Jim Thompson

Email Jim at jim.thompson@ipulpmedia.com

Hopefully, this month I have given you some serious matters to think about going forward when it comes to the earth's environment. For our children and others in the next generation (don't forget our pets and other flora and fauna) we will leave the Earth in the best shape we can.

I am mostly worried about the next generation of humans. The best quality we can leave them with is a good balance of knowledge of what we have learned in the last sixty years without pushing them over the edge into paranoia.

In other words, discernment of what is real science and what are crackpot ideas. We have had our share of both since "Silent Spring." This is a tall order.

For children, this starts at home and continues through all the years of school. My fear of lack of balance originates with the adults that will be teaching the children, including the parents. We have raised a couple of generations that contain three kinds of perspectives.

The first kind are the current adults that pay no attention to the environment. They see nothing wrong with dumping used motor oil or raw sewage in a stream. They are not worried if the pollution controls on their automobiles are not working. I could go on.

The second kind are on the other side of the spectrum. They won't empty the last few drops in a soft drink bottle outdoors. Picking up the feces from wild animals is reasonable to them.

The third kind is where I think we should be, although you may disagree with me. In the course of their life so far, they have had an education that implores them to treat the Earth with respect, to "tread lightly" on it. They have enough common sense to know when action should be taken and when things need to be left alone.

Unfortunately, today, my perception is the first kind is about 30%, the second kind is about 60% and the third kind is about 10% of the population.

If we stay at this mix in the future, we will be severely overspending on environmental issues. We will also be over doing the therapy and the pills necessary to make us feel better.

Most importantly, we need to leave the next generation healthy, physically and mentally, when it comes to their interactions with the environment.

Be safe and we will talk next week.

For a deeper dive, go here.

Environmental Stewardship and the Next Generation: A Study Guide

This study guide provides a comprehensive review of Jim Thompson's analysis regarding environmental perspectives and the legacy we leave for future generations. It explores the necessity of balance, the distinction between scientific reality and extreme ideologies, and the current state of public environmental attitudes.

Part I: Short-Answer Quiz

Instructions: Answer the following questions in two to three sentences based on the provided text.

1. What primary goal does the author establish for the current generation regarding the Earth's future?
2. How does the author define the "best quality" that can be passed down to the next generation of humans?
3. What specific distinction must the next generation be able to make to maintain a healthy perspective on the environment?
4. According to the author, where does environmental education begin and how long should it continue?
5. Describe the behaviors associated with the "first kind" of adult perspective mentioned in the text.
6. What characterizes the "second kind" of adult perspective, and what examples does the author provide of their behavior?
7. What are the defining traits of the "third kind" of perspective that the author advocates for?
8. What is the author's estimate of the current population distribution across the three identified perspectives?
9. What are the predicted economic and medical consequences of failing to shift the current mix of environmental perspectives?
10. Besides human children, what other entities does the author include in the "next generation" for whom we must preserve the Earth?

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Part II: Answer Key

1. What primary goal does the author establish for the current generation regarding the Earth's future? The author asserts that the current generation should strive to leave the Earth in the best possible shape for those who follow. This commitment extends not only to human children but also to pets, flora, and fauna.
2. How does the author define the "best quality" that can be passed down to the next generation of humans? The most valuable quality to leave behind is a balanced knowledge of what has been learned about the environment over the last sixty years. This balance is necessary to prevent the next generation from falling into a state of paranoia.
3. What specific distinction must the next generation be able to make to maintain a healthy perspective on the environment? The next generation must develop the discernment to distinguish between real science and "crackpot ideas." The author notes that both have been prevalent since the publication of "Silent Spring."
4. According to the author, where does environmental education begin and how long should it continue? Environmental education begins at home with the parents. It is then intended to continue throughout all the years of a child's schooling.
5. Describe the behaviors associated with the "first kind" of adult perspective mentioned in the text. The first perspective consists of adults who pay no attention to environmental health and see no issue with polluting. Examples include dumping raw sewage or motor oil into streams and ignoring malfunctioning pollution controls on vehicles.
6. What characterizes the "second kind" of adult perspective, and what examples does the author provide of their behavior? The second perspective represents the opposite extreme, where individuals are hyper-sensitive to any environmental interaction. This includes behaviors such as refusing to empty a soft drink bottle outdoors or believing it is reasonable to pick up the feces of wild animals.
7. What are the defining traits of the "third kind" of perspective that the author advocates for? This perspective is characterized by a "tread lightly" philosophy and an education that encourages respect for the Earth. Individuals in this group use common sense to determine when environmental action is necessary and when nature should be left alone.
8. What is the author's estimate of the current population distribution across the three identified perspectives? The author perceives that the first group (the negligent) makes up 30% of the population, while the second group (the extreme) accounts for 60%. Only 10% of the population is estimated to hold the third, balanced perspective.
9. What are the predicted economic and medical consequences of failing to shift the current mix of environmental perspectives? If the current population mix remains the same, the author predicts the future will involve severe overspending on environmental issues. Additionally, there will be an over-reliance on therapy and pills to manage the mental health of the population.
10. Besides human children, what other entities does the author include in the "next generation" for whom we must preserve the Earth? The author explicitly mentions that our obligations extend beyond human children to include pets. Furthermore, the preservation efforts should encompass all other flora and fauna on the planet.

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Part III: Essay Questions

Instructions: Use the themes and data points from the source text to develop comprehensive responses to the following prompts.

1. The Importance of Balance: Analyze the author's argument regarding the necessity of balance in environmental education. Why does the author fear that a lack of balance leads to "paranoia," and how does this affect the next generation's mental health?
2. Critique of the Three Perspectives: Evaluate the three categories of environmental perspectives described by the author. Discuss how the current distribution (30/60/10) influences public policy and societal behavior according to the text.
3. The Role of Discernment in Modern Science: The author mentions the difficulty of distinguishing "real science" from "crackpot ideas" since the era of Silent Spring. Discuss the challenges identified in the text regarding how adults and children should process environmental information.
4. Economic and Social Impacts of Environmental Extremism: Examine the author's claim that current environmental attitudes will lead to "overspending" and a reliance on medication. How does the author link environmental perspective to the physical and mental health of the next generation?
5. The Responsibility of Educators and Parents: The author expresses a "fear of lack of balance" originating from the adults who teach children. Explore the author's view on the responsibilities of parents and schools in shaping a "tread lightly" philosophy.

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Part IV: Glossary of Key Terms

Term Definition

Balance of Knowledge The equilibrium between understanding environmental history and avoiding extreme emotional or psychological reactions, such as paranoia.

Crackpot Ideas A term used by the author to describe environmental theories or suggestions that lack scientific validity or common sense.

Discernment The ability to judge well; specifically, the skill to distinguish between legitimate environmental science and extremist or unfounded ideas.

Flora and Fauna A collective term referring to the plant life (flora) and animal life (fauna) of a particular region or the Earth as a whole.

Paranoia In this context, an irrational or extreme fear regarding the state of the environment, which the author suggests may result from a lack of balanced education.

Real Science Legitimate, evidence-based environmental study and data, as opposed to sensationalist or extreme viewpoints.

Silent Spring A landmark environmental book (by Rachel Carson) referenced by the author as a starting point for the last sixty years of environmental awareness and the subsequent mix of science and crackpot ideas.

Tread Lightly A philosophy of environmental stewardship characterized by respect for the Earth and a common-sense approach to human impact on nature.

Third Kind (Perspective) The author's preferred environmental viewpoint, held by an estimated 10% of the population, which combines education, respect for nature, and common sense.

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