention of Biological Diversity by “protecting 10 per cent of marine areas and 17 per cent of its land” as the article highlighted. We’ll only need more GOV if peoplekind doesn’t start peopling-up. 

I for one am doing my part by shaming my fellow peasants for driving fossil fuel cars and using single-use coffee cups. 

And heres my name to say so. 

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D.A. Mills

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Figure 2. Edited picture of But its Honest Work. From Reddit, by yothisisyo, 2018, https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/but-its-honest-work

References

Adult Swim. (2019) RICK AND MORTY [Screen capture]. Retrieved from https://www.adultswim.com/videos/rick-and-morty/inside-vindicators-3-the-return-of-worldender

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Chung, E. (2018). 60% of world’s wildlife has been wiped out since 1970. CBC. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/living-plant-wwf-2018-1.4882819

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Mills, D. (2019). Environmental Clickbait – Blog3. Retrieved from https://wpflemingcollege.com/littlebits/2019/09/26/environmental-clickbait-blog3/

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yothisisyo. But its Honest Work. [Image]. Reddit, January 03, 2018. Retrieved from https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/but-its-honest-work