Epilogue Summary

The epilogue leaves the reader with the fact that humans will always have unanswered questions and will always be seeking to better understand themselves. This includes the difference between human and ape, and how mankind got to where they are today. Ramachandran reviewed the main ideas in previous chapters and expressed how he wishes that this book’s ideas inspired new experiments and theories. Humans are moving out of the dark ages but still have a long way to go.

Writing Assignment 9 – Home is where the Heart is.

Bryn Morgan

Up to this point in my life, I’ve never realized how lucky I was to grow up in the environment that surrounded my hometown of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Shortly before the Cerro Grande fire in 2000, my dad took me on a hike through Water Canyon, in the Jemez Mountains. As a falconer, he pays special attention to birds of prey and has a keen eye for any traces of wildlife. It was through this hiking trip that I started to take interest in wildlife and nature. There were flowing rivers that seemed huge at the time, wild raspberries (which we snacked on the whole way there back), bird nests, and my first memory of fungi. I remember each of these vividly, and they have played an extremely important role in my current understanding and appreciation for the environment. A flowing river, in the state of New Mexico, is a pristine image. In a place where water is scarce, interaction with any kind of natural, free-flowing water gave me more joy than you could imagine. The same goes for rain; to this day, thunderstorms are my favorite kind of weather. Through this interaction with small streams and rivers, I have come to appreciate water in a unique way. I cringe when I see people leave the faucet on while they do dishes, brush their teeth, etc. I can’t help but think of that small stream in the middle of hundred of pine trees, and the entire forest fighting to survive the summer’s heat.  Of course, with the brutal sun of New Mexico also came wildfire. What started out as a controlled burn soon began to terrorize our mountains, and within a few weeks, our once beautifully green mountains were bald. I’ve hiked the same canyon since, and though it’s not as lush as I remember, it has reminded me of how powerful Mother Nature really is. Even in extreme adversity, our environment has figured out a way to regenerate. It starts small, with aspen trees poking up and oak brush covering the sparse patches, but hopefully by the end of my lifetime I will begin to see the hundred year old pines finding their way once again.

This particular hiking trip also made a large impact on the way I interact with different species of the environment. We spotted a few nests that day, and though my first instinct was to get as close as possible or even touch the nest, my dad taught me to respect the animal’s boundaries and keep my distance. He explained how the scent of a human’s touch could “offend” the birds, and they may not return to the nest. Not wanting to “offend” anyone, I made sure to watch from a distance and share my environment with the birds. Such a small deed seems miniscule in the grand scheme of things, but as I look back on this memory, it has a striking resemblance to our current situation with endangered species. With population exponentially growing, we are forcing more and more species out of their natural habitats. Once they have nowhere to go, extinction is the only option. If we could learn to look at things in the way my dad taught me, we would begin to understand that plants, animals, and bacteria do have value within themselves. They deserve to share a piece of our planet, and we should consider ourselves lucky to have them.  People take for granted how much joy the environment can give us. In an age where the environment is moving out to make room for technology, I can’t help but picture a grim future for the natural surroundings I grew up with. It’s time that human beings start recognizing the environment as a living, breathing, and receptive entity. Species on this planet have been stretched too thin, and it’s our duty recognize this fact, and work toward a symbiotic relationship.

My Home in Nature by Brian Carpenter – response to Gary Snyder essay

Brian Carpenter

Response – “The Place, The Region, & The Commons” by Gary Snyder

In Snyder’s essay, he discusses the notion and significance of “place”, and specifically, “home place”. Described as the “fire pit”, the hearth (historically) is the “heart of the home”. (26) The hearth was the place where all exploration began and, ultimately, ended.  From childhood, we learn and memorize the landscape of our homes. The essay discusses how many people can recollect images of “place” from the ages 6 to 9 and this is true for me, as well. When I think back to my childhood, the only real images I can produce are of nature. I carry a picture in my mind of the muggy, mosquito infested swamps in Mississippi, fishing with my dad out of a little tin boat when I was only 4 years old. Later in life, I see glimpses of vast expanses of green needles making their way to the summits, combined with the images of huge rock faces and formations, as I peered out of the car window in awe. I was ignorant of all the complicated natural processes that went into the creation of something so amazing. Even as a child, I felt a particular appreciation for nature, specifically, for the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains.  Throughout my childhood and teenage years I have lived in several different states (AZ, MI, OK, CO, GA, VA and CO again, in that order) because my dad is military. However, I spent the majority of my life in the forests of Colorado (from the age of 6), and they are the only place that I call “home”.  I have lived in many different areas in this home, and have come to define Boulder as the hearth. Unlike Snyder’s examples of “home”, my definition has changed greatly and been redefined, through the years.

Although my “home” has led me to appreciate nature, I think there is a fundamental flaw in defining “home” because it establishes a boundary (that should not exist) between humans and the natural world. This separation began long ago when; “place” was still limited by the landbase and geographic boundaries. In the past couple centuries, new technologies have exacerbated this separation and allowed for globalization (of information, communication, trade, travel, etc.) In this way, globalization has caused us to deviate from the historical (fire pit) model of the hearth and home, which Snyder presents. Through advances in transportation and communication, specifically, we are no longer confined by geographic boundaries. However, now we are confined by the different countries’ invisible borderlines, which have caused many to define their home as their country of origin or residence. The notion and definition of “home” has always required such boundaries to separate it from the rest of the world.

Three main influences have made it increasingly challenging (nearly impossible) for us to live in the romanticized small communities, all gathered around the fire pit, that Snyder discusses: European influenced imperialism, colonialism, and industrialization. In the human conquest to rule the Earth over all other life forms, these three devices have led us to map out the entire Earth to designate which majority is to be “humanized” and which itty-bitty regions are to be left untouched.   Naturally, controversy exists as to how this distinction should be made. Likewise, there is much debate as to how to govern these wilderness areas, the classic method is to designate them as a “commons”, in which everyone is free to consume the resources as they please until they are depleted. Garret Hardin coined the phrase the “tragedy of the commons” to describe how our self-interested human tendencies ultimately lead to the degradation and depletion of these natural areas. To reiterate a quote from the essay, “eventually our complicated industrial capitalist/socialist mixes will bring down much of the living system that supports us”. My field of study at CU (environmental science), specifically, has led me to realize this fact and has instilled in me an obligation to be “environmentally friendly” (contrary to the view held by the majority of the world). I agree with Snyder that the only way to solve the environmental crisis is to integrate ecology and economics, so as to place greater value in nature and a increased incentive toward wilderness preservation.

Assignment 9 – Cubberly

Matt Cubberly
Environmental Writing
Assignment 7 – Personal Essay

Any Place as a Home

After reading “The Place, the Region, and the Commons”, from “The Practice of the Wild” by Gary Snyder, it becomes a bit easier to think about and discuss the topics that are covered in the text. The main issue in this work is the idea of a “home” and how this idea relates to different people and societies. Overall, Gary Snyder presents his opinion that the majority of the population would not be able to distinctly and adamantly label a certain area as their “home”. The few who can would still find it difficult to describe their home in detail, including the environment around it. This could be due to the fact that as a people we are drifting further and further from the environment and nature as a result of normal progression. As we age as a society, our technology improves and little by little we disconnect from the natural world around us. Also brought up was the point that now more than ever individual people move from place to place with such relative ease that they may have many “homes” within their lifetime and because of that, these people don’t have a concrete relationship with any one place and its environment.
While I do agree that societies are distancing themselves from the natural world, I believe that to make these general assumptions proves difficult. Yes, the trees in our neighborhoods are not volunteers and we shape what’s around us until it no longer remotely recognizes the natural state, but in small instances, a portion of the people can still relate to the environment and are still able to call an area “home” with certainty.
I have lived in Illinois my whole life and have moved three times. Each move took us a town further in one direction, but we remained in Illinois. In Gary Snyder’s opinion, if I had lived in the same house and town for my entire life, I would most likely have a greater thought of a “home” than I do now after three moves. However, I can’t see myself doubting an area to be a home based solely on the fact that I haven’t been there as long as others have.
Many people become easily attached to certain things or places such as houses or neighborhoods. I’m probably the minority when it comes to these feelings as I see these as things to use until you no longer need to or want to use them. Once this happens, it’s passed to the next person in line to enjoy. This lack of attachment to inanimate objects does not inhibit my ability to perceive where I live as a “home”, however. If anything, I gain a greater understanding of where I am – and the environment in which I live – due to being able to give up what I once had, very easily.
Throughout moves in Illinois and the biggest of all, coming here to school in Colorado, I have gained the knowledge that any place can become your “home” if you accept it to be such and if you become aware of the environment that surrounds it – nature included.

Chapter 6-8 Lauren Wirth

Chapter 6

Chapter six talked about the different types of advertisements that there are in the world. It also stated how the average individual  sees about three thousands ads in a given year. It is impossible for a typical human being in the developed world to avoid nature. However at the same time, it is also encouraging a detachment from the individual with nature. The chapter talked about four main advertisements. The first one being ‘nature as a backup’ which is the most common yet least studied type of ad. It’s idea is about animals as a link to cultural meaning. The second one was the Green Product, which is basically the products in the store that say “Green Clean” or something of that nature. However most of these products are only 10% recycled and 90% new product or future waste. The third advertisement was ‘Green Image’. These advertisers try to appear environmentally friendly, yet again this is not always the case. Who pays for the ad is how the ad will be portrayed but the company itself may not live up to what it is trying to sell. The fourth ad is the Environmental Advocacy, which pushes for a particular stance about the environment. These ads are usually controversial within society. The whole concept to this advertisement is that ads speak to an individuals emotions more so than the rational mind. Ads are used in a capitalists economy, and make it impossible for people to be detached from nature, but only through the prespective of who is selling the ad.

I personally did not care too much about the types of ads the chapter  talked about but I do appreciate the authors stance on how we are only seeing what is being portrayed through who is paying for the advertisement. It is true that companies are aware of the social awareness and consciousness that is happening in society involving the environment. Advertisers use this as a weapon to get people hooked in on their product. Trying to sell people on their emotions is a great way for a company to make a connection with the consumer.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 talked about the meaning of animals and how they play a pivotal role in our world. It talked about seven different types of ways people can be classified with how they perceive animals; humanistic, neutralists, moralistic, utilitarian, naturalists, ecologicalists, dominatistic, and a scruitionists.  It went into detail about how animals are the link between the human world and the ‘natural and wild’ world.

I personally really enjoyed this part of the book because every time I see an animal I feel a close connection to what is to be free. Animals live in a world very different from people but we all live on the same planet. They depend on us to preserve the environment so they can continue to survive. I think wild animals are the best resource we have to want to keep the environment safe and ensure its’ protection because we can identify with a living creature much more than an iceberg or river.

Chapter 8

Finally chapter eight hits the nail on the head with news media. It is similar to the advertisement chapter but goes into further detail on how the media plays a role into how society views social issues. The media itself is a social institution that is influenced by profit making businesses. What this means is that those in power, whether politically and or financially shape what is portrayed in the media and into our households.

I totally agree that humans get way to caught up in what is going on in the news and depend solely on the media for their information about any topic but especially the environment.  Mostly because we do not have the access or time to educate ourselves about the environment, so we take in what we hear through the media. However it is important for humans to separate what is being told on the media and what is actually happening. What may hurt a certain politician or major firm, even if it is true and vital information about the climate, weather, and thus the environment, we may never get the full story, or any story at all.

writing assignment # 7

After reading Gary Snyder’s “The place, the region, and the commons”, I began to think about a specific location I identify with as home. Growing up in New Jersey, I was not raised with a lot of immediate exposure to nature, but was lucky enough to have parents who are fairly interested in the outdoors. Besides spending most of my free time in the backyard as a young child, my family made frequent trips to visit my grandparents in the Poconos (Pennsylvania) or trips to upstate New York and Vermont to ski/hike. At a very young age, I remember by grandparents home in the forest of the Poconos sparking my first legitimate interest in nature. I vividly remember the long hikes through the woods and onto overlooking cliffs and to this day I believe I could find our favorite spots to stop for lunch.

However, as I got older trips to my grandparents house became less frequent and I began to find my outdoor/nature outlet in different locations. Going into my teen years my natural experience(s) were highlighted by summer trip to foreign countries or winter ski excursions to the northern Catskills. Although these trips took up no more than 1-3 weeks a year, each time I felt more and more ‘at home’ at these places and was able to identify with and recognize a larger area of forest/mountain/stream etc.. Although my fondness and comfortability with the east coast natural world continued to grow, it same came time for me to pick a college.

Throughout high school I had gone a few trips out west (Colorado and Utah) to ski, so when it came time to pick a school it was not long before I took interest in CU Boulder. Upon coming to visit the school/town, I was thrilled to discover the easy accessibility of so many natural wonders/activities. From Boulder I could be skiing world-class mountains, hiking Rocky Mountain National Park, climbing Eldorado Canyon etc. all within 2 hours or less. After visiting the school, I felt I had found a place where I could reconnect with nature, and do so over a prolonged period of time (not a couple of weeks a year).

In my 4th year at CU, I do feel as if I’ve developed a very lucky and special connection with nature. Each time I go hiking/skiing/climbing I feel at home in that natural setting, and look forward to the next time I can return. In my experience, home is not a place I can identify as a single location. I recognize home or a feeling of being at home whenever I encounter a serene or enjoyable natural setting, and feel just as comfortable there as any other natural location I have frequented.

As I grow older I continue to take with me past memories of natural experiences and add new natural encounters to my memory each week (if I’m lucky). However, recently I was able to return to the place which first ignited my connection with nature, my grandparents house in the Poconos. As I went through the same woods I used to hike as a kid, I was disappointed to see that my favorite natural spots had been converted into paved roads and two-story houses to accommodate a growing Pocono community. This trend continued as I have revisited past places (Skiing in Vermont) which are now vastly more inhabited and less natural than they were over a decade ago.

While I have been able to encounter many natural beauties throughout my time in college, it still disturbs me to think that these places could be subject to the same changes I have witnessed in my childhood natural locations. To hold onto connections with nature (that I identify with as home) I would like find a career that promotes environmental sustainability and helps reverse anthropocentric trends of natural exploitation.

 

-Richard Martoglio

Chapters 6-8 Summary- Peter Holzberger

Chapter 6

This chapter discusses the ways in which capitalist manufacturers use the environment as a tool to help sell their product. The chapter discusses multiple ways in which a company can incorporate the environment into its advertisements to intrigue a potential consumer. The most common way is to use nature as a backdrop to the advertisement. If a particular product seems to symbiotically exist with nature, the average consumer assumes that the product is somehow environmentally conscious. In case the connection between a product and the environment is too vague for a consumer, companies will use green images on their product to literally tell you how it is good for the environment. However, what a company puts on a label and what is actually happening behind closed doors has been proven to be very different, so Corbett asks her readers not to blindly accept what’s on the label. Corbett also discusses how advertising is the fuel to our capitalist economy, and with out it there would be no over consumption of material goods, because people would only seek out what they truly needed. Advertisements are layered in our culture, as evidenced by the fact that we are exposed to over 3000 advertisements a day. With this many advertisements it is no wonder that we subconsciously rely on them for cultural guidance of what to value. Unfortunately advertisements don’t generally guide us to not over consume, rather they ask us to indulge in our narcissism. One example of this is when companies show advertisements of humans conquering nature either by jogging it in new shoes, or driving over it in a new car. These ads are subliminally suggesting that nature is different from mankind, and that with the right tools we can dominate it.

Chapter 7

Animals are used in an array of ways by the human species. Whether it is the name of a car, or a label on your shirt, animals are used to express a particular emotion. The problem is that when pop culture teaches you and tells you how to interact and perceive animals, its neglects their inherent value and distorts their actual behavior. For instance, the wolf has been the mascot for evil for centuries, but there is nothing about a wolf that makes it more evil than any other species. It hunts and uses strategy to survive just like humans or any other animal, but for some reason mankind has deemed it unacceptable. Pop culture reinforces this malevolent idea through children’s stories and folklore resulting in adults who fear and despise wolfs. In the early 1900’s there were federal institutions whose priority was to kill wolves and coyotes to ensure the safety of humans. Later in the century people started to realize the irrational cruelness of this act and began associating wild animals, such as wolves and bears, with friendly anthropomorphic mascots of peace and preservation. The chapter discusses how the destiny of animals will depend solely on mankind’s subjective opinion of them, and if we don’t teach the inherent value of these creatures to children, the animals will have no chance at survival. Psychologists have determined that un-educated, poor, southern, urban citizens have the least regard for animals. They have also determined that much of this is due to the fact that most of these people have never interacted with animals in the wild, and do not truly understand and appreciate their inherent and aesthetic value. Another factor that influences human’s opinion of animals is their anthropomorphic features. When people attribute human qualities to animals it makes them more appealing and less threatening. At the end of the day, people cannot rely on what pop culture and rumors say about animals, rather they need to get out into the wild and truly experience the beauty for themselves.

Chapter 8

Mass media is a tool most people assume to be an objective messenger of important events. What many people do not realize is that the media is an employee of the mass social institution just as they are. Evidence to support the claim that news reports are a constructed version of social reality is that all the different news outlets generally have the same top stories. This is because those top stories, in some way or another, support a larger social institution that, indirectly or directly, funds mass media outlets. With out advertising, most media groups could not exist, so naturally these groups have incentive not to shit where they eat.  Many news outlets attempt to be fair and objective, often stating both sides of a story, or keeping the editorial section clearly separate from the top stories section. However, often times a phenomenon known as conditioned belief occurs where an institution has control of a reporter without that reporter even knowing it. For instance, when a reporter for Fox news is discussing a story about how mass corporations exploit natural resources, that reporter might be slightly biased in favor of the corporations because he or she works for one. That reporter might think they are being objective but through choice of language, use of metaphors, and selection of video clips, they might be subconsciously showing mass corporations in a good light.

As discussed in chapter 8, environmental news is ongoing and omnipresent, which bores the average American and their short attention span. Popular news is event driven, so often the only time environmental issues make it into the news is when they clearly affect a socially important institution like government policy or the economy. Most environmental activist groups do not have the funds to support news groups, so more often than not; the public is exposed to the values and stories of government officials or major institutions.

Reflection:

After reading these chapters it is apparent to me that our society views humanity and the environment as two separate entities. Nature is viewed as an exploitable tool used for monetary gain, and institutional influence. The media is probably the most influential factor that has created this narcissistic ideology that mankind currently holds over nature.  The media controls what the public hears, and therefore can control how humans interact with their environment. I do not mean to say that people in the media business are all irrational and cruel, but the public has to realize that they are drones of major social institutions just like the rest of society. Therefore, what you hear or see from your radio or television may not be the objective truth. On the flip side, if society didn’t have advertisements telling people they need to be more environmentally conscious, then how would anyone know?

Environment essay on “the place, the region, and the commons”

In The Practice of the Wild the author Gary Snyder defines Home as a deeply spiritual place of the spirit versus the ancestral use of the word “home” as being Europe or Asia. These places are ones to visit and appreciate as being foreign and unfamiliar territories. Being a non-native to Colorado, the next question from people is “where are you from?” Other than Colorado I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Thailand, Malaysia, Virginia and Maine. To go along with Snyder’s Home perspective, I would answer people by saying I’m from Maine. I have equal fond memories of being in each location of each different and uniquely descriptive landscapes having an indent on my spirit, but for that deep spiritual feeling-Maine will always win overall.

Both houses that I occupied in Maine had a vast landscape of forest just inches from my backdoor. In the first house, the endless woodlands stretched for miles and accompanied a snaking creek embedded a mile from the tree line. Being so young, I don’t have the memory of knowing if this place was either a private sector of land from one of my neighbors or a common land owned by a sector of government-either way I probably would have spent just as much time in there. By the time we moved to a new house a few miles down the road, I wasn’t too detached from the fact of going somewhere new. In the woods, there was always a new fallen tree with new forms of life growing out of it, or a family of rabbits hadn’t passed us yesterday, new fixations were always just around the corner. The new was never something that frightened me as a kid-partly from the fact of my grandmother teaching us of the local mushroom (she was a fungi biologist) and how different subgroups grew the farther you ventured into the forests-making it easier to know how far you were from the drier, open fields by our house.

According to Snyder, this knowledge of knowing about the local plants begins one’s feeling of being at home in a landscape. For me it taught me that by just finding patterns from any landscapes put you at ease in a new environment. You don’t need to be completely all knowing in the landscape to feel a peace of being in that place. Even though I do not have as much knowledge on the flora and fauna here in Colorado, I have a better sense of Home here than I ever did towards Maine. It could be the fact that, finding new obstacles in the woods brought me to where I am today to except what surrounds me and to use the creek as a simple guide through the thickness of uncertainty in life.

-Hannah Spaulding

Home

Shannon Anderes

I grew up in the Central Valley in California. Many refer to my hometown Fresno as the “armpit of California.” What those people don’t know is that I had the opportunity to ski every weekend and hour and a half away in the Sierra Nevadas. I was able to spend every summer in Shaver Lake where I could wakeboard, water-ski, and fish. I could look off the deck at night and see every light in the valley. Best of all, I could look up at the sky at night and see countless shooting stars. Call me crazy, but I would hardly call that the “armpit of California.” My favorite thing about growing up in the valley is how close everything is. I could drive to the beach for the weekend on a whim. I could leave for Tahoe after school and be there in time for dinner. Because I grew up in the Central Valley, I feel that I have had the access to travel across the state much easier than the rest of the states population.

My family has also had a huge impact on the way I see nature. My dad was on the US Ski Team so I have been skiing since I’ve been able to stand. I have had the opportunity to race all over California as well as Oregon and even on the glaciers in Canada during the summer months. Skiing has shaped the way I see nature and the appreciation I have for the environment.

Snyder describes how everyone has a different viewpoint on nature, based off of one’s background and how one was raised. Even though most people think that they can shape their relationship with nature, they fail to realize that their view of nature came from their childhood. Of course people can change to be the person that they want to be with nature, however their past has a very strong influence.

My oldest sister went to CU years ago, and as a freshman in high school I came to visit. After just one weekend in Boulder, I didn’t even want to look at any other school. This is where I saw myself and that was that. Because of my relationship with skiing and my childhood of going up to the mountains every single weekend in the winter, I needed to be near the mountains. I am someone who grew up outdoors as a child and needs variety. The other school I thought about attending was the University of California at Santa Barbara. Most people think I’m crazy for turning it down. I mean who doesn’t want to go school located on the beach? Me. I need seasons and I need space.  Colorado is the perfect fit for me and I couldn’t be any happier. The only thing missing is my family, who raised me to view nature the way that I do. After school, I have no idea where I’ll live, but I know one thing for sure; my viewpoint of nature will always remain the same.

Chapter 2 – Personal Reflection

Beau Bakley

Chapter 2 Personal Reflection

After reading Gary Snyder’s Practice of the Wind Chapter entitled The Place, The Region, and the Commons I grasped a stronger emotion and understanding of my surroundings. Throughout the chapter Snyder discusses the meaning of place, the tragedy of the commons, and perspectives of different bioregional areas. Linking all these together I felt a sense of meaning and existence in the large world that we live in.

Snyder begins the chapter with a complex definition of ‘place’. He defines home as where the hearth is, and this is exactly how I feel. When I am home, I can smell the home-cooking meals of my family, the aroma of the seasoned wood burning in the fire place, and that small distinct smell that only you know when you are home. Every time I walk in my front door I instantly get reminded of past childhood experiences, growing up, and routine customs I use to go accomplice every day. Snyder though enlightened me of the geographical aspect that I have found too much disregard for. When I think of home I do not necessarily think of the pines growing in my back yard, the lush fertile grass in my neighborhood, or the entire ecosystem that surrounds my hearth. I do feel compassion for my surroundings yet I view them in a different way, for instance the fence that goes around my yard is my territory if not more my dog Bourbon’s. I encompass all these entities that go into my property and shamefully leave neglect for the tremendous surrounding ‘place’ around me.

Snyder continues to describe the commons; their value, definition, and necessity. The commons are defined as “the undivided land belonging to the members of a local community as a whole” (Snyder 33). Yet, in today’s society this cannot truly happen, people become greedy and want to pasture one more cattle than the competition or cut down one more tree than the other. This is more-so the tragedy of the commons as defined by Hardin. The tragedy of the commons is a concept of greed, and I notice this everywhere. Darwin taught about survival of the fittest, every man for himself and only the strong survive. Naturally, humans will break code and attempt to get ahead of their fellow commons users and deplete the resources. I notice this when I see golf courses, many golf courses are on extremely valuable land (resource wise) yet, some group of investors and entrepreneurs enter the battle and pave lush grasses and neatly bedded sand traps for peoples entertainment and profit. The philosophy around this is that if I do not do it, someone else will. This is the truth; there will always be somebody else out there who wants to capitalize on a selfish opportunity. I find it very interesting to study the Native Americans and how resourceful they were. They utilized their land to the fullest, lived well, and had the most leisure time of anybody! Upon colonialism, we took all of this from them and pushed their tribes to undesirable locations (no resources, poor climate, etc).

The final segment of the chapter is entitled Bioregional Perspectives. The different regions we inhabit are “interpenetrating bodies in semi-simultaneous spaces” (Snyder 40). The different types of landforms, biotas, lakes, elevations, rivers, and streams all define the regional setting we live in. Here, I felt slightly dumbfounded with how well Snyder knew his geographical landscape and his touch with nature. Synder can relay locations from the landscape, the type of flora, the watersheds and places where “Alaska and Mexico meet” (Snyder 43). This is truly amazing yet, is this not something that everybody should know? I find this chapter as an eye-opener, a request to the readers to look around at your surrounds, embrace them, and become in harmony with them.