Paul Nichols lives in Loudon.

Thinking about the anniversary of Earth Day coming up on April 22, I read an essay by the late evolutionary biologist and Harvard University Professor Stephen Jay Gould titled “Nonmoral Nature.” In his piece, Gould discusses suffering caused by nature and offers lots to ponder, including contrasting beliefs between humankind’s scientific and religious communities. Linked to this argument are judgments about nature being moral, immoral, or nonmoral.

Nature is neither purposefully charitable, following a sense of doing good, nor is it malicious, intent on spreading ill will. Nature has no concept of innocence or guilt and therefore it has no regard for either. The concept of morality doesn’t apply. Nature just is.

Many creatures in nature’s world attack and slaughter victims without reasoning. Observations have shown that elephants and some other mammals do mourn their dead, but for most, survival is the sole instinct. The attack may be carried out by a hungry school of piranhas or by a pack of hyenas against a single unsuspecting victim. No consensus is sought among the group as to whether such violence is cruel or unfair.

Invasive green crabs are a serious threat to the marine environment, aggressively spreading and devouring their prey and ocean habitat. They are void of feeling culpable.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake in early February 2023 along the Turkey-Syria border struck savagely, killing tens of thousands with impunity. This force adheres to no ethical codes or guiding principles.

A typhoon feels no remorse for all that is left suffering in its wake, nor is it glad to have missed the nearby fishing village.

Wildfires in large areas of the American West, destructive to people, homes, timber, and wildlife feel no guilt, nor is there any concern for the widespread pollution they cause.

A thicket of hemlocks grows densely, spreading out and blocking sunlight vital to a hardwood seedling’s survival. No thought process occurs here, nature simply runs its course.

Some invasive plants aggressively overtake others, such as Japanese Knotweed, Asian Bittersweet, or Autumn Olive. In this arena, human consciousness attributes take a back seat to the nonmoral world of plants.

Envision a small pond in the bowl of earth and vegetation that encompasses it. Easterly, the shore delineation is obscured by a subtle blending of tall bluejoint grass, cattails, and alders which transform into an expanding marsh. Eventually, rising elevation forces the bog to wane as pine, oak, maple, and beech take command. At any elevation, Mother Nature’s broad realm and insurmountable powers make the ultimate decisions. The pond’s neighborhood is diverse, at times ruthlessly violent, and often blindly complacent.

My sojourns to our pond and adjoining meadow occur under no regimented order. Visitations may happen day or night. They may be physical journeys, casual daydreams, or dreams during sleep. Whatever the form, no two visits are identical, as interactions with the natural world are nonlinear and ever-changing.

Annie Dillard, in her book “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek,” says that humans are moral creatures in an amoral world. I think this is a generalized statement presenting a morality dilemma.

Is the ownership of land and water sources truly ours? The immediate, shortsighted answer is yes, as long as we hold a deed and pay the property taxes. But thinking more deeply, we are merely intermittent caretakers of this plot of earth — just stewards for a very limited period of time. All that crosses our boundaries doesn’t belong to us, nor does all that floats above.

What does all this have to do with Earth Day? Lots!

After trauma from America’s war in Vietnam, the 1967 song “Let’s Live for Today” by the Grass Roots seemed like good advice. But on April 22, 1970, the first U.S. Earth Day celebration began as a nationwide environmental teach-in, focusing on longer-term ecological concerns. Since then, Earth Day observances have spread globally. With the wide-ranging climatic extremes causing disasters all across Planet Earth, the significance of environmental protection is vital to future planetary life.

In past centuries, the Great Law of the Iroquois Nation accentuated that decisions made and actions taken must be in consideration of the next seven generations. In more recent times financial greed, power, and ignorance or denial make the environmental aspects of the Great Law vital. The ecological sustainability of life on Earth for future generations must take top priority in decisions and actions taken today by us all. It’s necessary that we all treat the earth with the respect and care it deserves.

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