Conservation - Energy Out

What could I possibly say to my neighbor to impress upon him the desperate state of the environment? What grand axiom could I relate to my fellow man to persuade him to abandon his lifelong anal mission to destroy his corner of the world?

I watched from my window this afternoon as a woman raked leaves and bagged them to set out on the curb for the haulers. She has no idea what she is doing except that she is maintaining an immaculate lawn. She does this year after year, not realizing that she is removing the sum energy produced by that tree which would generate a fertile soil for itself and its progeny. This is energy out of the local environment, contributing to the depletion of soil. The tree is then progressively stressed due to the lack of humus in the soil, stifling its full potential for growth and ensuring its premature demise.

We all love to take drives through the countryside to view the glories of nature and to get away from it all. Yet, when housing developments take the place of raw nature the very first thing we do is knock down all the trees and scrape the land bare. Without forethought we construct a major source of runoff (a housing edition) and plant grass. This environmentally destructive practice is, to some extent, attributed to ignorance. However, to a great extent, it is the product of a society based on profits and the promise of instant gratification and convenience, which is starkly and diametrically opposed to the course of nature.

Ordinances by local governments, or covenants imposed by homeowner’s associations, such as those that mandate maintained lawns for the sake of appearance and property value, are not the answer. Rather, the endorsement of public education on topics relating to sustainable practices by local government entities are a more intelligent and responsible course of action. This would be a use of my tax dollars I could feel good about.