Over the past few years, gas-drilling sites have numerously dotted the landscape of our area and throughout this time, voices from both the local and scientific community have rightly been raised in defense of the natural environment. Yet, rather than echo these arguments, I would like to make a more practical appeal, an appeal for restraint. Every living thing seeks out the necessary resources that enable it to live.
Beavers, for example, will fell trees to construct their dams, not realizing the effect that their dams are having on areas downstream. In other words, most animals inadvertently destroy the environment or ecosystem that they are dependent on. What makes humans different is that we have the consciousness not behave in this manner. We have foresight if we choose to use this gift. How much natural gas do we really need?
Do we need to take it all? If in our actions we take from the earth, only because we can, how are we different than any other animal that eventually destroys its natural habitat? Let's rise above the greed and become the more logical and conscious beings that we are capable of becoming.
Mary E. Kohler
Williamsport
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom
