Lens-Artists Challenge #31 – Landscapes

“How can you care about the image of a landscape, when you show by your deeds that you don’t care for the landscape itself?”

William Morris

JURASSIC VIEW

As I put together my response to Amy’s landscape challenge this week, I was struck by the importance of William Morris’ quote above, written in 2003. For so long we’ve been talking about the importance of caring for Mother Earth, yet despite our efforts we continue to abuse her. Yes, we’ve made some strides. Yes, the impact of our actions is better understood. Yes, more focus has been put on preserving the world’s natural wonders. But there is much work to be done if we are to protect the marvels of our earth for future generations.

SNOWCAPPED

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi pretty much hit the nail on the head with his quote about need vs greed. Our quest for convenience has put the world’s oceans in peril due to the proliferation of plastic. Now that we are all aware of its consequences, how many of us have limited its use? The same can be said for aerosols. We are fully aware of their impact on the atmosphere but they continue to be marketed and many continue to use them despite the availability of more earth-friendly options.

TOWARD THE VISTA

“I am glad I will not be young in a future without wilderness.”

Aldo Leopold

I have been incredibly fortunate in my ability to travel and have seen many of the world’s most amazing wonders. It would be tragic if we were to destroy the beauty of our earth through carelessness and inattention. Some simple examples. If three of us are going to the same place at the same time, are we taking one car or three? If two cleaning products exist, one of which is slightly more expensive but better for the environment, which are we choosing? If water bottled in plastic is more convenient but taking our own container will help to save our oceans, will we do that?

WALKING THE ROCKS

“The poetry of the earth is never dead.”

John Keats

Happily, it seems we are making some strides in the right direction. Many communities have banned plastic straws and/or plastic bags. There is increasing focus on limiting urban sprawl and including green spaces to decrease flooding due to overdevelopment. Car pooling is being encouraged, bike paths are being built and public transportation is coming back into vogue. Trees are being planted in areas where deforestation has had negative impact. Most importantly, people are getting involved and voices are being raised. Yes, we are unhappy about the environmental controls that are being rolled back by the current administration, but do not give up. Keep raising your voice and placing your votes to express your belief in the importance of protecting our earth. Even more importantly, make sure that at least YOU are doing what you personally can to help save our embattled earth.

WATER VIEW

“What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?”

Henry David Thoreau

As you may have noticed, I’ve not identified the locations of the images in this week’s challenge response. I thought I’d add my own little challenge to Amy’s this week. So go back to the beginning of the post and see if you can guess where each of the images was captured. Then come back to the end of the post to see how well you did. NO CHEATING ! 😀

Many thanks to Amy for her beautiful post and creative challenge. Remember to use the Lens-Artists tag to help us find your response. And of course stay tuned next week when you’ll find Challenge #32 right here on Travels and Trifles. Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.

Image Locations: