Diamond Reflection

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Are we really the sole cause of our environmental decline? Diamond does not believe that there is one main cause to our declining environment. Diamond, shined a new light on this issue that has become a major concern today. How can we improve our quality of life?

I appreciated his mention of the ruins, that many people visit year round, “the monumental ruins left behind by those past societies hold a romantic fascination for all of us” (20).  He states that visiting these places, is something that people love to do, but are they really looking at the big picture? These are places that are just a mystery as to why it disappeared. I agree that looking back on places such as the ruins or other countries that have fallen can help our society with its current environmental issues. In comparison with learning from our past, I also like his idea that “We can still learn from the past, but only if we think carefully about its lessons” (23). Changes take time, and trying to change our ways and improve our environment do not happen overnight.

Diamond states, “We differ from past societies in some respects that put us at lower risk” (23). I like this idea, but I also like that Diamond mentions that with all the advancements we have made, it still can be harmful. He has realized that all though we are more modernized than previous societies, we still make mistakes.

Diamond talks about where he stands on the two types of camps, “environmentalist” and “non-environmentalist”. I believe that Diamond has evaluated the whole scenario and has come to the conclusion that there is not just one type. You can love the environment and try to preserve it but you can also engage in “big businesses” as he mentions. I would call such a person, a sideliner, one who participates in two different ways of life. I think that this is ok, but our actions can have major consequences. Being aware of the consequences could help if we helped others understand that there practices are not completely wrong, but there may be a more environmentally friendly ways of going about it. I think it is important to have strong beliefs about whatever is important in one’s life.