Personally? A deep wading into physics and philosophy. What are we even doing here and what, how, and why does it all work and be at all?
I guess just trying to see the things for what they are, versus what you/I/we were told they were or were supposed to be. It at least helps with the acceptance of present circumstances, and allows for establishing enough ownership over your/mine/our own part in it all, however small or great.
Unfortunately the myth of our adversarial relationship with our world is still a firmly held belief by many. That's not something anyone has a great deal of control over—especially in adults.
Likewise, the idea that we're somehow above everything around us tricks us into thinking we might not just be like a spider who wandered too far into the house and is about to get squished by an ambivalent power [read: Earth's nature] greater than ourselves.
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I see you're from not too far away. Similarly in SW Ontario I've wondered what it will look like when climate change really starts taking its toll around the world. On a recent visit to Vancouver Island, the heat and the dryness already is staggering. The image of BC I had not twenty years ago is kind of gone. It's not the same. Its long-time residents have watched it change year-over-year. SW Ontario remains more or less unscathed. It's as lush as it's ever been and fresh water is plentiful. Somehow, it's almost always insulated from the worst weather effects of every major surrounding ecosystem save for the odd ice storm or low-grade tornado. If it wasn't somewhat land-locked it would probably already have a wall around it filled with compounds of the ultra-wealthy.
The worst things I notice here on Vancouver Island are that our lakes and rivers are losing their ability to support life very rapidly.
The wet and dry cycles we have mean our river levels are very high then very low, with water temperatures rising higher in summer as a result. The more this happens, and it does every year, the less life they will support. Salmonids which make up the vast majority of river fish can’t handle warm, shallow water. They get sick, tired, develop fungal infections, or get trapped in low areas and run out of food or oxygen.
Our lakes are doing better, but declining just the same. When fishing it’s very rare to catch wild native species, instead you’ll find plenty of stocked or invasive fish. Water temperatures are increasing very quickly, meaning very small lakes will fail to support species like trout which need cool, oxygen rich water.
Logging has done incalculable damage to our watersheds, and it won’t recover quickly. Warming conditions are compounding the damage from that and perhaps reducing the ability of forests to recover and protect our watersheds.
I’m taking my son fishing this weekend for a couple days, and I’ve spent so much time researching to find out which lakes and rivers are doing well or aren’t experiencing too much fishing pressure. There is virtually nothing on the South Island. It’s very sad. We will probably spend a significant amount of time snorkeling and pulling out garbage, especially monofilament from near the shores.
I think we’ll see ecological collapse in major rivers like the Cowichan in the next decade. Some years the levels are so low, comparing it to records is shocking. Crayfish (which serve as a sort of canary species and food web foundation) have begun to have die outs and decreasing populations with some regularity.
Every time I visit I am more and more convinced I'd like to move out there. I think I'd be happier with more outdoors activities available, but man— it's unnerving.
One of the more peculiar things I witnessed when there last week was—as you mentioned—the very high water levels in Cumberland Lake which apparently forced BC hydro to let open the Comox dam and increase flow down the Puntledge. And for some reason they don't syphon any of that "excess" fresh water off, they just flow it into the ocean. I can understand not wanting to do anything overly disruptive, but it's already dammed. There were water shortage notices posted the entire time we were there.
And it is always amazing in the worst ways to drive past clearcut segments of rainforest. Conversely, I saw some of the most amazing (in the best ways) sights I've ever seen on my most recent trip... I hope we can temper our damage before it changes things too much. There's so much to lose.
Ah, yeah - the melt water was crazy during the heat wave. I watched Squamish river pull a couple trees down at the peak of it while eating dinner at the watershed restaurant. The erosion must have been so bad.
You’re right though, there are still plenty of stunning sights to see here. All of strathcona park is loaded with breathtaking opportunities and it’s just one small part of the island. I personally can’t get enough of the west coast around Tofino. Snorkelling and diving is such a treat, I’m so excited to get back there.
There's a lot of really special places there! Tofino is high on my list of must-visits. Each time we get out to the Island we don't really make it to the western coast.
The only time I've been was down near Port Renfrew.
Next time I'm out there Tofino is a must. I want to catch the surfers but I've been told storm season is pretty amazing as well.
I guess just trying to see the things for what they are, versus what you/I/we were told they were or were supposed to be. It at least helps with the acceptance of present circumstances, and allows for establishing enough ownership over your/mine/our own part in it all, however small or great.
Unfortunately the myth of our adversarial relationship with our world is still a firmly held belief by many. That's not something anyone has a great deal of control over—especially in adults.
Likewise, the idea that we're somehow above everything around us tricks us into thinking we might not just be like a spider who wandered too far into the house and is about to get squished by an ambivalent power [read: Earth's nature] greater than ourselves.
---
I see you're from not too far away. Similarly in SW Ontario I've wondered what it will look like when climate change really starts taking its toll around the world. On a recent visit to Vancouver Island, the heat and the dryness already is staggering. The image of BC I had not twenty years ago is kind of gone. It's not the same. Its long-time residents have watched it change year-over-year. SW Ontario remains more or less unscathed. It's as lush as it's ever been and fresh water is plentiful. Somehow, it's almost always insulated from the worst weather effects of every major surrounding ecosystem save for the odd ice storm or low-grade tornado. If it wasn't somewhat land-locked it would probably already have a wall around it filled with compounds of the ultra-wealthy.