Doing better for Mother Earth and us

The Gazette Editorial Board

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Mother Earth has accommodated many kinds of human activities over the centuries. She's absorbed much of the most damaging kind, healing over time.

But as human population and our technological, industrial, consumer and agricultural practices have expanded exponentially over the past century, our planet is showing signs of wear.

Are we on the verge of wearing out our welcome? We don't know. But clearly, humans must increasingly learn how to balance economic development and growth and our consumerism with wise environmental practices that will sustain and nurture life beyond our lifetimes.

This isn't about all-or-nothing approaches. It is about realizing that our Earth can be wounded in ways that will haunt future generations if we aren't willing to learn and constructively modify our behaviors.

Close to home, Iowa agriculture presents a multifaceted example.

Our state's farmers are remarkably productive and efficient on a worldwide scale. Their work eventually translates into many food products that are readily available and cost less than almost anywhere else. Our economy and family budgets benefit.

One downside of these intensive ag practices, despite recent improvements, is that they continue to contribute heavily to runoff and soil erosion. One impact beyond our borders is Iowa's major contribution to the water pollution that has created the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico near the Mississippi River's mouth.

Agriculture is not alone in this. As consumers, we drive what's produced in our factories and farms by the choices we make. Our seemingly insatiable demand for low-cost products is often one that does not promote good health or prudent living.

Our task, then, is to more actively create a better balance - one in which we work with Mother Earth, not against her, without suddenly upsetting our economic apple carts and throwing more people into poverty.

That's an incredibly challenging task. But it's one we all should embrace, not just annually on Earth Day, April 22, but by continually reviewing how our daily activities and choices affect physical and social environments. And committing to do better.

Editor's note: Look for guest columns on Earth Day-related topics over the next three days in The Gazette's Insight section.

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