Whose garden was this? It must have been lovely
Did it have flowers? I've seen pictures of flowers
And I'd love to have smelled one
Whose river was this?
You say it ran freely?
Blue was its color?
I've seen blue in some pictures,
And I'd love to have been there.
Tell me again, I need to know
The forests had trees, the meadows were green
The oceans were blue and birds really flew
Can you swear that was true?
I first heard this song by Tom Paxton in 1970. As an environmental protest song, it was ahead of its time. It imagines a world in which Nature is denuded - a world in which flowers, gardens and trees live only in human memory.
Fifty years since the song first surfaced, its warning message remains more relevant than ever. All over this over-populated planet Nature is in retreat largely because of mankind's short-sighted carelessness or perhaps our indifference. Forests are shrinking as deserts spread. Birdsong is declining along with the humming of insects.
Wild mammals are disappearing at an alarming rate as are the creatures that inhabit our oceans - some of them not yet even discovered. It's enough to fill your heart with despair.
I think of a desperate, malnourished polar bear floating away to oblivion on a a raft of ice as Tom Paxton sings the background song or perhaps the film makers would choose the late Vera Lynn's version instead. If only our politicians, influencers and leaders of commerce and industry were listening. Soon it will be too late.
It is too depressing to contemplate especially as we can see it happening right before our eyes.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what our lovely granddaughter Phoebe will witness in her life with regard to Earth's survival prospects.
DeleteWe think as one. This all came to be with our generation. Beyond not voting for an extremist political party, I don't know what we could have done that would have prevented this disaster. Gosh I am having a cheerful Saturday night.
ReplyDeletePoliticians really only think about the short term as countries vie with each other to move up the economic pecking order. To avert disaster we needed togetherness and long term thinking. It is almost the midnight hour.
DeleteI do think many pollies go for election for idealistic reasons, but they soon learn the tricks of the road to election and then staying elected. We've had a couple of very unpolished politicians and against normal reason, they are re-elected.
DeleteThe ideals soon evaporate as career ambitions take over.
DeleteWe are ALL acting as if our planet's very life breath was not being threatened. As if there could possibly be anything more important and urgent.
ReplyDeleteSleep-walking to the end.
DeleteIt's a frustrating subject. There are so many ways we're causing damage and I feel there's so little I can do to avert this. Still, I do little things in hopes that they really do add up. My grandchildren range in age from 2-19. I want them to have a good future.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of a planet are we leaving for future generations? Like you, I feel rather helpless.
DeleteThere is a slow movement to stop the ever gradual development of Climate change but of course it is not enough. It will only be when the disasters start hitting the world and affecting humans will we all begin to change. The rich are making their way to New Zealand. In fact disaster is already with us, fires and flood in North America and Europe will push our politicians to act but it is up to each and everyone of us to do something.
ReplyDeleteI am feeling that truth more than ever Thelma. Whatever happened to Extinction Rebellion? They were here and then they seemed to evaporate - unless it was The Establishment shutting them down.
DeleteThe fate of future generations is not something that we can solve on our own YP. It has to be a worldwide effort, and we should have started a generation ago.
ReplyDeleteOne half of the world has no intention of exchanging their comfortable life style, at whatever environmental cost to the planet, and the other half is desperately striving, any way it can, to achieve a small slice of the prosperity we enjoy.
Nature is the victim, together with our ever dwindling natural resources.
Your grim summary is nonetheless realistic.
DeleteIt's a tough situation. Some of us are trying to do what we can, but even our efforts are drops in the bucket compared to what's required. I suspect humanity won't do enough until we're forced, and then things may get ugly and desperate. Fortunately I don't think I'll be around to see it, and I haven't had kids, so there's that.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. People in their fifties, sixties and above will only see the beginnings of The Climate Emergency. In fact we are seeing those beginnings now.
DeleteI suppose each generation thinks it won't happen in their lifetime and it's a long way off but sadly that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I just hope we can all do something to stop ruining our planet before it's too late. All very depressing thought. I haven't heard of either version of the song but considering it was written 50 years ago or more that's quite amazing.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that I introduced you to this meaningful song ADDY.
DeleteHawkwind- we took the wrong steps years ago. Would be my choice of video and song for this topic YP. I remember going on a CND match in the early nineteen eighties through London to Hyde Park. Over 200,000 people participated in the walk. Now all these years later it's hard to find a political party that doesn't support nuclear power and weapons. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased that this post struck a chord with you Comrade Dave.
DeleteI hadn't heard this song before, so thanks for featuring it here, YP.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the rate of decline of our Earth has kicked into high gear the last couple of years, and we may see desperate scenarios the world over within our lifetimes. I hope to live another twenty years and I can imagine the damage growing exponentially within that time. Perhaps I DON'T wish to live another twenty years after all, actually. I wish leaders everywhere would take it seriously and work together, but I doubt that will happen.
None of these leaders have the wherewithal to do what is necessary to make the tide turn.
DeleteJust imagine if we all lived life in peace and harmony with each other. Imagine if we valued our natural resources as much as we valued money.
ReplyDeleteImagine if war was outlawed all the world.
Imagine if christians had never gone into the world to spread falsehoods about
the carrying capacity of the land.
Imagine if everyone the world over took care of our oceans and waterways.
Imagine if Besos had spent that money feeding the hungry.
Imagine if we had learned from the First Peoples how to live our lives WITH the
land and resources instead of thinking land and resources and sources of
nourishment and LIFE were endlessly replenished no matter what humans
destroyed.
Just imagine ......
When I imagine what might have been I feel like shedding tears. Your lines take John Lennon's song several steps further.
DeleteI was listening to an interview with Natalie Bennett (now Lady Bennett?) on the radio yesterday. She went through all the usual measures we could all take to 'save the planet'; walking more, cycling, using less plastic, etc, then finished by saying that the only thing that would really save us all was to reduce the population. Of course she was right!
ReplyDeleteIt's a nettle that The United Nations have not grasped. What is the point of The United Nations if not to address fundamental issues like this?
DeleteIt is so sickening. I agree with Coppa's Girl, although I wish I didn't.
ReplyDelete