Orr - Love It or Lose It: The Coming Biophilia Revolution

 “Biophobia is not OK because it does not distribute fairly the work of keeping the earth or any local place” (Orr 191)

Image Source: Green Earth

Orr supports this quote by using the term “free-rider problem”. He describes this term by stating that it is when an individual or a group receives all the advantages and benefits of membership while doing none of the work to contribute to those advantages. I felt a real connection to this quote and I could see it applied in many ways. A simple example would be working on a group project in class where you would complete all of the work while some students do absolutely nothing. In the end, the entire group receives the same grade. The same goes for the environment. Humans living on this planet can be compared to an extensive group project. Every day the sun rises and gives us a beautiful day. Some people choose to spend the day preserving nature and working to create a more sustainable future. This could be as simple as recycling, saving water, or preserving electricity. On the other hand, there are people who “free-ride” and contribute to the problem, but in the end, these careless people still breathe clean air, drink clean water, and harvest the benefits of clean soil. Humans are not distributing the work fairly and I feel that this could lead to a world of problems in the future. Everyone needs to be on the same page to preserve this earth and the only way we can create a sustainable future is if we distribute the work fairly.


We are bound to living things by what Wilson described as an innate urge to affiliate, or “Biophilia,” which begins in early childhood and “cascades” into cultural and social patterns.” (Orr 194)
 

Image Source: Children Learning in Nature

To me, this quote means that all humans are born with the need to associate themselves with nature. I feel that this is a strong statement, however I think that whether or not Biophilia “cascades into cultural and social patterns” depends on the child’s upbringing and family. All children have a natural curiosity and always feel the need to ask questions, this is also applied to nature. Children love being wet and dirty, finding bugs, and are curious about the natural processes and wonders of the world. The way they are brought up can lead to Biophilia or Biophobia. That is why it is essential for schools to promote a love of nature and feed children’s natural curiosities.

“We should worry a good bit less about whether our progeny will be able to compete as a “world class workforce” and a great deal more about whether they will know how to live sustainably on the earth.” (Orr 206)

Teaching a lesson about Bald Eagles to 3rd Graders at San Carlos Elementary 

As an education major I felt drawn to this quote. I feel that the school system is constantly removing playtime, and things that require imagination and implementing more facts, and topics that can only be proven with evidence. This country is obsessed with preparing children for their life after school in grades as soon as Kindergarten. What happened to recess, gym class, and hours of free play? I agree with Orr, not only because allowing children time to play outside will contribute to their environmental literacy and understanding of sustainability, but it also will allow children to use their imaginations, and act, as children should. In addition to allowing children to have play time outdoors, I believe the first step in helping children create a sustainable future for themselves is education. Schools should create a curriculum which will scaffold the child's environmental literacy. These Images are of a lesson I conducted on Bald Eagles at San Carlos Elementary School.

3rd graders putting together a life cycle worksheet. Images By: Christina

“Protecting animals in the wild while permitting confinement feeding operations and most laboratory use of animals makes no moral sense and diminishes our capacity for Biophilia.” (Orr 208)

Image Source: No Animal Testing

I love all animals so I felt drawn to this quote, and section of Orr’s writing. This quote proves a paradox that we deal with everyday. People fight for preservation of animal habitats, and go to government officials for aid in conserving these animals and their homes, however these same government officials permit cruel laboratory testing and harsh animal conditions. As Orr stated, this makes no moral sense and reduces our capacity for Biophilia. With the abundance of technology that we have today, we should focus on alternative ways to test products rather than harming animals.