Sunday, September 21, 2008

Future Echoes

Putumayo World Music Hour today played songs from mountain regions of the world currently being affected by climate change. In one of the spots they highlighted, the snow-capped mountaintops are expected to disappear within the next 20 years (the snow, that is).

It made me realize that one aspect of preparation for the coming changes (be they mild or dire - because goodness knows, there are still naysayers out there) is taking stock of what will be lost. The areas that will change permanently within our lifetimes, and possibly those of our immediate descendants, may forever alter our experience of unique and special areas of this planet.

Not that we can all just pack up and go trampling around in each endangered area... but perhaps it's worthwhile to be mindful of the spots likely to feel the greatest impact in terms of physical changes to the local landscape and lifestyle.

Whole cultures may change in the wake of extreme environmental transformation... and one day those archived songs, poems, films, books, etc. may be our best way of reconnecting with what once was.

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