They Say/ I Say--response 1

          Many people often view the natural environment as something that can be used only to produce goods or even just to create new housing. The thought of even using it for anything else may even seem laughable. Some think that by conserving nature for enjoyment would be a waste of time. Instead, a number of individuals believe that by using our natural surroundings for personal gain is harmless. So they continue to plow down forest and different environmental habitats. For example, in 1913 many people voted to have a damn built in the Hetch Hetchy Valley of Yosemite National Park, believing that it would create a great water system for the city of San Francisco. People like John Muir on the other hand tried to take a stand and prevent the destruction of this valley.

            Others believe that the devastation of any of the national environment would be detrimental to our civilization. If we continue to diminish the environment there would be no natural beauty left to enjoy. Conserving our environment would also conserve every individual’s culture, making each person’s natural terrain part of their identity and where they came from. If we loose these things we are also loosing an essential part of each person’s history. John Muir also believed that often spending time in nature made you closer to God. Nature can often give you a sense of peace and can disconnect an individual from their daily lives. In addition, if we continue to eliminate different natural habitats the animals that live in them will slowly die off, having a harmful effect on the natural food chain. This would be a harmful act to our daily lives. If people realize the wonderful qualities the environment has to offer they will also see that using it for personal gains and diminishing its beauty would be a horrid and remorseful act.