Will Ken Burns National Parks Series Inspire Us to Be Greener?
In viewing Ken Burns’ new film, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, I am struck not only by the stunning beauty of our preserved lands – but by the possibilities they still behold. I wonder if this latest miniseries will accelerate our collective interest in being greener and more energy efficient. Is it too much to think that people will equate the enjoyment of natural wonders with actually doing something to preserve our most important natural treasure: our livable ecosystem? The idea behind our national parks system was to set aside natural wonders like Yosemite and Yellowstone at a time when the United States was expanding into western lands and damn the consequences. This started in the 19th century, when nature was to be mastered and exploited for commercial gain. Yet lands like Yosemite were still protected and preserved so that generations in the future could marvel at their wonders. Today we are faced with the prospect of curbing our consumption not to preserve the beauty
