some of you probably recognize the town that’s the subject of this photo anyone
that’s the subject of this photo anyone
that’s the subject of this photo anyone eros pills exactly its Harrisville but
eros pills exactly its Harrisville but
eros pills exactly its Harrisville but it could really be just about any New
it could really be just about any New
it could really be just about any New England small village across the region
England small village across the region
England small village across the region and it’s a pretty appealing scene a
and it’s a pretty appealing scene a
and it’s a pretty appealing scene a quaint historic town clear Lakes forests
quaint historic town clear Lakes forests
quaint historic town clear Lakes forests mountains all around it’s pretty
mountains all around it’s pretty
mountains all around it’s pretty tranquil I moved to this region 11 years
tranquil I moved to this region 11 years
tranquil I moved to this region 11 years ago seeking to live in a spot kind of
ago seeking to live in a spot kind of
ago seeking to live in a spot kind of like this I imagine many of you did too
like this I imagine many of you did too
like this I imagine many of you did too or maybe you were born here and decided
or maybe you were born here and decided
or maybe you were born here and decided to stay or maybe you left and then
to stay or maybe you left and then
to stay or maybe you left and then decided to come back again this is not
decided to come back again this is not
decided to come back again this is not Harrisville this is suburban Las Vegas
Harrisville this is suburban Las Vegas
Harrisville this is suburban Las Vegas classic sprawl you have to drive
classic sprawl you have to drive
classic sprawl you have to drive anywhere you want to go nobody knows
anywhere you want to go nobody knows
anywhere you want to go nobody knows their neighbors nature is completely
their neighbors nature is completely
their neighbors nature is completely subjugated my job as a conservationist
subjugated my job as a conservationist
subjugated my job as a conservationist is to ensure that places like this don’t
is to ensure that places like this don’t
is to ensure that places like this don’t turn into this and that all the trees
turn into this and that all the trees
turn into this and that all the trees and the water and the good things that
and the water and the good things that
and the water and the good things that come from them here don’t get wrecked my
come from them here don’t get wrecked my
come from them here don’t get wrecked my job is to ensure that the Monadnock
job is to ensure that the Monadnock
job is to ensure that the Monadnock Region remains a livable and healthful
Region remains a livable and healthful
Region remains a livable and healthful place to be but when I lie awake at
place to be but when I lie awake at
place to be but when I lie awake at night worried that I won’t succeed
night worried that I won’t succeed
night worried that I won’t succeed worried that all my efforts will be in
worried that all my efforts will be in
worried that all my efforts will be in vain it’s not sprawl I’m worried about
vain it’s not sprawl I’m worried about
vain it’s not sprawl I’m worried about and it’s not air pollution or recycling
and it’s not air pollution or recycling
and it’s not air pollution or recycling or even climate change it’s one little
or even climate change it’s one little
or even climate change it’s one little question who cares who cares about all
question who cares who cares about all
question who cares who cares about all this nature stuff who cares about these
this nature stuff who cares about these
this nature stuff who cares about these matters that to me and maybe to some of
matters that to me and maybe to some of
matters that to me and maybe to some of you might mean the difference between
you might mean the difference between
you might mean the difference between our children inheriting a habitable
our children inheriting a habitable
our children inheriting a habitable planet in a world of scarcity and
planet in a world of scarcity and
planet in a world of scarcity and conflict
conflict
conflict and when we consult the statistics on
and when we consult the statistics on
and when we consult the statistics on these questions well we find that the
these questions well we find that the
these questions well we find that the answer is not that many people each
answer is not that many people each
answer is not that many people each January the Pew Research Center conducts
January the Pew Research Center conducts
January the Pew Research Center conducts a poll of Americans priorities of issues
a poll of Americans priorities of issues
a poll of Americans priorities of issues for the President and Congress to act on
for the President and Congress to act on
for the President and Congress to act on in the coming year and this year about
in the coming year and this year about
in the coming year and this year about 55 percent of Americans think that the
55 percent of Americans think that the
55 percent of Americans think that the environment ought to be a high priority
environment ought to be a high priority
environment ought to be a high priority but only a paltry 38 percent think that
but only a paltry 38 percent think that
but only a paltry 38 percent think that climate change out there there’s
climate change out there there’s
climate change out there there’s consensus that New York Miami San
consensus that New York Miami San
consensus that New York Miami San Francisco LA may be under water soon and
Francisco LA may be under water soon and
Francisco LA may be under water soon and only 38% of people give a damn let’s
only 38% of people give a damn let’s
only 38% of people give a damn let’s drill even a little deeper this figure
drill even a little deeper this figure
drill even a little deeper this figure shows the gap in prioritization between
shows the gap in prioritization between
shows the gap in prioritization between the two main political parties the wider
the two main political parties the wider
the two main political parties the wider the bar the more polarized the issue
the bar the more polarized the issue
the bar the more polarized the issue climate change and the environment are
climate change and the environment are
climate change and the environment are the 1st and 3rd most polarized issues
the 1st and 3rd most polarized issues
the 1st and 3rd most polarized issues right now this is not looking good but
right now this is not looking good but
right now this is not looking good but let’s strip away the politics for a
let’s strip away the politics for a
let’s strip away the politics for a moment
moment
moment surely the philanthropic sector has its
surely the philanthropic sector has its
surely the philanthropic sector has its priorities straight
priorities straight
priorities straight well we’d find that we’re wrong again
well we’d find that we’re wrong again
well we’d find that we’re wrong again giving us a publishes an annual report
giving us a publishes an annual report
giving us a publishes an annual report of the preceding years total charitable
of the preceding years total charitable
of the preceding years total charitable giving and this is a figure of total
giving and this is a figure of total
giving and this is a figure of total charitable giving in 2015 divided out by
charitable giving in 2015 divided out by
charitable giving in 2015 divided out by sector and where’s the environment 3
sector and where’s the environment 3
sector and where’s the environment 3 percent almost dead last ok
percent almost dead last ok
percent almost dead last ok maybe here in the Monadnock Region
maybe here in the Monadnock Region
maybe here in the Monadnock Region things are a little bit better the
things are a little bit better the
things are a little bit better the National Center for charitable
National Center for charitable
National Center for charitable statistics tells us that approximately
statistics tells us that approximately
statistics tells us that approximately 25 percent of New Hampshire households
25 percent of New Hampshire households
25 percent of New Hampshire households report itemized charitable deductions on
report itemized charitable deductions on
report itemized charitable deductions on their tax returns and the actual number
their tax returns and the actual number
their tax returns and the actual number of people donating is probably a bit
of people donating is probably a bit
of people donating is probably a bit higher because not everybody itemizes
higher because not everybody itemizes
higher because not everybody itemizes and yet less than 1% of residents of the
and yet less than 1% of residents of the
and yet less than 1% of residents of the Monadnock Region are donors to my
Monadnock Region are donors to my
Monadnock Region are donors to my organization the Monadnock Conservancy
organization the Monadnock Conservancy
organization the Monadnock Conservancy which seeks to keep places like
which seeks to keep places like
which seeks to keep places like Harrisville looking like places like
Harrisville looking like places like
Harrisville looking like places like Harrisburg why is this number so low
Harrisburg why is this number so low
Harrisburg why is this number so low what are we doing wrong how can you
what are we doing wrong how can you
what are we doing wrong how can you argue against the great outdoors how can
argue against the great outdoors how can
argue against the great outdoors how can you argue against the hard facts of
you argue against the hard facts of
you argue against the hard facts of environmental
environmental
environmental relation the causes are so plain to see
relation the causes are so plain to see
relation the causes are so plain to see Americans drive too much we consume too
Americans drive too much we consume too
Americans drive too much we consume too much the future of the planet is at
much the future of the planet is at
much the future of the planet is at stake or maybe the kind of thinking that
stake or maybe the kind of thinking that
stake or maybe the kind of thinking that I just exhibited is precisely what we’re
I just exhibited is precisely what we’re
I just exhibited is precisely what we’re doing wrong
doing wrong
doing wrong maybe the outdoors aren’t as appealing
maybe the outdoors aren’t as appealing
maybe the outdoors aren’t as appealing to others as they are to me maybe
to others as they are to me maybe
to others as they are to me maybe changing minds isn’t as simple as merely
changing minds isn’t as simple as merely
changing minds isn’t as simple as merely presenting the facts maybe guilt and
presenting the facts maybe guilt and
presenting the facts maybe guilt and fear aren’t the best motivators
this is porcupine Falls and Gilson
this is porcupine Falls and Gilson anybody ever been there yeah anybody can
anybody ever been there yeah anybody can
anybody ever been there yeah anybody can go there it’s a short drive and an easy
go there it’s a short drive and an easy
go there it’s a short drive and an easy hike and though you and I might take it
hike and though you and I might take it
hike and though you and I might take it for granted that we’d go for a hike in
for granted that we’d go for a hike in
for granted that we’d go for a hike in our free time that’s not necessarily
our free time that’s not necessarily
our free time that’s not necessarily true for other people and yet it’s
true for other people and yet it’s
true for other people and yet it’s images like this that we’ve been using
images like this that we’ve been using
images like this that we’ve been using for decades to entice people to discover
for decades to entice people to discover
for decades to entice people to discover the outdoors but if you’ve never spent
the outdoors but if you’ve never spent
the outdoors but if you’ve never spent time in the outdoors the prospect of
time in the outdoors the prospect of
time in the outdoors the prospect of going for a hike in the woods could be
going for a hike in the woods could be
going for a hike in the woods could be really scary intimidating or maybe just
really scary intimidating or maybe just
really scary intimidating or maybe just impossibly daunting when I’ve
impossibly daunting when I’ve
impossibly daunting when I’ve encountered disagreement in my life my
encountered disagreement in my life my
encountered disagreement in my life my instinct has always been to present a
instinct has always been to present a
instinct has always been to present a reasoned argument to educate I was
reasoned argument to educate I was
reasoned argument to educate I was trained as a scientist but it turns out
trained as a scientist but it turns out
trained as a scientist but it turns out that may not always be the best strategy
that may not always be the best strategy
that may not always be the best strategy education the active education implies
education the active education implies
education the active education implies some kind of superiority I know and you
some kind of superiority I know and you
some kind of superiority I know and you don’t and that is all well and good for
don’t and that is all well and good for
don’t and that is all well and good for a willing student but not everybody
a willing student but not everybody
a willing student but not everybody wants to be judged that way in fact the
wants to be judged that way in fact the
wants to be judged that way in fact the the Dartmouth government professor
the Dartmouth government professor
the Dartmouth government professor Brendan Nyhan found that for some deeply
Brendan Nyhan found that for some deeply
Brendan Nyhan found that for some deeply held beliefs facts and reason may
held beliefs facts and reason may
held beliefs facts and reason may actually be counterproductive to
actually be counterproductive to
actually be counterproductive to changing minds he assembled a group of
changing minds he assembled a group of
changing minds he assembled a group of research subjects all of whom were
research subjects all of whom were
research subjects all of whom were highly skeptical of the practice of
highly skeptical of the practice of
highly skeptical of the practice of vaccination and when they were showed
vaccination and when they were showed
vaccination and when they were showed factual evidence of the efficacy and
factual evidence of the efficacy and
factual evidence of the efficacy and safety of vaccines
safety of vaccines
safety of vaccines they became even more distrustful of the
they became even more distrustful of the
they became even more distrustful of the practice apparently for when a deeply
practice apparently for when a deeply
practice apparently for when a deeply held belief is challenged human nature
held belief is challenged human nature
held belief is challenged human nature is to cling ever more strong strongly to
is to cling ever more strong strongly to
is to cling ever more strong strongly to that the facts be damned
that the facts be damned
that the facts be damned and the more authoritative the source of
and the more authoritative the source of
and the more authoritative the source of the challenge like a highly credentialed
the challenge like a highly credentialed
the challenge like a highly credentialed scientist the deeper the distrust I
recycle when I leave a room I turn off
recycle when I leave a room I turn off the lights and turn down the heat try to
the lights and turn down the heat try to
the lights and turn down the heat try to buy fuel-efficient cars and drive as
buy fuel-efficient cars and drive as
buy fuel-efficient cars and drive as little as possible I consider these
little as possible I consider these
little as possible I consider these responsible behaviors even kind of
responsible behaviors even kind of
responsible behaviors even kind of virtuous but to some people the the
virtuous but to some people the the
virtuous but to some people the the prospect of an environmentally conscious
prospect of an environmentally conscious
prospect of an environmentally conscious lifestyle may seem almost monastic
lifestyle may seem almost monastic
lifestyle may seem almost monastic severe like to save the earth we need to
severe like to save the earth we need to
severe like to save the earth we need to give up all fun and live in the cold and
give up all fun and live in the cold and
give up all fun and live in the cold and in the dark throughout my career I’ve
in the dark throughout my career I’ve
in the dark throughout my career I’ve had to go to examples of what can go
had to go to examples of what can go
had to go to examples of what can go wrong if conservation fails big-box
wrong if conservation fails big-box
wrong if conservation fails big-box stores and housing developments and in
stores and housing developments and in
stores and housing developments and in fact I used an image of a housing
fact I used an image of a housing
fact I used an image of a housing development in Las Vegas to illustrate
development in Las Vegas to illustrate
development in Las Vegas to illustrate what I try to prevent it might work but
what I try to prevent it might work but
what I try to prevent it might work but consider what that argument seems like
consider what that argument seems like
consider what that argument seems like to someone in the opposite perspective
to someone in the opposite perspective
to someone in the opposite perspective imagine what it sounds like
imagine what it sounds like
imagine what it sounds like for me know-it-all me to argue against
for me know-it-all me to argue against
for me know-it-all me to argue against houses for people or jobs for people and
houses for people or jobs for people and
houses for people or jobs for people and instead argue for butterflies and
instead argue for butterflies and
instead argue for butterflies and bunnies imagine how callous it must seem
bunnies imagine how callous it must seem
bunnies imagine how callous it must seem to someone who struggles to put a roof
to someone who struggles to put a roof
to someone who struggles to put a roof over their head or keep food on the
over their head or keep food on the
over their head or keep food on the table
at its root conservation is about
at its root conservation is about controlling how people use natural
controlling how people use natural
controlling how people use natural resources and some of that control is
resources and some of that control is
resources and some of that control is achieved through influence but a lot of
achieved through influence but a lot of
achieved through influence but a lot of it amounts to rules you can’t build your
it amounts to rules you can’t build your
it amounts to rules you can’t build your house here
house here
house here you can’t cut down trees there you can’t
you can’t cut down trees there you can’t
you can’t cut down trees there you can’t ride your all-terrain vehicle here you
ride your all-terrain vehicle here you
ride your all-terrain vehicle here you can’t hunt there and if you find
can’t hunt there and if you find
can’t hunt there and if you find yourself on the wrong side of those
yourself on the wrong side of those
yourself on the wrong side of those rules it’s not hard to feel excluded or
rules it’s not hard to feel excluded or
rules it’s not hard to feel excluded or judged the whole conservation thing
judged the whole conservation thing
judged the whole conservation thing starts to feel a bit like an elite club
starts to feel a bit like an elite club
starts to feel a bit like an elite club the club to which you are not invited am
the club to which you are not invited am
the club to which you are not invited am I somehow inferior because I choose to
I somehow inferior because I choose to
I somehow inferior because I choose to enjoy nature riding on a motorized
enjoy nature riding on a motorized
enjoy nature riding on a motorized vehicle should I be ashamed that I make
vehicle should I be ashamed that I make
vehicle should I be ashamed that I make my living cutting down trees am i some
my living cutting down trees am i some
my living cutting down trees am i some sort of villain because I build houses
sort of villain because I build houses
sort of villain because I build houses for people who wouldn’t feel embittered
for people who wouldn’t feel embittered
for people who wouldn’t feel embittered by this and so we’ve established that
by this and so we’ve established that
by this and so we’ve established that too few people care about conservation
too few people care about conservation
too few people care about conservation this is a problem so what are we going
this is a problem so what are we going
this is a problem so what are we going to do about it how can we make nature
to do about it how can we make nature
to do about it how can we make nature more relevant more accessible how can we
more relevant more accessible how can we
more relevant more accessible how can we make nature more relevant to everyone
make nature more relevant to everyone
make nature more relevant to everyone not just the people who have the luck of
not just the people who have the luck of
not just the people who have the luck of hopping in the Subaru every weekend for
hopping in the Subaru every weekend for
hopping in the Subaru every weekend for an outdoor adventure well we can start
an outdoor adventure well we can start
an outdoor adventure well we can start by asking what people do care about and
by asking what people do care about and
by asking what people do care about and then the figures that we looked at
then the figures that we looked at
then the figures that we looked at earlier on tell us precisely that people
earlier on tell us precisely that people
earlier on tell us precisely that people care about economic security they care
care about economic security they care
care about economic security they care about jobs they care about health care
about jobs they care about health care
about jobs they care about health care education kids nutrition people care
education kids nutrition people care
education kids nutrition people care about human needs and for good reason
about human needs and for good reason
about human needs and for good reason our challenge then is to frame nature as
our challenge then is to frame nature as
our challenge then is to frame nature as somehow serving to meet some of those
somehow serving to meet some of those
somehow serving to meet some of those needs can nature help advance economic
needs can nature help advance economic
needs can nature help advance economic opportunity sure just ask John and
opportunity sure just ask John and
opportunity sure just ask John and Teresa Jennison the farmer owners of
Teresa Jennison the farmer owners of
Teresa Jennison the farmer owners of peat stand and Walpole John and Teresa
peat stand and Walpole John and Teresa
peat stand and Walpole John and Teresa don’t own much of the land they farm
don’t own much of the land they farm
don’t own much of the land they farm instead they’re given permission year by
instead they’re given permission year by
instead they’re given permission year by year to farm other people’s land they
year to farm other people’s land they
year to farm other people’s land they were losing that land at an alarming
were losing that land at an alarming
were losing that land at an alarming rate to commercial development until
rate to commercial development until
rate to commercial development until conservation halted the trend in nature
conservation halted the trend in nature
conservation halted the trend in nature help education
help education
help education or this ask the kids of the Marlboro
or this ask the kids of the Marlboro
or this ask the kids of the Marlboro school who have the assurance that the
school who have the assurance that the
school who have the assurance that the forest adjacent to their school will
forest adjacent to their school will
forest adjacent to their school will always be available to them as a natural
always be available to them as a natural
always be available to them as a natural playground in an outdoor classroom
playground in an outdoor classroom
playground in an outdoor classroom thanks to a partnership that helps the
thanks to a partnership that helps the
thanks to a partnership that helps the town buy the property can nature advance
town buy the property can nature advance
town buy the property can nature advance health sure just ask the Cheshire
health sure just ask the Cheshire
health sure just ask the Cheshire walkers a group of seniors coordinated
walkers a group of seniors coordinated
walkers a group of seniors coordinated by a Cheshire Medical Center who meet
by a Cheshire Medical Center who meet
by a Cheshire Medical Center who meet weekly
weekly
weekly to go on a hike for social engagement
to go on a hike for social engagement
to go on a hike for social engagement and exercise I want to close with a
and exercise I want to close with a
and exercise I want to close with a metaphor that I think aptly illustrates
metaphor that I think aptly illustrates
metaphor that I think aptly illustrates what we need to do and this is a
what we need to do and this is a
what we need to do and this is a metaphor that was introduced to me by
metaphor that was introduced to me by
metaphor that was introduced to me by the writer and conservationist Peter
the writer and conservationist Peter
the writer and conservationist Peter Forbes when I was about 10 years old my
Forbes when I was about 10 years old my
Forbes when I was about 10 years old my best friend and I created a time capsule
best friend and I created a time capsule
best friend and I created a time capsule and we buried it in the ground but
and we buried it in the ground but
and we buried it in the ground but unfortunately we forgot to note where we
unfortunately we forgot to note where we
unfortunately we forgot to note where we had buried it and so we could soon
had buried it and so we could soon
had buried it and so we could soon completely forgot about it and never
completely forgot about it and never
completely forgot about it and never came back to dig it up in the year 2000
came back to dig it up in the year 2000
came back to dig it up in the year 2000 the New York Times decided to create a
the New York Times decided to create a
the New York Times decided to create a 1,000 year Times capsule in like me and
1,000 year Times capsule in like me and
1,000 year Times capsule in like me and my friend their challenge wasn’t so much
my friend their challenge wasn’t so much
my friend their challenge wasn’t so much in what to put in it but how to ensure
in what to put in it but how to ensure
in what to put in it but how to ensure that it was kept safe and remembered
that it was kept safe and remembered
that it was kept safe and remembered across the centuries they asked
across the centuries they asked
across the centuries they asked themselves what has lasted a thousand
themselves what has lasted a thousand
themselves what has lasted a thousand years well in some religions of lasted a
years well in some religions of lasted a
years well in some religions of lasted a thousand years but this being the New
thousand years but this being the New
thousand years but this being the New York Times that declined to form a new
York Times that declined to form a new
York Times that declined to form a new religion to look after their time
religion to look after their time
religion to look after their time capsule one guy even had the idea of
capsule one guy even had the idea of
capsule one guy even had the idea of encoding our millennial relics into the
encoding our millennial relics into the
encoding our millennial relics into the DNA of cockroaches because clearly
DNA of cockroaches because clearly
DNA of cockroaches because clearly they’re survivors
and they considered all sorts of
and they considered all sorts of high-tech schemes for burial and
high-tech schemes for burial and
high-tech schemes for burial and protection of the time capsule
protection of the time capsule
protection of the time capsule ultimately rejecting each as too
ultimately rejecting each as too
ultimately rejecting each as too expensive
expensive
expensive instead they thought and realized that
instead they thought and realized that
instead they thought and realized that the most lasting human institutions are
the most lasting human institutions are
the most lasting human institutions are not those that are hidden away quite the
not those that are hidden away quite the
not those that are hidden away quite the contrary
contrary
contrary the most lasting institutions are those
the most lasting institutions are those
the most lasting institutions are those that are openly celebrated art music
that are openly celebrated art music
that are openly celebrated art music architecture and so rather than hide the
architecture and so rather than hide the
architecture and so rather than hide the time capsule away from the ravages of
time capsule away from the ravages of
time capsule away from the ravages of humanity they chose the unique design of
humanity they chose the unique design of
humanity they chose the unique design of architect Santiago Calatrava then they
architect Santiago Calatrava then they
architect Santiago Calatrava then they installed the time capsule in an outdoor
installed the time capsule in an outdoor
installed the time capsule in an outdoor plaza unguarded unfenced for everyone to
plaza unguarded unfenced for everyone to
plaza unguarded unfenced for everyone to walk by and touch and see every day
walk by and touch and see every day
walk by and touch and see every day the writer Jack hid said to install it
the writer Jack hid said to install it
the writer Jack hid said to install it outside MIT relying on people to monitor
outside MIT relying on people to monitor
outside MIT relying on people to monitor and maintain it for the thousand years
and maintain it for the thousand years
and maintain it for the thousand years in other words the survival of the
in other words the survival of the
in other words the survival of the capsule would depend overwhelmingly on
capsule would depend overwhelmingly on
capsule would depend overwhelmingly on culture I believe that the perpetuity of
culture I believe that the perpetuity of
culture I believe that the perpetuity of conservation and the salvation of the
conservation and the salvation of the
conservation and the salvation of the environment will be assured when we
environment will be assured when we
environment will be assured when we break down the barriers between people
break down the barriers between people
break down the barriers between people in nature
in nature
in nature like the times capsule we need to make
like the times capsule we need to make
like the times capsule we need to make nature touchable tangible accessible
nature touchable tangible accessible
nature touchable tangible accessible relevant we need to abandon the old
relevant we need to abandon the old
relevant we need to abandon the old fortress metaphor where nature was
fortress metaphor where nature was
fortress metaphor where nature was something to be guarded behind walls or
something to be guarded behind walls or
something to be guarded behind walls or preserved under glass instead we need
preserved under glass instead we need
preserved under glass instead we need immersive experiences chances to get our
immersive experiences chances to get our
immersive experiences chances to get our hands dirty here god forbid maybe be a
hands dirty here god forbid maybe be a
hands dirty here god forbid maybe be a little destructive we need to retire the
little destructive we need to retire the
little destructive we need to retire the unspoiled acres are one measure of
unspoiled acres are one measure of
unspoiled acres are one measure of success and instead replace it with the
success and instead replace it with the
success and instead replace it with the number of lives changed like a little
number of lives changed like a little
number of lives changed like a little boy who visits a farm on a warm summer
boy who visits a farm on a warm summer
boy who visits a farm on a warm summer afternoon and takes his first bite of a
afternoon and takes his first bite of a
afternoon and takes his first bite of a sugar snap pea picked fresh from the
sugar snap pea picked fresh from the
sugar snap pea picked fresh from the vine thank you
vine thank you
vine thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
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