Origins

This blog was started as a substitute for a book that I've known I should write for years. I finally had to just bite the bullet and start something. For now though, I'm not quite ready to write more except to explain the title...

My education was in Natural Resources and Environmental Management. When I embarked upon this path, I felt a bit awkward given the subculture from which I stemmed... that of uber-consumerism that somehow had come to define Utah urban existence.

Unfortunately, the prevailing approach to natural resource management among many members of my faith (which almost predominates Utah) seems to be to ignore it and pretend that it'll all work out. It'll all burn up one day anyway, right?.... The earth and it's wares are here for our use, right? Somehow, as a culture, we've gotten that we need to be wise stewards of our finances, food, families, and homes, but the temporal responsibilities seem to end at the curbs surrounding our great green expanses of water-hogging lawn (which unfortunately I would love to have one day too ; ).

Anyway, one day as I prepared to leave for my program in Hawai`i, I encountered the following passage which many use to justify the pervasive environmental apathy. But that's not how it spoke to me - For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare... ~Doctrine and Covenants 104:17

This is where too many seem to stop, but this whole section is talking about how this won't just happen if left to (man's) nature. There is a certain way for this abundance to be possible... from the surrounding verses, it doesn't sound like uber-consumerism is it. It's referring to a law that we are not expected to live in its fullness right now, but the underlying principles still desperately need to be applied. The earth can be a beautiful (non-smog encased/exploited place), but not without conscious effort. Daunting as it may be, our stewardship should extend to the earth too. We each have an impact upon it. But as with most things in this life, making that a good impact requires some thought, effort, and consciousness on our part.

Fortunately, that is what my field is about. NREM is a field of study that believes that in a natural system which includes man, environmental approaches are not solutions unless they are physically (scientifically/biologically) and socially (economically/culturally) sustainable. Neither side can be ignored. It's like a great big puzzle to find solutions that fit both needs. Think on that for a while.

Eventually, on this website you will find everyday practical teasers to help you reflect on what you are doing/can do to make your impact a positive one. I myself (being far from perfect in this and all regards) find that I do much better when I can put my impact in a bigger context. To some, this will be elementary - kudos! This exercise is simply intended as a springboard for myself and others who are coming into their own environmental druthers.

Stay tuned!