Conservation....

Conservation is a term used often. The meaning of it is something like this:

[quote]

Conservation \Con`ser*va"tion\, n. [L. conservatio: cf. F. conservation.] The act of preserving, guarding, or protecting; the keeping (of a thing) in a safe or entire state; preservation. [1913 Webster]

[end quote]

So conservation doesn't appear to be desirable at all. It seems to suggest keeping things in the state of the status quo, which after all is not only impossible but capricious. All things either evolve or degrade and/or erode, this is how evolution works. Trying to keep something as it is/was is a task both futile and unwelcome to any who would like to retain species and environments for future generations.

Victoria, Australia has more than 4 million hectares, or 14 per cent of the state, which are wilderness, state, regional park and reserve areas. The state government projects itself as protector and manager of these areas and they are evolving land and seascapes. The management appears insufficient because there is just not enough staff for the task, yet some would argue that's a good outcome, allowing these areas to constantly evolve; though many would claim they are degrading, but that depends where the person making the claim stands in opinion, thought and control tendency. Nature is working in these areas, it can't be prevented from doing so and the result is change and if this is degradation by natural means, then who would gainsay this? Only those that would control every aspect of what is happening, and create things as they see them, in their imagination, if only they could. But our ancestors as transporters of plants and animals from other countries have already created opportunity for the natural evolution with these new species.

So forget conservation for a moment and look more at protection. We can only protect anything from our own species and therefore society sets out rules and laws, and each of us have rules and laws, some more stringent and others more lenient than these of society that we also obey. For protection of any environment, and that's how all protection should be viewed, not like it has been n the past, as protection of an animal, which results in the animal in captivity in zoos, because its natural habitat has been desolated. A protection of an environment means all it contains, plants, animals, insects etc., from our species. With rules and laws we inhibit our species from taking what we think is undesirable action in the protected areas, and therefore hinder the application of what we consider undesirable effects from burdening or shaping the evolution of protected areas. Because nature will do as is intended and it cannot and must not be halted.

Protection of environments is important. Because it shows we are willing to allow nature to do what it has ever done, and even though we may see things happening that our ancestors have encouraged by the importation of what are often termed feral or weed species, we should trust natures ability to change and manage this change with what it discovers. Trust that animals will adapt, and trust that those which don't will be marked as obsolete by the same force which create them in the first place. It's a hard decision, which isn't ours to make and will be made if we interfere further, or not.

People mention pristine environments, but this usually tries to show an environment where man has not been the vector for introduction of animals and plants which were not discovered when the people who took away or colonised the environment of the native peoples first arrived. Prior to that, since the world began, other vectors and opportunity were created by nature to distribute plants and animals. These environments have evolved, and they are no more, nor will they ever be again. Time cannot be turned back, and land returned to uneducated, natural and enlightened native peoples is not possible either. It's not even natural that it should be so. Nature is the controlling force. Man is arrogant enough to think that its species has some control, but humans are unable to control anything, especially themselves no matter how hard they try. Humans are and will always be controlled by nature which created them, more evident now that the knowledge of global warming has registered its presence, even to science which created much of what has caused this phenomenon in all areas of human action.

Conservation should be replaced with protection, and evolution allowed to continue without interference, even though it may result in the destruction of the human species in the end. If we as a species were as clever as we thought, we would not be destroying what is already there, tried and tested, to rebuild it as we want, but rather build and live round all which was encountered and share the space and ambiance. Since we aren't that clever, we use force to shape natures tested landscape and formula with machines and flawed science, and get into more and more trouble every minute of day and night. Natures control is supreme, but we can try to curb the excesses of human habitation, not try to conserve what we have already destroyed.

A home rather than a house...

In search of the home one seeks a shelter, something that will keep off the rain, something that is dry, and yet when the weather is dry will be a little moist. Warmth in winter and shade in the hottest part of summer. A home can be a thing which loosely and lovingly treats us differently us from the outside the world which nature creates, it permits, possibly even encourages us to engage an environment which is mostly ours alone. A house, which is very different from a home, can be a thing that shows us boasting and by so doing build a rack upon which we may be broken. Confusing us into thinking what we want is what we also need. It can grow from us, showing who we think we are, putting up a front and becoming one who competes with others.

A home is a shelter to our being, it should cosset and succour us, but more would make it a monster that will drive us all our living days. A house is not important, though in modern society it has taken on another dimension, and people strive to have a house which is better than the one which keeps their neighbour dry. We need to take care with our home, because it is supposed to be an extension of our true selves, an environment of our own, not a status symbol to impress others. A home is supposed to be a place to go, or come too. It is a place to enjoy things that might not exist in the natural world, and yet it should allow the natural world to come in, join us and find itself welcome and comfortable. It should be a place within the natural world, a micro-climate for our personal needs.

Simply Living with Cats...

When living simply, there are as ever the problems with wants and needs and the conflicts which arise. One of these is a cat. Do you want a cat and if you do, how do you justify it eating the wildlife that would otherwise abound around the cottage? Nothing is easy. Most people just turn a blind eye to the fact that any cat is a great destroyer, and the myth that only hungry cats kill wildlife is a general stupidity that is touted by people who know nothing of cats, and kidding themselves so they can sleep at night, or people who just don't care what happens, and how they affect their environment and the world in general.

So a cat in the wild where it was never before is not an option, but anyone who knows something about cats and animals in general, will know that they are very adaptable, no less so than human beings. That a cat which is fed by humans and kept indoors is a very different animal than one who lives and survives in the wild. Therefore the domestic cat can be changed, its habitat altered, and be quite happy to live inside a house all day, every day. It thrives on this no less than when it lives another lifestyle, stays alive longer and is healthier without the problems of accident, parasites and predation from other animals.

In our experience of keeping cats, they love being indoors, and have no desire to go out. It is wise though that they have a great deal to entertain them when they are active with many places to hide and sleep. Cardboard boxes are good. Toys of various kinds should be available, and two cats are better than one if the house is otherwise empty for long periods. Time should be spent playing with cats inside the house when the human resident comes home, the shopping and any clothes they wore out that day could be placed on the bed or where the cat can smell them. Thus be entertained if only for a moment trying to identify the scents, which is like any experience of what was outside. This time of play with a cat is not anything that should be looked down on in a way as taking from life. It will in fact be a great contributor than life and if you can't be bothered playing with your cat, then don't even consider a dog. Even with room to run, a dog requires some playtime as well and any caring pet owner has that pet to enjoy and to share their time with, otherwise they are better just buying a decoration.

That's part of living simply, being aware and being responsible, discovering what will happen by your actions.