Determine How Creations by Linda Hogan Conforms to the Eight Principles of Deep Ecology
Creations is an essay written by Linda Hogan as part of a collection entitled Heart of the Land. It describes a journey to the regions of the estuaries Ria Celestun and Ria Lagartos in Yucatan, Mexico. The essay espouses descriptions of the regions traveled with an ecological aspect. This lends the essay to comparisons between itself and deep ecology, a philosophy that advocates for the equal regard of all life forms on Earth irrespective of their perceived usefulness to humans. Deep ecology is based on eight echelons of principles that explain the platform of its claims. An analysis of the Hogan’s essay reveals that it does conform to the principles of deep ecology.
Principle 1 and 2: All life forms have their own qualities that make them valuable and warrant respect. All creation was put on Earth for a purpose irrespective of whether or not human beings find any direct use for these life forms or not. Comprehension of the intelligence underlying the design is beyond human reach. Hogan gives examples of the majesty of nature for the sake of being majestic without necessarily having an aesthetic value. She is in awe of the fish she encounters while swimming and the circular patterns they create without breaks even when disturbed.
Principle 3 and 5: Human beings have increasingly raided nature to provide themselves with food, and accessories. The latter has endangered the biodiversity of various regions by driving some populations of animals and plants to extinction. The rate of hunting and poaching has often been insufficient to match the reproduction rate of these species. The writer notes, “…where the tracks end in the sand, there are human footprints” (Barbato & Weinerman, 98). This is a direct reference to poaching activities of sea turtles, animals already endangered, as evidenced by their decreasing numbers.
Principle 4: Populations of different species around the world have decreased with the increase of human populations. This is because humans encroach on habitats and pushing the initial occupants out of their homes by causing an imbalance in the ecosystem (Sahney et al.). Land is the key factor in human settlement as a source of arable land for agricultural purposes. Increase of human populations places stress on the natural resources and the competition that ensues leaves other species displaced. This is what Hogan noted by the decrease of turtle populations (98). Encroachment into the beach at Celestun has been the direct reason to this extinction process.
Principle 6: The current way of life in the world is based on an anthropocentric attitude that places the individual interests of man above all species to the latter’s detriment. The replacement of natural material with synthetic ones has numerous effects on the economic and ecologic aspects of the affected region (Wilson, 48-52). Hogan describes the poverty-stricken people of Ria Celestun, who have been reduced to their current state by the devastating effects of the adoption of technology without foresight. The use of polythene and nylon rope instead of henequen rope may seem like a sound technological milestone, but the effects are degradation of nature with non-biodegradable material and displacement of the economic activity of a group of people.
Principle 7: Greed has been the motivation of people’s attainment of higher standards of living. It has propelled the policies made on a range of fields. The relocation of Native Americans from their ancestral homes was driven by the greed of land ownership. Such attitudes have conceived destructive habits and practices. The villages Hogan comes across came into being because of the greed of manufacturers seeking cheap alternatives. They have left these villagers without a source of income, and their homes are built on reclaimed swamps and garbage. The quality of life of these villagers has been remarkable reduced to the benefit of a more powerful minority. Ecological systems in the swamps have also suffered resulting from the garbage piled into them.
Principle 8: Protection of the environment and conservation of existing habitats is an ongoing environmental and ecological effort supported by various groups. The activities of these groups justifies this principle as these people have realized the importance of the other life forms to the sustenance of human life. Groups such as the Green Movement and Earth First! are associated with deep ecology based on a number of similar principles, especially this one (Merchant, 198-201). Hogan spoke of Pronatura in her essay, in reference to their conservancy efforts (98-102).
The essay written by Linda Hogan addresses some ecological issues that are in tandem with the principles espoused by the deep ecology philosophies. Hogan’s observations on the lives of the inhabitants of the two estuaries are an expose on the effects of an anthropocentric mindset that has reduced the quality of life among the Yucatan population. A shift in this outlook will do to change the course humankind has chosen for this planet. It is the responsibility of human beings to take charge and their policies and practices for the salvation of all.
Works Cited
Barbato, Joseph, and Lisa Weinerman. Heart of the Land: Essays on Last Great Places. New York: Pantheon Books, 1994. Print.
Merchant, Carolyn. Ecology. Amherst, N.Y: Humanity Books, 2008. Print.
Sahney, Sarda, Michael J. Benton and Paul A. Ferry. “Links between global taxonomic diversity, ecological diversity and the expansion of vertebrates on land”. Biology Letters 6 (4): 544–547. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2009.1024. PMC 2936204. PMID 20106856. Published 27 January 2010. Retrieved 17-10-2012.
Wilson, Edward O. The Future of Life. New York: Vintage Books, 2003. Print.
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