The Future Is In Our Hands The article “A Walk in the Woods,” by Richard Louv was published in April 2009 by Orion Press. This article mainly involved the aspect of deforestation and how today’s youth does not spend enough quality time outdoors. This malicious destruction of our natural habitat has been quite the controversy over the past few decades because it has a devastating impact on the environment. This negative impact does not only take a major toll locally, but on a global scale as well.
I found that this article is addressed towards deforestation workers and predominantly parents who coup their children indoors. Obviously, workers are obligated to reap the benefits nature has to offer, but this does not mean it is necessary to decimate thousands of innocent forests. Trees need to be cut down in order for our economy to prosper essentially because the majority of goods contain wood. It is apparent that we cannot stop this action, but the government needs to step forward and address this issue further.
If they simply plot out better areas for deforestation and plant more trees, our problem would be resolved. This movement would entice children to go on nature walks and enjoy the immaculate beauty our planet has to offer. Richard Louv stresses the point that today’s youth prefers performing indoor activities such as video games, to exploiting the pristine beauty of Mother Nature. He visited a classroom of children in Raytown, Missouri who preferred playing video games or other indoor activities, rather than being in the nature. On the contrary, a little girl in the room struck Louv in a special way.
She stated, “When I’m in the woods, I feel like I’m in my mother’s shoes. It is so peaceful out there and the air smells so good. For me, it’s completely different there. ” To this young adolescent, nature seemed to represent tranquility and simply a place to get away from everything. She also went onto explain how she felt free, and how the woods were a place where she could do as she pleased with no one to stop her. Unfortunately, the juggernaut force of deforestation came into effect and the little girl felt like they cut down a part of her.
Everyday citizens today take many things for granted, or in other words, they feel they have the “right” to do whatever they please. If these citizens at least attempted to have a different outlook on these important issues, our world would be a better place to live. Strong correlations have been made between a child’s ability to learn, along with positive emotional and physical health when experiencing the natural world. Spending quality time in the nature positively induces children who have stress related predicaments, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive functioning, and other disorders.
According to Howard Frumkin, director of the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Protecting natural landscapes can be seen as a powerful form of preventive medicine. ” He feels that we need to do more research to come to a solution, but our society as a whole knows enough to strive toward these positive actions. Louv compares this struggle to the civil rights movement; it was fueled by a strongly articulated moral principle. Some of these efforts proved to be successful, whereas others were counterproductive.
In the end, the civil rights movement went forward and strived. It is our responsibility to introduce children to nature because this connection to the natural world is fundamental to humanity’s survival and spirit. According to Thomas Berry’s book The Great Work, he went on to explain “The present urgency is to begin thinking within the context of the whole planet, the integral Earth community with all its human and other-than-human components. When we discuss ethics we must understand it to mean the principles and values that govern that comprehensive community. Our adult society needs to step up and give today’s youth a more opportunistic lifestyle, pertaining to nature as the key element. If these actions occur, communities in general will begin to progress. With every right comes responsibility and if we fail to protect our environment, we will destroy its beautiful landscape. Louv feels that we need to do more than simply converse about the importance of nature, but rather ensure that children in every neighborhood have everyday access to natural habitats. Whether they live in urban or suburban areas, these children need to become unveiled to the outdoors.
Nature has provided life, food, shelter, etc. for everyone, so it is time to return the favor and respect the environment. A flourishing and sustainable society for future generations to come is possible if we act now and expose our children to the true beauty our planet has to offer. These actions are Louv’s purpose for writing this informative article. Louv’s essay is persuasive because he backed up his main points in a logical manner, pertained information in a significant approach, and procured his purpose successfully.
Louv presented a multitude of logical arguments in this article, which strengthened his credibility and kept his audience glued until the end. His writing style immediately entices the reader to think about how our environment tends to our every need, yet we still disrespect it. The relationship that human beings have with our planet has become oppositional over time. Centuries ago, the earth essentially provided every necessity and want to the human race. In return, they treated the earth with great respect, but unfortunately, the trend today has moved towards the latter.
Every day individuals take natures offerings for granted, but do not show a bit of respect in return. If these individuals began to change their outlook on the planet and return favors in respect, our world would be a better place. Louv feels that parents need to do more than simply talk about the importance of nature, but rather ensure that children in every kind of neighborhood have everyday access to nature. If we do not take care of our planet, it will not return the favor for current and future generations to come.
The information in this article was significant and was presented in a professional manner. Most children today do not experience the wonders this splendid planet has to offer. Instead, their eyes tend to be enthralled to the television or their hands are viciously cramped around a controller of a video game. These actions tend to hamper a child’s outlook on life and teach them unethical behaviors. My brother is a great example of this because he loves playing video games and being confined to his room in general.
Every time I come home, I try to come up with outdoor activities to play with him in order to broaden his horizon on nature’s gracious offerings. When parents spend time with their children outdoors, they often develop a better understanding of life in general and grow up with an inferior common sense to overcome life’s hurdles. Louv explains that kids who spend more time outdoors have lower stress levels, and seem to be physically and mentally healthier. This article shows that Louv really took the time to research and analyze this topic because it is straightforward and he gets his point cross with significant information. Richard Louv accomplished his purpose in a number of educated ways. I came across an excellent allusion where he declared that every successful movement, such as the civil rights struggle was jump-started by a strongly articulated moral principle. This movement did not need to be proved numerous times because some efforts were successful, whereas others were counterproductive. In the end, the movement went forth just as his argument can. Thomas Berry stated, “As a society, we need to give nature back to our kids.
Not doing that is immoral. It is unethical. A degraded habitat will produce degraded humans. If there is to be any true progress, then the entire life community must progress. ” This didactic language shows that we need to take care of our planet as a whole, in order to reap the benefits it provides for us. I felt the author’s most significant aspect was his tone that accompanied this article. He used a vast assortment of words and examples, which exemplified his true love and support for Mother Nature.
After reading and analyzing Richard Louv’s article, I agree with him on every aspect covered. I feel children today are too sheltered and do not spend enough time outdoors. Parents need to take an initiative to spend quality time doing outdoor activities with their children. These actions will not only strengthen bonds, but also prepare their kids for the real world. Children also need to take the responsibility to turn the video games off and replace them with outdoor activities.
Today’s youth can partake in numerous outdoor activities that teach good morals, ethics, and how to be a good citizen. On the contrary, most video games promote violence, malice, rape, murder, stealing, etc. These games can hamper a child’s understanding of the true core values in life. To me, nothing is more soothing than playing a round of golf on a beautiful day. I have played golf my entire life and I cannot begin to explain the feeling of happiness and relaxation I get when I am on the course. It is peaceful and quiet with no worries in the world.
Activities such as these will promote children to live a healthier lifestyle, while forming a bond with planet earth’s true beauty. The article “A Walk in the Woods” by Richard Louv was a very educational and interesting piece of work. He manipulated his primary points logically, used significant information to back up his article, and attained a very successful purpose. Mother Nature has done more than enough for us, so it is our time to return the favor and treat our planet with respect. Works Cited Louv, Richard. “A Walk in the Woods. ” Orion April 2009: 68-71. Print.
