The Land Ethic

What is ethic? Ecologically, it is a limitation on freedom of action in the struggle for existence. Philosophically, it is a differentiation of social from anti-social conduct. But all theories and definitions of ethics lie within the principle that an individual is a member of a community and that his ethics allow for co-existence among others.

Land ethics are simply the expanding of the definition of ethics to include soils, waters, plants, and animals to equal the land. Why is it necessary to add land to our understanding of ethics? Well, because it's our habitat it's where we live and if we don't take care of it, who will?

A land ethic changes the way we should live in our land. We shouldn't be conqueror's of the land but learn to live as citizens of it. Many times in order for us to accept or apply a concept or action in our lives it has to be of some economic importance. Well with animals and other environmental entities at times it is not applicable and thus we just overlook land ethic as a priority or ignore it completely.  Lack of economic value is sometimes a character not only of species or groups, but of entire ecological communities such as marshes, bogs, and dunes. What we usually do is delegate these lands into refuges, monuments, or parks but it is difficult for the government to undertake this task because unfortunately it cannot possibly own or control such scattered parcels. Therefore a critical obligation on behalf of the private owner is the only solution for these problems.

"El Lago del Espiritu Santo"

There is no other area in the world like our Florida Everglades. The type of wildlife that it inhabits, the openness of land is quite exquisite and only available there. That is why the Spanish called it the 'El Lago del Espiritu Santo' meaning the lake of the Holy Spirit.  Truly the Everglades means 'big water'.

The origin of the name Everglades came from "River Glades" River became 'Ever' and after the acquisition of Florida from Spain in 1819 by the U.S. was it's present name used.The Indians though called it the 'Pa-hay-okee' which means "Grassy Water." The Everglades today is referred to as a plural entity and one word.

The Everglades encompasses shallow lands with shrubby trees in masses of water. The trees are called saw grass. In the Everglades is the greatest concentration of saw grass in the world. With the mud, the water, and the tall growing saw grass it is impossible to get through the Everglades by foot. Saw grass is so strong that really the only thing that defeats it is fires. Layers of ashes mark where old fires once were.

A major part of the Everglades is the rock it encompasses it which holds the fresh water and the grass. The surface rock below the Everglades dips south at an incline of half a foot to every six miles. The material of the rock came from the sea, which is called "oolitic limestone." With the sun and air it hardens in clumps. And in some places it becomes shelly.

Video & Lecture OIL COMBO

Recently in class we had the opportunity to watch: the Crude Awakening, 60 minutes clip on natural shale gas, and Squeezing More Oil from the Ground. These three videos all touched on the same agenda: oil. We are moving from the era of cheap oil (peak oil) to where oil will become more scarce thus even more valuable than what it already is. Unfortunately, we have exploited many of Earth's natural resources including that of oil.

Oil is like the blood of the Earth, said a researcher in one of the videos. And I find that statement to be very true! It was interesting to listen to some of the thoughts some of the scientists had, for example I had never realized that gas what runs most of our machinery and is used in the manufacturing of many more things such as cosmetics, has for a very long time been cheaper than a water bottle. When you stop and think in this way you realize what a big mistake it has been for oil to be so cheap. We have literally abused of a resource that first of all is non-renewable and second of all that has taken this Earth millions and millions years to make. But the worst part is that humanity has known oil is a non-renewable energy source yet we have grown so dependent on it to the point it is in almost everything we touch and do.

The reality will strike when gas does reach a consistent high and then what will we do? Many jobs will be lost plus economic, political, and scientific tension will arise even more throughout the world. My opinion is that we should honestly start investing serious time and knowledge in other forms of energy whether it is electric or natural gas because oil seems to always cause issues with other countries. Oil is going to become more and scarcer till finally it "runs-out" we should make use of our time NOW and figure out new ways that we can solve the dependency we have on a non-renewable environmentally hurtful energy source.

Visit to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

  Our trip to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was quite interesting. I had no idea there was a park in Florida that had so many trees and land! We arrived around 1:00 pm and were introduced to the water filter system the sanctuary had which was quite interesting. We were then split into two groups and ventured off to walk the sanctuary's boardwalk.

As we began to walk I saw more and more vegetation till we arrived at an area-like savanna clearing a truly beautiful scenery. As we continued our journey we came into contact with different  wildlife and species of trees. We continually saw many kinds of spiders and insects of which thankfully bit no one. The day was scorching hot but under the canopy of trees you could feel a cool breeze which helped throughout the walk.

We then stumbled upon an area where there once was a lake and it had dried up due to low rainfall. There were lots of vultures present waiting patiently as the fish that were once residents of the lake slowly died. You could see how the fish, the vultures, the crocodiles, and even a turtle interacted with each other. The best part was when the crocodile went and bit the turtle but due to the hard shell of the turtle it was able to escape the jaws of the crocodile.

A Time to Act

"A Time to Act," January 2000 Everglades Coalition Conference in Naples slogan. The time had come for restoration to be addressed. Conservationists had stopped hunting of particular birds in the everglades and had helped preserve millions of acres of wetlands as well as secure the 'largest nutrient cleanup in history.' But this was not enough. The Everglades ecosystem was not in balance and development was also preventing the region from redeeming itself in other words.

There was a Homestead airport to be built in 2000 the most prominent threat to the ecosystem in a generation. Alan Farago, activist leading the airport opposition would have a big role in the outcome of the airport construction. Alex Penelas, the most prominent Cuban-American Democrat, was the airport's leading supporter. And Jorge Mas Santos, leader of the Cuban American National Foundation, anti-Castro group, would be one of the airports key investors. The basic message exhibited to the public by the disputers of the airport was that it made no sense for the federal government to construct a major airport near to the Everglades, but yet wanted it's taxpayers to spend $8 billion to restore the Everglades. 

Al Gore was a major figure in whether the airport would get constructed or not, but Gore refused to take a stand. He said he pledged to only seek a "balanced solution" that would help the economy without harming the climate. Gore was walking a line between Democrating-leaning environmentalists and Republican-leaning Cuban-Americans.

After much political footwork and obstacles Clinton finally signed the Everglades bill on December 11, 2000. The 20th century had been a time of 'mess-making' and the 21st century would be a time to clean up the mess. There were many unanswered questions but overall it was a step in the right direction and a movement toward a sounder environment.