Rebecca+Shaver

Journal

2/20/12

The white pine tree, according to Cronon, was an extremely valuable resource to the settlers of the area around Chicago, because it was thick, flexible, and uniform, all of which made it a great choice for a variety of building projects.On top of all this, white pine was one of the few types of lumber that could float. However, the same people who enjoyed this resources managed some how to quickly destroy the population of white pines growing in their area. Unfortunately, this part of American history does not come as a surprise to me, because destroying useful resources is a common trend throughout the history of mankind. We face such a scenario now with fossil fuels worldwide being rapidly depleted, because of our reluctance to give up short term convenience for long term gain. Still, let us hope that we have learned from situations like the white pine and will start using alternative, more energy efficient fuel sources before we run out of what we have.

2/26/12

My ideal of nature...

This is a picture of Havasu Falls, which is located at the base of the Grand Canyon. When assigned to find an image that represents nature to me, this location quickly came to mind, because it's a goal of mine to someday have the necessary time and money to make the ten mile hike down to this beautiful water fall. However, this place is more than just my 'dream vacation destination,' it actually represents my views on nature very well. Namely, that it is a beautiful and powerful gift created for our use and enjoyment. In my mind, the word nature is synonymous with the word creation in that it was created by God and for the purpose of glorifying Him. As such, I believe it should be respected, valued, and preserved for the use and enjoyment of future generations.