Christine Howe

Justice Monologue 2

The symbiosis of the human race and the land we belong to is a tale as old as time. For hundreds
of thousands of years, Homo sapiens lived as integrated members of the natural world and its
communities. But somewhere along the way, we lost respect for our mother, the land; in the
words of Aldo Leopold, we went from “plain members and citizens of [the land-community]” to
“conqueror[s] of it” (The Land Ethic, 204). Only once we accept ourselves as part of the earth
and its community will we respect and protect it, and in turn respect and protect ourselves.

When humans believe themselves separate from the land and feel entitled to extract its resources
without repercussions, exploitations like the Black Mesa Coal Mine can occur. Located in the
Navajo Nation, the mine operated for 30 years before being shut down. The average coal mine
uses up to 300 million gallons of water a day to operate (“A Desperate Clinch: Coal Production
Confronts Water Scarcity”). In the case of the Black Mesa Coal Mine, the extraction of this water
from the surrounding area was detrimental to the Navajo people who live there. Because of the
mine, there was a significant decrease in the flow of the aquifers, resulting specifically in the halt
in the flow of the springs. These water sources are crucial to the function of the natural
community of the area, for the humans, animals, and plants that should be thriving off of the
land; without them, the delicate ecological balance is thrown into chaos. It begs the question,
what right do humans have to claim the power to destroy land for our benefit without
consideration of the health of the Earth itself?

Aldo Leopold states that, “The Golden Rule tries to integrate the individual to society;
democracy to integrate social organization to the individual” (203). Don’t we, as individuals,
seek to be treated with regard to the Golden Rule? To be treated with respect for our health and
well-being? Should we not also afford that for the land we are a part of? As a society, we have
the mindset that we live off the land; its sole purpose is to provide us with the resources we need
to live out the dream of the life of luxury we have fabricated for ourselves. The myopic nature of
this attitude is one that will lead to the self destruction of the human race, and the prosperity of
the Earth along with it. And without a thriving earth, how will the human race survive? Robin
Wall Kimmerer reminds us that “all flourishing is mutual” (Braiding Sweetgrass, 16). Homo
sapiens are simply citizens of the global ecological community. Without a flourishing earth,
shepherded by respect and care, we, and our natural community, will not be able to thrive. In
fact, complete integration of this community mindset into our society is the way to ensure
survival for ourselves and all with whom we share the Earth.
 Christine Howe

Land Ethic Quotes:

“The Golden Rule tries to integrate the individual to society; democracy to integrate social
organization to the individual” (203)

“The individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts” (203)

“The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants,
and animals, or collectively: the land” (204)

“Do we not already sing our love for and obligation to the land of the free and the home of the
brave? Yes, but just what and whom do we love? Certainly not the soil, which we are sending
helter skelter down the river. Certainly not the waters, which we assume have no function except
to turn turbines, float barges, and carry off sewage. Certainly not the plants, of which we
exterminate whole communities without batting an eye. Certainly not the largest and most
beautiful species.” (204)

“A land ethic changes the role of Homo Sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain
members and citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members, and also respect for the
community” (204)

“Many historical events, hitherto explained only in terms of human enterprise, were actually
biotic interactions between people and land” (205)

- Only once we accept ourselves as part of the earth and its community will we respect and
protect it, and in turn respect and protect ourselves
- FRAME IT AS SOMETHING WE NEED FOR OURSELVES NOT FOR THE
LAND - SELFISH LENSE

“Education actually in progress makes no mention of obligation to land over and above those
dictated by self-interest” (209)

“Obligations have no meaning without conscience, and the problem we face is the extension of
the social conscience from people to land” (209)

“WE ARE INDOOR PEOPLE NOW” - cycle - pollute air, air pollutes us

Our Relationship with Water:

“It is anticipated by 2030 up to 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense
water scarcity and it really comes down to individuals and governments treating water as this
infinite resource, when in reality freshwater resources are extremely finite on our planet”
 Christine Howe

Self destruction
Our earth - our mother
Language

“All flourishing is mutual” (15)

“We make a grave error if we try to separate individual well-being from the health of the whole”
(16)