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| Round Top Mountain and The Three Sisters-Carson Pass area, CA |
It was a coincidence then that the next day I happened upon this article in a magazine. The premise of the idea sounds very familiar! Have you heard of the term ecopsychology? I hadn't either but the idea of it is probably familiar for many people even though they may not know about the formal field of study. Ecopsychology studies the relationships between humans and the natural world using both principles of psychology and ecology. The idea is to reunite people with their environment in order to create closer connections with others, to foster a sense of personal well being, and to hopefully bring about practices that support a more sustainable way of living in the world. Though we are surrounded today by technology, we evolved in the natural world. This field of study seeks to emphasize the connection between how we evolved and how we currently live.
Fascinated? Me too. I learned through another article that some doctors have begun participating in pilot programs that advocate getting out in nature as a prescription for physical or emotional illnesses. The doctors write an actual prescription that tell patients in a sense to "connect with their environment." Imagine walking into a doctor's office, maybe with a mild injury or maybe just feeling disconnected and disjointed. The doctor sums up your situation and prescribes you time outside. It's a wonder to me that a doctor could actually advocate for and order you to spend time at a park or in your garden or maybe out on the trail somewhere. Amazing!
Please consider reading the above two links that talk about ecopsychology and what an activity, such as hiking, can do to help your mental and physical health.
I read two other articles this week that I would like to share. I mention them because as a trying-hard-vegan and a consumer and a realist, I feel my choices are based in part about how I feel about living in the world. Am I impacting the planet in an adverse way and what really can I do to minimize that impact? Do my choices matter and can I really make any difference? Am I doing enough? Many of the choices I make involve me considering the energy required to produce and deliver food. Fossil fuels, their procurement and distribution, are very controversial topics. These two articles speak indirectly to energy production and its consequences.
1. The Valve Turners: Many people would argue that extreme issues call for extreme actions. Yet breaking the law to bring about change isn't everyone's cup of tea. How far can a person go and will their actions really reverse something that seems irreversible? The link is to a good (but biased) article in the New York Times Magazine about a group of people called The Valve Turners. Protests and protesting are very much in the news these days. Read on to see where you stand.
2. Propping Up Power Companies: And here is the other side of the coin; the reality of policy in the US with regard to certain types of energy production(fossil fuels) and the supposed risk to our national security. The attempt to manipulate the types of power that we use can have wide spread consequences. The link to the article in Bloomberg is here.
I hope everyone has had a good week. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Libby
Fascinated? Me too. I learned through another article that some doctors have begun participating in pilot programs that advocate getting out in nature as a prescription for physical or emotional illnesses. The doctors write an actual prescription that tell patients in a sense to "connect with their environment." Imagine walking into a doctor's office, maybe with a mild injury or maybe just feeling disconnected and disjointed. The doctor sums up your situation and prescribes you time outside. It's a wonder to me that a doctor could actually advocate for and order you to spend time at a park or in your garden or maybe out on the trail somewhere. Amazing!
Please consider reading the above two links that talk about ecopsychology and what an activity, such as hiking, can do to help your mental and physical health.
I read two other articles this week that I would like to share. I mention them because as a trying-hard-vegan and a consumer and a realist, I feel my choices are based in part about how I feel about living in the world. Am I impacting the planet in an adverse way and what really can I do to minimize that impact? Do my choices matter and can I really make any difference? Am I doing enough? Many of the choices I make involve me considering the energy required to produce and deliver food. Fossil fuels, their procurement and distribution, are very controversial topics. These two articles speak indirectly to energy production and its consequences.
1. The Valve Turners: Many people would argue that extreme issues call for extreme actions. Yet breaking the law to bring about change isn't everyone's cup of tea. How far can a person go and will their actions really reverse something that seems irreversible? The link is to a good (but biased) article in the New York Times Magazine about a group of people called The Valve Turners. Protests and protesting are very much in the news these days. Read on to see where you stand.
2. Propping Up Power Companies: And here is the other side of the coin; the reality of policy in the US with regard to certain types of energy production(fossil fuels) and the supposed risk to our national security. The attempt to manipulate the types of power that we use can have wide spread consequences. The link to the article in Bloomberg is here.
I hope everyone has had a good week. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Libby
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