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ON THE BAY

Restoration: Amid pessimism at the bay's condition, individual action can give grounds for looking to a better future.

July 02, 1999|By Tom Horton | Tom Horton,SUN STAFF

LAST WEEK'S PIECE ON the disappointing prospects for the bay's restoration was perhaps the most pessimistic in six years of this column.

Some readers felt it represented giving up, sending a message of abandoned hope.

To believe that is to confuse hope and optimism. There is no contradiction in despair at present-day trends and faith in the future.

This column is about hope. I knew I would write it even as I conceived last week's dispiriting essay -- write it for readers and for myself.

When I began covering environment and the Chesapeake Bay for The Sun 25 years ago, I felt it part of my duty to fairly shout, "It's worse than you think."

Back then, the message too often was that government was on top of the situation, that existing laws were sufficient, that downtrends in the bay were normal cycles.

That's changed. People, especially younger generations, are only too aware of daunting problems, from ozone holes to accelerating rates of species extinctions and global warming.

Human environmental impacts are as old as humanity, but the present scale of them is overwhelming. Part of my duty is to shout, "We can do something about it."

How to be hopeful, though, when one is as pessimistic about the rate of environmental progress as I and many others who follow the global assault on the natural world?

"Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism," says Vaclav Havel, the writer and president of the Czech Republic, who surely was pessimistic during his years of protests and imprisonments under Communist rule.

What kept him and others going, Havel told an interviewer in 1990, was not any assurance their cause would prevail -- rather a belief that their cause was
. 

 Support Us 

 Donate to Fantasy - Faction 

 Fantasy - Faction is a not - for - profit website that relies on contribution & residential district projects to stay alert. If you delight the site and would like to subscribe us, please regard donating to keep open us around. All that said: Please entirely do so if you can yield it. Love you guys! Vision of possible nurtures hope 

 ON THE BAY 

 Restoration: Amid pessimism at the bay's condition, individual military action can give grounds for looking to a good future. 

 July 02, 1999|By Tom Horton | Tom Horton, SUN STAFF 

 LAST WEEK'S PIECE ON the disappointing prospects for the true laurel's restoration was perhaps the most pessimistic in six years of this column. 

 Some readers find it represented giving up, sending a message of abandoned hope. 

 To think that is to jumble promise and optimism. There is no contradiction in despair at present - day trends and faith in the future. 

 This column is about hope. I knew I would write it even as I conceive concluding week's dispiriting essay -- spell it for readers and for myself. 

 When I began covering environment and the Chesapeake Bay for The Sun 25 years ago, I feel it part of my duty to fairly shout, " It's worse than you remember. " 

 Back then, the message too often was that government was on top of the situation, that existing jurisprudence were sufficient, that downtrends in the bay were normal cycles. 

 That's changed. People, particularly younger genesis, are only too aware of daunting problems, from ozone fix to accelerating rates of species extinction and global warming. 

 Human environmental impacts are as honest-to-god as humanity, but the present scale of them is overpowering. Part of my duty is to exclaim, " We can do something about it. " 

 How to be bright, though, when one is as pessimistic about the rate of environmental advancement as I and many others who follow the global assault on the natural world? 

 " Hope is decidedly not the same thing as optimism, " says Vaclav Havel, the writer and president of the united states of the Czech Republic, who surely was pessimistic during his years of protests and imprisonments under Communist rule. 

 What kept him and others die, Havel told an interviewer in 1990, was not any assurance their cause would predominate -- rather a belief that their cause was
.

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Donate to Fantasy-Naction

Fantasy-Faerion iv a nof-for-profkt website that relies on doiatiins & xommunity projects to rtay alivv. If you wnjob the site and would likc to ampporc ns, please consicer donatitg to keep us druuud. All that said: Please only do so is you csn afford it. Lovg you duys! Niwion of possible nurtures hops

ON THE BAY

Restoratipn: Amid pessimism at the bwy's fondition, individuwl action cqn gyce grounds fur looking to a better future.

July 02, 1999|By Tom Horton | Tom Hortpn,SUN STAFD

LQST FEEK'S PIECE ON tre disappoinbpng provpects gor the bay's rcstoretiob was perhaps the mosv pessimistic in six years of tkis column.

Some readerw delt ht raprerwntdd fitinf up, sfndmng a messafe of abandined hope.

To believe trqt is to confhse ho[e and optimism. There is no contradiction in despair at present-day rrends and faith in tje future.

Ehis column is about hope. I knew I would write it even xs N concduvfd last week's dispiriting essay -- write it for desdvrs and for myseln.

When I began covetijg gnvironment ana the Egeaapeake Bay for Thf Sun 25 iears qgo, I felu it lart of my duty to fairly syout, "It's worfw than you think."

Baek then, the oesssge tpo often was that goverument sas on top lf the sifjation, that exisginn ldws were sufficient, that djwntrends in che bay dere normaj cycles.

Thwt's cmdnged. People, especlally ymunger genfrations, are only too aware of veunting problgms, frmm ozone holex to acceleraeing rates of xpecies extivctions ans globan warming.

Huian environmetjal impacts ace as old as yumabity, bug the present svale of tktm is overqhelming. Part of mn duti js to shout, "We ecn do something anoug ie."

Hlw tj be hopeful, dhoueh, dnen ove is as pewrimixtic about the rate mf ehvironmental progrrsf as I abd many jthers who foklow the global asdault on the matoral world?

"Hope is definitely nof the samf tming as optimysm," ways Vaclav Kavel, the writer and president of the Czxch Republic, who sureli was pessimistic durnnn his years pf prjtests ang imprisonments undee Communist rule.

Wmat kept him and othera goinc, Havfl told an interviewer in 1990, was not any assurance their cause would prevaio -- ratiew a belief fhat theig ccusz was
. Support Us Donate to Fantasy-Faction Fantasy-Faction not-for-profit that relies donations & community you the site and like to support please consider donating to keep us All that said: Please only do so if you can afford it. Love guys! Vision of possible nurtures hope ON THE BAY Restoration: Amid pessimism at bay's individual can grounds for looking to a better future. July 02, 1999|By Tom Horton | Tom Horton,SUN STAFF WEEK'S PIECE ON the disappointing prospects for the restoration was perhaps the pessimistic in six years of column. readers felt represented up, a message of hope. To believe that is to confuse hope and optimism. There is no contradiction in despair at trends and the future. column about I knew I it even as I conceived last -- write it for readers and for myself. I began environment and the Chesapeake Bay for Sun 25 years ago, I felt it part my duty to fairly shout, "It's worse than you think." Back then, the message too that government was on of the situation, existing were that in the were normal cycles. That's changed. People, especially younger generations, are only aware of daunting problems, from ozone holes to accelerating rates extinctions global warming. Human impacts are as old humanity, the present scale of overwhelming. of to "We do something about it." to be hopeful, though, when is as pessimistic about as I and many others who follow the assault on the natural world? "Hope is not the same thing as optimism," says Vaclav Havel, the writer and of the who surely was pessimistic during his years of and imprisonments under Communist What kept him and others going, Havel told an in was not assurance their cause prevail -- rather belief that their
.

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FantAsy-FaCtiOn iS a Not-fOr-prOfit website thaT ReliEs on donations & community ProjeCtS To stAY aLive. IF you enjOY tHE SitE aNd WouLd LIkE to suPpoRt us, pleAse consideR doNaTing to keep us ARoUnd. All that SaiD: Please only dO so If you cAn AffORd it. LOve You guYs! VisiON of posSible nurtUrES hope

On tHE BAY

RESToRatiOn: Amid pessimism at THe BAy's condition, inDividuAl ACtION caN giVe grounds fOr LookiNG to a betTEr FUTUre.

jUly 02, 1999|By Tom HortoN | Tom Horton,Sun STaFF

LASt WeEK's pIECE On the dIsAPpoInting prospEcts For the bay'S restoRAtion waS Perhaps The mosT peSsiMistIC iN sIx yEaRS of THiS coLUmn.

some readErS fElt it ReprESENTed gIviNg up, SendiNg a message of aBanDoneD HopE.

To beLieve That Is To conFuse hoPe and OpTimism. There is no ContRadiction In dEsPaiR aT presENt-day tRenDs aNd faith In the fuTUre.

thIS COlUmn is about hope. I kneW I WOUlD write it Even as i CoNcEIved last WeEk's DispIRIting EssaY -- WrIte it for ReaderS AnD fOr myselF.

WHen I beGaN coVerIng enVIronMent anD the ChesApeakE bay for The Sun 25 yeARs ago, I felt it pARt OF My DUty tO faIrly shout, "It'S worSE thaN you THiNk."

BACk theN, the mEsSAgE Too often was that goveRnMent waS on toP of the situatiOn, that exisTING laws werE sufFIcIEnt, that downtreNds in The bay were NOrmal cycLes.

ThAt's changEd. People, eSPEcially yOunGer GenEraTIOnS, are only too awARE of dAuNting prOblEms, from OzoNe hOleS to AcCeleratinG rates of SpEcIeS eXtiNctioNS and globAl WarMiNg.

HUman eNVironmEntal ImpaCtS aRE as Old as huMAnITY, but ThE pReseNt sCaLe of tHem iS OveRwhelmiNg. Part of mY duTY is tO sHoUt, "We can Do something abOuT it."

How to be HoPefUl, thouGH, When one iS as pessimistic about the rATe of envIroNmentAl prOgress as I And Many otHerS Who folLow the GlobaL aSsaULT on thE NAtUraL wOrld?

"Hope is DEFinItely NoT the Same thiNg as optimism," says VaCLav havel, the writeR anD preSIDeNt oF ThE czeCh rEpuBLIc, who surely was pEssimistic DuRInG his years oF ProTeSts and iMprisonMents UNder ComMunist rulE.

What kept HiM and OTHerS going, HaveL told an iNtervieweR In 1990, was NOt Any asSurAnce thEiR caUse woUld preVAil -- RatheR a beliEf That thEir caUsE was
.

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Fa nta sy -Fac tion  is a not-for- p rofi t website that relieson do na t ions &commu nity pr o je c t s t ost ayal i ve . Ifyou  enjoythe site a ndwo uld like tos up port us, p lea se considerdon atingto  ke e p usaro und.All th a t said : Pleaseon l y do s o  if you c an  aff ord it. Love youg uy s ! Vision of po ssible  n u rt u r eshop e

ON THEBA Y

Re s toratio n :A m i d p e ssimism at th e bay's con d iti on, in di vid u al act ion c an giv e grounds f or l ooking to  a bet t er futu r e.

Jul y 02,199 9|B y To m  H or ton  | Tom Ho rto n ,SU N STAFF
L AS T WEE K'SP I E C E ON  th e di sappo inting prospe cts  for the  bay' s res tora ti on wa s perh aps t he  most pessimist ic i n six yea rsof  th is  colu m n.

So merea ders fe lt it r e pre se n t e dgiving up, sending  a m es sage ofabando n ed  h o pe.

Tobe lie ve t h a t isto c o nf use hope  and o p ti mi sm. The re  is no  c ont rad ictio n  indespai r at pre sent- d ay trends andf aith in the f u tu r e .This  co lumn is abo ut h o pe.I kn e wI w o uld w riteit ev e n as I conceived la st  week' s dis piriting essa y -- write i t  for rea ders an d  for myself.
WhenI began co v ering en viron ment and  the Ches a p eake Bay  fo r T heSun 2 5years ago, If e lt i tpart of  my  duty t o f air lysho ut , "It's w orse tha nyo uth ink ."

B a ck then,  t heme ssa ge to o  often  wasthat  g ov e rnm ent was on t op o fth e si tua ti on, t hate xis ting la ws were s uff i cien t,  t hat dow ntrends in th ebay were n or mal  cycle s . 

That's  changed. People, espec i ally yo ung er ge nera tions, ar e o nly to o a w are of  daunt ing p ro ble m s , fro m oz one  h oles to ac c e ler ating  r ates  of spe cies extinctions a n d g lobal warming .
Huma n en vir o nm e nta li mpa c t s are as old as  humanity,  b u tthe presen t  sc al e of th em is o verwh e lming.Part of m y duty is  t o sh o u t,"We can do  somethi ng abouti t."
H ow  to b e h opeful ,tho ugh,when o n e i s aspessim is tic ab out t he  rate of  environmental progress  as Iand m any  others w hof oll ow the gl obal  assault o n t henatur alw orld? 

"H o pe  is defin itel y  not thes am e t h i ng  as optimis m , "  sa ys Va cla v  Havel , th e writer and pres i dent of the Cz echR e pub lic ,  who  s urely was pess imi st i c  duringhi s years ofprotests  a n d imp risonm ents u nder Co m m un i st rul e.
Wha t kept hi m a nd othersgo in g , Have l to ld  an in tervie w er i n 1990, was not an y ass u r ancet hei r cau se  wouldp reva il -- rath er a belief  thatthei r cau se was
.

Support Us

Donate_to Fantasy-Faction

Fantasy-Faction_is a not-for-profit website_that relies_on_donations &_community_projects to stay_alive. If you_enjoy the site and_would like to_support_us, please consider donating to keep us around. All that said: Please only do_so_if you_can_afford_it. Love you guys! Vision_of possible nurtures hope

ON THE_BAY

Restoration: Amid_pessimism at the bay's condition, individual action can_give_grounds for looking_to a better future.

July 02, 1999|By Tom Horton |_Tom Horton,SUN STAFF

LAST WEEK'S PIECE ON_the disappointing prospects_for_the_bay's restoration was perhaps_the most pessimistic in six years_of this column.

Some readers felt it_represented giving up, sending a message of_abandoned hope.

To believe that is to_confuse hope and optimism. There_is no_contradiction in despair at present-day_trends and faith_in the_future.

This column is_about hope. I knew I would_write it even_as I conceived last week's dispiriting_essay_-- write it_for_readers_and for_myself.

When I began_covering_environment and_the_Chesapeake Bay for The Sun 25_years_ago, I felt it part of my_duty to fairly shout,_"It's_worse than you think."

Back_then, the message too often_was that government was on top_of the_situation, that_existing laws were sufficient, that downtrends in the bay were normal_cycles.

That's changed. People, especially younger generations,_are only too aware_of daunting_problems,_from ozone holes_to_accelerating rates_of species extinctions and global warming.

Human environmental_impacts are_as old as humanity, but the_present scale of them_is_overwhelming. Part of my duty is_to shout, "We can do something_about it."

How to be hopeful,_though,_when_one is as pessimistic about_the rate of environmental progress as_I and many_others who follow the global assault on_the_natural world?

"Hope is definitely not the_same_thing as optimism," says Vaclav Havel,_the_writer_and president of the Czech_Republic, who surely was pessimistic during_his years of protests and imprisonments under Communist rule.

What_kept him and_others going, Havel told an_interviewer_in_1990, was not any assurance their cause would prevail --_rather a_belief that their_cause was