David de Rothschild: Pt 2

October 7, 2008 on 11:07 am | In - SW TEAM, - Jauretsi |

(David de Rothschild)

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The Green Revolution
Part 2 (of 2)
By David de Rothschild

Read Part 1 here.

Professor Dan Gilbert famously wrote in the LA Times that “global warming lacks a mustache”. In other words, if climate change was a missile headed towards us from one of the “Axis of Evil” countries, that governments would waste no time in embarking on a “global warming” war. Until we change the typically emotionless rhetoric surrounding such things as atmospheric statistics and greenhouse gas concentration levels, the issues at hand are simply not going to make our blood boil enough to make us engage with this green revolution.

For most of us, nature is invisible. We roll from our beds to our cars, our cars to our offices, our offices to the pub, and the pub to a taxi — and if we’re lucky, to a bed. We’re creatures of routine. Ever since the Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century, it seems the barometers of success and modernity within society have been measured by our interaction (or rather lack of interaction) with the natural world. The formula of “normalcy” appears to be simple — the more we package, automate, and force nature into the background, the more developed and evolved our society will become.

(Japan’s Seagaia Ocean Dome)

Our desire to take nature and create a more linear, predictable, controllable commodity has produced an explosion of what can only be described as manufactured landscapes, embodied in Japan’s Seagaia Ocean Dome (the world’s largest artificial beach — THANKFULLY now closed). It has perfectly groomed white marble sand, permanent blue sky, and constant 30 degree temperature — a custom made pristine paradise — all built within 300 meters of the real beach.

(The fabricated Seagaia Ocean Dome by the Ocean)

It is conceivable that we have reached a point where whole generations are no longer aware of, or in touch, with the raw and unadulterated natural world. Nature is often not perceived as ‘natural’ unless it comes in a glossy plastic package with an instruction manual.

Admittedly, sometimes this self-prescribed nature deficiency disorder, this blurring between artificial and real, seems so perfect, so convenient.

I will be honest. I am the first person to put my hand up for easy-peel oranges; the ever-fresh scent of clean alpine air that wafts from my wall plug, or the new found possibility of wearing the same clothes all year round. But when the invisible becomes visible and the artificially-created barriers come crashing down, what lies behind comes as more of shock than if China would have freed Tibet in time for the Olympics.

There is nothing like an environmental disaster to open our eyes, albeit briefly, to the vulnerability and fragility that comes with externalizing our relationship to nature. Eco-phobia, the fear of one’s home surroundings (in this context, the Earth), is a surprisingly common phobia according to Phobia-fear-release.com.

As with many phobias, the cure is often to be found in confronting the fear. So where could we possibly find a better cure for Eco-phobia than within our natural world?

Perhaps a good way to understand the threat of climate change is to start experiencing the very thing we are trying to protect. The solution to doing something about climate change (individually and in your own way), might just be hiding in the back of your wardrobe, subtly disguised as a pair of walking boots or a dusty backpack.

The time has come for us all to shake off our planetary detachment, get in touch with our inner Bruce Parry and tackle our numbness to the natural world head on. If you have ever just wanted to lose yourself, now’s the time — as long as it’s somewhere wild.

Now more than ever, there really is no excuse. We’re spoilt for choice: Eco-Tourism, Adventure Travel, Sustainable Tourism, Responsible Tourism, Nature Based Travel, Green Travel, Multi-Sport Adventures – all these, to name just a few, are at our fingertips. Whether its mushing with huskies in Alaska, or white-water rafting in Wales, it has never been easier to explore some of the wild wonders of the world, as long as you don’t forget those all-important golden — or should I say green — rules.

My first bit of advice would be to make like a mole and dig. It doesn’t hurt to look beyond the flashy websites and brochures and ensure that not only will you get to embark on a ‘real’, boot-muddying experience, but that your hard-earned cash will go a little bit further to help protect and enhance the places you visit.

Should your adventure require catching a carbon carriage, remember to offset those emissions or you run the risk of upsetting your newly befriended Ecologist-reading, macrobiotic, backpacking buddies.

Choose wisely and you might just find that saving our planet will be the greatest adventure you’ll ever have.

– David

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Learn more about David’s work through the company he founded, Adventure Ecology.