Our planetary system is affected by a magnitude of force as powerful as any naturally occurring global catastrophe, but one caused solely by a single species: us.
Interpretation
Human activities have a profound and catastrophic impact on Earth's ecosystems.
In this quote, Edward Burtynsky emphasizes the significant and often detrimental effects that human beings have on the planet's environment. He compares the force of human impact to natural disasters, highlighting that our actions can lead to catastrophic changes in the Earth's systems, all stemming from our choices and behaviors.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about climate change to highlight human responsibility for environmental degradation.
Water, like many other resources, is harvested, transported and used throughout all aspects of society. Unlike other resources, water is critical to the survival of all forms of life. The underlying question that sits at the core of my exploration is to what degree can we shape water before it begins to shape us.
As artists, we can help, visually and intellectually, to make people understand that, at some point, we have to accept that it is our collective impact that is putting the whole planet in jeopardy.
Like all animals, human beings have always taken what they want from nature. But we are the rogue species. We are unique in our ability to use resources on a scale and at a speed that our fellow species can't.
Now 'tis spring, and weeds are shallow-rooted; Suffer them now and they'll o'ergrow the garden.
Migratory birds connect people, ecosystems, and nations. They are symbols of peace and of an interconnected planet.
The loneliness you get by the sea is personal and alive. It doesn't subdue you and make you feel abject. It's stimulating loneliness.
There's a general culture in this country to cut all the trees. It makes me so angry because everyone is cutting and no one is planting.
He stood breathing, and the more he breathed the land in, the more he was filled up with all the details of the land. He was not empty. There was more than enough here to fill him. There would always be more than enough.
It's essential that we understand that taking care of the planet will be done as we take care of ourselves. You know that you can't really make much of a difference in things until you change yourself.
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