I’ve lamented how the forests are being decimated before and a friend even labeled me a ‘tree hugger’ once which is fine if it helps in any way in saving needless deforestation. Sticks and stones …

I’ve grown up and spent most of my life in an area with some of the most beautiful forests in the world. If those reading have never been to the Pacific Northwest and seen some of the majestic mountain regions, hurry up and schedule your trip now. The logging companies are sneaky about it too, they leave trees near the roads and then log their way back in the distance and take the trees there. You can see the lifeless stumps lining the distance like cemetary headstones.

I’m not an eco-freak, but I do believe in common sense. Human beings cannnot live without air. And if we kill the trees we kill the oxygen, unless we find some other way to manufacture it. I’m not sure a life living hooked to some artificial breathing apparatus is any kind of life at all. None of this will matter when I’m alive but someday in the future in some generation of our families it will be a major regret if something isn’t done.

But it isn’t only the trees, the coastal life has been under siege as well.

Most were depleted by 1900 and declined further by 1950. Fish such as salmon, sturgeon, tuna, cod and sardines were quick to follow, with shellfish such as mussels only recently becoming the targets of expanding fisheries. Plant life has also suffered badly, with 67% of wetlands, 65% of sea grasses and 48% of other aquatic vegetation lost through disease, destruction or direct exploitation.

What can we do?
This all starts with people like you and I. What can we do? Our next new car purchase will likely be some type of energy efficient car. I’m tired of being raped at the pump. We are strongly considering buying and implementing some sort of solar or wind based power. I’ve cut down on magazine (paper) subscriptions, switching primarily to electronic media and do not subscribe to print newspapers. We recycle.

A couple of years ago a fellow who I’ve fallen out of contact with named ‘logspirit’ was vegetarian and strongly believed in protecting the environment. Though he was definitely more fringe than I, he was right to be passionate about this subject. On the off chance that he might still be reading, hopefully he realizes I always took this subject to heart. And always will.

All the money now and leaving the problems for future generations defies all rationale. What else can we do in our daily lives to help protect the environment?

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