Honorable Forum:
ESA and other scientific organizations can provide real leadership through education of the widest possible public by interpreting the nature of their disciplines and work. Many, perhaps most, of "the public" hasn't the foggiest notion what ecology is all about, but that is not their fault. It is the responsibility of those who know to help those who do not to understand their fields' crucial distinctions. Since the de facto educators of the public tend to be TV personalities and other celebrities, it is essential that they be educated first--this will provide the most effect per unit of effort. Of course, all teachers need to learn more about reality to balance the common if understandable tendency to emphasize the emotional and political aspects to the neglect of the technical and scientific. I suspect that every subscriber to this list has cringed a bit at least once when an "anchor" or reporter or celebrity got some biological fact wrong or advanced the idea that "ecology" primarily involves saving beer cans and chipping Christmas trees. Educational TV, while it can be superb, too often misrepresents scientific matters out of sensationalism, ignorance, or both. On educators, I will take the fifth. With respect to soil, with respect, it has been my observation that many ecologists and other biologists do not understand some of the most basic and crucial distinctions about the soils upon which so many otherwise carefully-studied ecosystems depend. Unless this is incorrect, the first job will be to educate ourselves first. This forum serves that purpose admirably well, but it has much untapped potential. It's very informality provides a place for ready exchange of information, discussion of issues, and a proving ground for ideas that can be refined in a caring and friendly atmosphere before sticking one's neck out in more formal print or pixel formats. R & D for R & D. So, starting with Vasishth's spark, and building on McCallum's thoughts, those willing can brainstorm further with the ultimate possibility a transformational ripple through the society that launches all kinds of tools and mechanisms and organized efforts that have the potential for reclaiming the good name of ecology. I suspect that "the public" is ready to go beyond somnolent narration and patronizing content a la Tee Vee, and get some real fiber and substance into their intellectual diet. It will be interesting to see just how much farther the intellectual volunteerism pioneered here can go. If ambition is matched by the available energy, there is reason to be optimistic. WT PS: I suspect that a small effort would have the best chance of surviving an initial experiment. My suggestion: Draft a simple ecological myth-debunking paper for expansion into a very short-course for media people. Something positive that doesn't embarrass them or criticize them-treat each "lesson" as a new item perhaps "released" as such, and . . . Anyone care to start with her favorite myth and its antidote? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ashwani Vasishth" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:08 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] News: Soil Declared A Natural Resource, By Senate Resolution > Air and water are fundamentally different from soil, it seems to me, in that > our use of the former causes pollution that can, in theory at least, be > mitigated. Soil, on the other hand, is transformed, not "polluted." If we > build on it, we compact it and destroy its structure. If we pave it over, we > destroy aerobic life forms and terminate biogeochemical processes. If we > farm it, we drastically transform its properties. > > My point is, the policy response is different, at least. What form could a > Clean Soil Act take? We need a different model all together, I think. We > CAN mitigate our impacts on the soil, but how do we specify a policy > structure that does not have to proceed on a case by case basis? The > Endangered Species Act is so imperfect that it is not much help either, as I > have argued elsewhere. > > What we need, I would argue, is an Endangered Ecosystems Act. Or better yet, > an Ecosystem Management Act. That gets us closest to where we want to go, > ecologically speaking. If the Ecological Society of America is willing to > take this on, I'd love to participate. > > Cheers, > - > Ashwani > Vasishth [EMAIL PROTECTED] (818) 677-6137 > http://www.csun.edu/~vasishth/ > > >>This is an important policy step. Of course ecologists,soil >>scientists, and geologists (as well as farmers!) have long recognized >>that soil is a natural resource. >> >>We currently have a Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and many others. >>But what of a Clean Soil Act?? Wouldn't this be appropriate. >>Consider how much is dumped on soil without consideration. Generally, >>if compounds are bound in the soil we consider them sequestered from >>harming water resources such as ground water. Maybe I am forgetting >>legislation of this kind, but I believe most environmental legislation >>does not do for soil what the clean water act does for water. There >>is an incredible ecosystem in the soil, and you can argue it is a >>primary driver of the planet's biosphere. So, why not a clean soil >>act???? Its no just dirt! >> >>Malcolm McCallum >> >>On Thu, Jul 10, 2008 at 4:25 AM, Ashwani Vasishth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>> http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Senate_Resolution_Shines_Spotlight_On_The_Importance_Of_Soils_999.html >>> >>> Senate Resolution Shines Spotlight On The Importance Of Soils >>> The Resolution acknowledges the work of soil scientists and soil >>> professionals to continue to enrich the lives of all Americans by improving >>> stewardship of the soil, combating soil degradation, and ensuring the future >>> protection and sustainable use of our air, soil, and water resources. >>> >>> by Staff Writers >>> Washington DC (SPX) Jul 09, 2008 >>> >>> The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) applauds the visionary action >>> taken by Senator Sherrod Brown and his colleagues in the Senate who helped >>> usher in legislation to recognize soils as an "essential" natural resource, >>> placing soil on par with water and air. >>> >>> On June 23, Senator Brown was joined by co-sponsoring Senators Kent Conrad >>> (D-ND), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Tom Harkin (D-IA), >>> Ken Salazar (D-CO) and George Voinovich (R-OH) to successfully pass Senate >>> Resolution 440, which also highlights the "critical role" soils >>> professionals play in managing our nation's soil resources. >>> >>> "This resolution comes at a time when soil is widely undervalued," says >>> Rattan Lal, Ohio State University, SSSA Past President. "Soil, and >>> specifically sound soil management, is essential in our continued quest to >>> increase the production of food, feed, fiber, and fuel while maintaining and >>> improving the environment, and mitigating the effects of climate change. >>> >>> Being the essence of all terrestrial life and ecosystem services, we cannot >>> take the soils for granted. Soil is the basis of survival for present and >>> future generations." >>> >>> The Senate resolution passed six months after the European Union's Soil >> > Protection Framework was tabled due to irreconcilable differences among >>> Parliament membership. >>> >>> "My years growing up working on our family farm taught me the value of hard >>> work and the importance of soil," says Senator Brown. "Often overlooked, >>> healthy soil is vital to maintaining our natural resources and feeding our >>> nation. This resolution is an important first step in cultivating awareness >>> of our nation's soil policies." >>> >>> The Resolution acknowledges the work of soil scientists and soil >>> professionals to continue to enrich the lives of all Americans by improving >>> stewardship of the soil, combating soil degradation, and ensuring the future >>> protection and sustainable use of our air, soil, and water resources. >>> >>> The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is a progressive, international >>> scientific society that fosters the transfer of knowledge and practices to >>> sustain global soils. Based in Madison, WI, and founded in 1936, SSSA is the >>> professional home for 6,000+ members dedicated to advancing the field of >>> soil science. >>> >>> It provides information about soils in relation to crop production, >>> environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste >>> management, recycling, and wise land >>> >>> *** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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Groups >>> >>> Join a Group >>> >>> all about dogs. >>> >>> >>> >>> . >>> >>> >>> __,_._,___ >>> >> >> >> >>-- >>Malcolm L. McCallum >>Assistant Professor of Biology >>Texas A&M University-Texarkana >>Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology >>http://www.herpconbio.org >> >>Spring Teaching Schedule & Office Hours: >>Genetics: W 6:00 to 9:40pm >>Herpetology: TR 10:00-11:40am >>Histology: MW 1:00-2:40pm >>Seminar: T 2:30-3:30pm >>Office Hours: >>M: 3:30-5:00pm >>T: 11:40-1:00pm; 3:30-5:00pm >>W: 4:00-6:00pm >> >>"We live in a time when lemonade is made with artificial flavoring, >>and furnisher polish is made with fresh lemons." >>-Alfred E. Neuman
