Prince & Ecuadorans

A few days ago, upon learning of the tragic earthquake in Ecuador, I tuned into our "most reliable" cable news network to get the details.  Unfortunately, they were waiting for a news conference with Donald Trump; worse yet, they have given the tragedy very little attention ever since, deferring primarily to coverage of dysfunctional American politics.  This is despite the fact that nearly 500 persons were killed in the earthquake and the economy of Ecuador will likely suffer for many years to come.

Yesterday, the news of Prince's death, an icon of American music, sent that channel into overdrive, providing continuous coverage of his career, a commitment that lasted most of the afternoon and evening and resumed this morning.  While his contribution to music was surely significant and his life deserves tribute and coverage by the mainstream media, the current ongoing marathon is clearly the product of American celebrity worship (and the dollars that it brings) not a journalistic decision based on the relative importance of world events.

Unfortunately, the discrepancy between the coverage of Prince's death and the Ecuador earthquake unveils the inward focus of most Americans as well as our obsession with celebrity.  If it's not happening in America or directly affecting American citizens, we're not interested; we may donate to the Red Cross but otherwise tune out the story.  After all, five hundred Ecuadorans cannot measure up to one American superstar.

Humboldt the Ecologist

In the course of reading The Invention of Nature, by Andrea Wulf (see Getting to know Humboldt), I have come to learn the important role that Alexander von Humboldt played in the field of ecology, theretofore an unacknowledged science.  Famous for his intrepid exploration of the tropics in Venezuela and the Andes of Colombia and Peru, Humboldt's major gift to humanity may have been his insights regarding the unity of nature, the interdependence of ecosystems and the effects of human civilization on the health of our natural environment.

Energetic, enthusiastic and inquisitive, he made detailed records of his discoveries and, in the course of that process, took note of similar ecosystems across the globe, related by latitude and/or elevation.  Indeed, to my knowledge, he was the first explorer to develop the concept of life zones, thereby emphasizing the effects of climate on the resident plants and animals.  He also observed and reported on the negative effects that human societies have on the environment, including those produced by deforestation, stream diversion and over-hunting.

Completing his excursion through South and Central America just as Lewis and Clark were beginning their exploration of the American West, Humboldt clearly had far more interest in the ecology of the landscapes through which he traveled.  Based on my readings (see Up River with Lewis and Clark and subsequent posts), the famous American explorers were focused primarily on finding a route to the Pacific; while their description of the landscape and wildlife is fascinating and their journey was no less courageous, they made little reference to the natural science of Western ecosystems.

Getting to know Humboldt

As an enthusiastic naturalist for more than forty years, I have long been familiar with Alexander von Humboldt, a famous German naturalist (1769-1859) who is best known for his exploration of South America.  I have also been aware that a number of natural features, landscapes and species have been named in his honor; the cold Humboldt Current sweeps northward along the coasts of Chile and Peru, Humboldt penguins and Humboldt squid inhabit these rich ocean waters and, in my own country, Humboldt Peak, the Humboldt Range, the Humboldt River and the Humboldt Sink occupy northern Nevada.

My cursory knowledge of this renowned explorer and scientist will be greatly expanded over the next week or so as I read The Invention of Nature, by Andrea Wulf, a biography of Humboldt's life, travels, discoveries and philosophy.  Having read several positive reviews of this book, I purchased a copy with a gift card from my daughter and I look forward to the adventure ahead.

Indeed, fueled by our personal interests, we become generally familiar with individuals who laid the groundwork for the passion that we experience today; yet, until we take the time to fully explore their lives, we cannot fully appreciate their influence.  Beyond his courageous travels and meticulous documentation, Alexander von Humboldt extended the gift of his intellect and his naturalist philosophy, introducing mankind to the interdependence and interconnection of ecosystems across our planet.  More on the book's revelations in future posts.

Parents & Football Trauma

Within a few hours of my writing this post, the 50th Super Bowl will be underway.  I will not be watching; that's the least I can do.

Having played football in grade school, I switched to swimming and baseball in later years.  Our son also shunned football, opting for soccer, tennis and swimming, evoking reference to "sissy sports" from some extended family members.  Indeed, a large number of boys choose to play football, encouraged by fathers who played the sport or by those who wish they had experienced the glory.  Chasing the promise of wealth and fame, fueled by the same public voyeurism that filled the Roman Coliseum, those with exceptional talent stay the course, ignoring the risk of serious injuries that include spine fractures and traumatic encephalopathy.

Finally acknowledging these risks, the NFL and the NCAA have enforced a number of safety rules and are seeking to improve the protective gear.  While such efforts are no doubt sincere, the financial windfall is too great to significantly alter or abolish the sport; besides, rabid fans, the media, the sporting goods industry and wealthy alumni would not condone such a drastic move.  In the end, it will be up to parents to turn the tide, discouraging their boys from playing football (at least in its present form).  Those who ridicule such an idea, seeing it as just another move to "pamper" our kids, are either blindly committed to the sport or insensitive to the growing list of tragedies.

Surviving on Mars

This afternoon, my wife and I watched The Martian on streaming video.  The movie is about an astronaut who is stranded on the Red Planet after a storm aborts his team's mission and about NASA's efforts to rescue him.

Throughout the film, emphasis is placed upon the importance of courage, scientific knowledge, human ingenuity and international cooperation in both the astronaut's attempt to survive and in humanity's effort to retrieve one of its own.  There are no scenes invoking the intervention of deities or implying that miracles play a role in the process.  Frankly, mysticism is left out of the equation.

Unfortunately, in our modern world, that is not the case.  Science, especially when it contradicts traditional beliefs, is ridiculed and social support for scientific exploration is waning.  From my perspective, The Martian is less about one man's determination to survive than about the survival of our species.  The latter will require both respect for science across the globe and the willingness of all humans to adopt lifestyles that protect our planet; if not, we may all need to escape to Mars.