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The Arbitrary Nature of Saving Nature
Let’s stop scapegoating when fighting climate change
A semi-viral meme on social media shows a photo of a deer crossing a forest road. “Things are often not what they seem”, the meme says, and then: “This isn’t a deer crossing a road. This is a road crossing the forest”.
I did a little research about this deer and found some interesting details. His name is Marvin. Ten minutes before the picture was taken, Marvin had been strolling a mile away from there, deep in the murky forest, and wreaked sheer havoc.
His victims included Jacinda, the mayor of an ant colony, and 329 of its inhabitants; Donnie and Mike, ladybug twins; three webs that Boris, a spider, was about to insure the very next day; and countless earthworms, fungi and ferns.
Savvy readers already understand what I’m getting at. If said savvy readers happen to see themselves as environmentalists, they must already be writing this story off as the (extremely well-written) ramblings of a MAGA climate-change denier. But bear with me: I’m a staunch environmentalist myself, I love deer and all other creatures, and I wish less forest were disturbed for the sake of roads. So what’s my hitherto confused message all about?
I’m driving my car through the forest, luckily spared an unpleasant encounter with Marvin and his friends. A speed-limit sign with another sign just above it, the latter donning a jumping deer, orders motorists to slow down to 70 km/h from dusk till dawn — the time period deer are most likely to walk around. (But ten minutes later I’m on the highway, devoid of any speed limit — this is Germany — but still featuring a deer warning sign. How can one be expected to cope with a jumping deer at 150 km/h? This won’t be the last double standard featured in this story).
As I approach home in the center of my city, I’m forced to make a substantial detour. The reason: my diesel car is not allowed anymore on several streets. The residents that inhabit my alternative route are now the new recipients of my car’s nitrogen-dioxide-infused fumes. But wait: this article is not a…
