It’s an uncomplicated concept. Treating our environment with respect is being respectful of humanity. We are part of this world and our ongoing health is dependent on its continued well being. It should therefore be a priority of all of us to take care of our world.

The simple, short fact of it is that we’ve been sold out to corporate interests.

The industrial revolution brought with it many technological advances meant to further the goals of humanity. We were suddenly capable of accomplishing more than we possibly could with our physical bodies alone. We could travel further, move great masses, and build high into the sky. While these advances worked in some ways to our advantage they simultaneously worked against us.

One of the most elusive yet severe side effects of the industrial revolution was to remove us from our natural surroundings. We gained control over nature. We heat or cool our homes if the temperature outside is disagreeable. We buy fruits and vegetables if our gardens fail. We create indoor surroundings so elaborate that we don’t feel the need to go outside. We stopped paying attention to the rhythms and tempo of our natural world. We’ve been so distracted that we’ve allowed it to become abused to an intolerable extent.

Once the industrial revolution brought about mass production and mass consumption, a never before seen profit margin was realized. Never was such wealth fulfilled in the history of humankind. Wealth became the goal itself. While the economy thrived, something else was happening: our environment was changing. Vegetation outside of coal mines was dying, while streams and rivers became muddied. We thought it was a small price to pay for all the conveniences that we inherited. We were unaware of the cumulative effect that these activities would inflict upon our world.

It eventually did enter our collective conscious how great the dissonance had become between our economy and our environment. Scientists started talking about the ozone layer and the ice caps. Our natural environment suddenly became threatening to us. So we trusted our political and business leaders to act in our best interests and put in place regulations that would stop the degeneration of our environment.

This trust was ill-founded. We failed to take into account the riches that were created by the frenzy of industrialization. With this wealth came influence and power. Regulation and accountability would cut into the profit margin. If profit margins decreased, businesses would threaten the stability of jobs and our economy. Corporations are in command of our natural world. They control our resources and pollute our air. They have no stake in our environment as they are not human and do not require a healthy world to live in.

We do. The best thing we can do for our world is to take control from those interests that have no involvement in the functioning of our world. It is our world and we have to live in it.

Keri lives in Boyle Street.