As time passes, and we continue to grow and develop as a species, despite our many achievements, be they in the arts or architecture or flight, one accomplishment will remain the most important in human history no matter what occurs in the years ahead. We may, in the future, cure Cancer and AIDS, put a person on Mars, or even find a way to curb the planet’s food crises. But despite all of these things, mankind’s greatest achievement is, and will always be, the photograph.
A single image, captured in time, for all time.
Why, you ask, do I believe the photograph to be of such importance? Because, in the century ahead, photographs, along with film, will be all that will remain of many of this world’s inhabitants. Fifty years from now school children may very well only know what a Polar Bear looks like because of photographs. The same can be said of numerous other species that are widely known. Of course, species are rendered extinct on a weekly basis as it is, but most of them aren’t all that familiar to us – certainly not familiar enough to be glorified in the pages of future textbooks.
One wonders what questions the children of the future will ask as to why the Polar Bear did not survive? One wonders what responses will be provided by those children’s teachers?
There, frozen in time, the image of that majestic Arctic bear will remain for generations to gaze upon, as if a thing of legend, almost other-worldly, the inhabitant of a time long since past. And as time passes, so too will the reason for its destruction be forgotten.
Here we find ourselves, on the verge of a photograph, looking to those in positions of responsibility to make the right choices. And with such a profound issue presented them, you need not guess at how they intend to respond…
“The state Legislature is looking to hire a few good polar bear scientists. The conclusions have already been agreed upon — researchers just have to fill in the science part.
A $2 million program funded with little debate by the Legislature last month calls for using state money to fund an “academic based” conference that highlights contrarian scientific research on global warming. Legislators hope to undermine the public perception of a widespread consensus among polar bear researchers that warming global temperatures and melting Arctic ice threaten the polar bears’ survival.
Republican legislative leaders say a federal decision to declare the polar bears “threatened” by climate change would have troubling effects on Arctic oil development and the state’s economic future.
Last week a federal judge ordered the Bush administration to release its already-tardy decision under the Endangered Species Act by May 15. By law, such a decision must be based strictly on science, not on possible economic consequences.
Legislative leaders said they are frustrated that researchers skeptical of the doomsday scenario get marginalized as crackpots or industry shills by the media and scientific agencies.
“We want to have the money to hire scientists to answer the Interior (Department) scientists,” House Speaker John Harris, R-Valdez, said last week.
The $2 million is also to be used for a national public relations campaign to promote the findings of the conference.
Critics say it’s a waste of state money because all the hard scientific research points in the other direction.
“This truly is the conference to nowhere,” said University of Alaska researcher Rick Steiner, who has pressed the Palin administration unsuccessfully for five months to release any scientific backup for its position opposing the federal polar bear listing.
The time for debate is over, especially when the opposition is using “junk science,” said Melanie Duchin with Greenpeace in Alaska. “This is clearly the same sort of ‘question, deny and delay’ tactic used by Exxon Mobil and the Bush administration to confuse the public over the severity of global warming and stall any meaningful action to deal with the problem.”
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That’s so sad to think of the photos as the only remaining proof, but it is true. It makes me wonder if we are any further ahead because we are aware of the fact that it is heading in that direction? Perhaps it is easier to feign ignorance and cross our fingers and hope for the best. I don’t like that method. (And the correct term is ‘bi-polar’ bear…)
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“Of this same flimsy, magic stuff our dreams were woven in the night - nothing, with all the pictures of the world in it.” Camera Lucida by Roland Barthes is kinda my bible. Best theory of photography, ever.
I have this vacation dream of taking the train to Churchill to see the Northern Lights and some real, live polar bears in their natural habitat…much as I always loved underwater viewing at the zoo, I’m sure it’s just not the same. Sadly, by the time I save up enough cash for that very expensive trip, there probably won’t be any of the creatures left.
Videos are awesome, Matt, but I miss your photos…though I know sometimes there just aren’t any out there to be taken.
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I like Polar Bears. They are white.
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omg
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I don’t know if anyone remembers reading the novel “The Giver,” in elementary school, but if you do, Polar Bears could fall into the “stuffed animal” collection.
Otherwise, it reminds me of saber toothed tigers and The Woolly Mammoths, of course, as so wisely said, no photographs for proof though.
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They spin us right round baby right round like a record baby…
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Photos have always been iconic. It’s all well and good to read about WWII or people going to the moon, but actually having a visual representation of it is far more powerful.
That being said, I hope polar bears are an animal in the future whose picture strikes awe into the heart of youngsters, not nostalgic awe over something they’ll never know.
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“Republican legislative leaders say a federal decision to declare the polar bears “threatened” by climate change would have troubling effects on Arctic oil development and the state’s economic future.”
And so, we get to the crux of the matter…man’s worst achievement; not having the balls to commit to real alternatives to fossil fuel dependency. Oh, the smell of money…it stinks.
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The implications of a “photo” run deeper than i can imagine. They are akin to steping into a time machine. One that reels us back- not towards memories, but more towards a renewal of some previous investment…We care to a certain degree about the things we love and the things we miss, all the things that where worth recording to begin with…whether it be in the emotional words of a poem or the visual truth that is a photo(which equally elicits recal of dangerous feelings - all of which become drug like) - We, upon being stimulated by their sound or sight - Are put right back where we belong - swiftly met with disgrace, and a good feeling you dont want to loose.
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On the somewhat positive side, scientists have confirmed what natives have been saying for years. And that is the cross breeding between polar bears and brown bears. If you see a cross bred bear, they are stunning. As big as a grizz, but with the smaller head shape of the polar. So, as sad as it can get, I think we’ll always have the big bears. Small consolation, but they are adapting. As the polars move south, the browns just do what comes natural, so to speak.
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cheers everyone!
http://www.migusto.de/a_miPix/Knut_Cover.jpg
What I think on the issue: As long as it has Zoos and thus it is possible to make some few exemplars of the familiar species remain on the planet, people will see no exigence to drop out of their usual patterns of thinking and behaviour and adress to serious issues like protection of species or the degenerating climate.
As long as they can go to the zoo and watch sweet little Polar Bear babies like the famous “Knut” (see picture above) they will tend to fatal misconceptions of the actual situation. This might be owed to fact that conformity and adaption are part of the concept of human socialization.
This might sound extremely pessimistic but I rather leave optimism to politicians and the media.
btw: I hope posting links is ok?
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Tis so true about pictures and their importance.The same can be said of video which gives your mind a lil more to hash out the details of something. I’ve often sat up at night thinking if the house caught fire what would I grab. I always think “pictures” first because they are precious memories you can’t replace. Everything else you can usually replicate. Does anyone actually miss going through piles of old photos as opposed to having to find a computer and look at them or your digicam. Polar bears will never go extinct, scientist will just have to study them in the future at the zoo.
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Truly disheartening. What a different world future generations will live in. And, as much as I believe it’s tragic for any species to be pushed towards extinction, I have a soft spot for polar bears in particular– absolutely fascinating, beautiful creatures. I’m dying to do the Churchill trip one day.
I love Rick Steiner’s quote– “conference to nowhere.” Amazing how administrations don’t seem to see any problem in trying to find the research to support their predetermined conclusions instead of the other way around. The lack of scruples in government is staggering. And then, yes, launch that PR propaganda campaign– I suggest a cartoon polar bear giving a thumbs up, saying, “Don’t worry about me, folks! ‘Threatened by global warming?’ I’m a fucking POLAR BEAR! I’m not threatened by anything! Least of all a figment of Al Gore’s imagination! So drill away!”
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Estimates of polar bear populations worldwide currently range from 22,000 to about 25,000. It’s certainly not a wild guess that the bears will NOT end up on the endangered species list, especially when you have the Environment Minister from Nunavut, Patterk Nester, lobbying the US legislature to NOT classify them as endangered. Nester was quoted in the CBC in early March on the subject:
“Nunavut has a very effective polar bear management system and we are managing our polar bear population on a sustainable basis, in a way that provides economic benefits to Nunavummiut,” he said. “This system is a proven success and we will fight to preserve it.” Sounds to me like they are preserving their right to access to foreign oil money, and their trophy hunting industry as opposed to survival of polar bears.
So the US does not want to put them on the list because it may interfere with oil exploration, and Nunavut government officials are supporting that position. Anybody wanna bet on the outcome?
Actually viewing these apex predators in their natural environment would be pretty thrilling - I hope to get my kids up there in the next couple of years so that they won’t have to rely on pictures to identify with these animals, as you suggest. Boy I hope you’re wrong. We’ve seen grizzly bears in their natural environment a number of times in the Yukon where we live and in northern BC, and pictures just can’t replace that sort of experience, nor can it foster understanding and empathy in our children.
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I highly reccomend to those of you who haven’t, to watch the series Planet Earth, filmed by the BBC Natural History Unit. It is absolutley breathtaking , but it also makes you stop and think about what harm we are doing to our planet and the endangered animals. The segment of the Polar Bear mother and her cubs is especially my favorite. The cinematography and the music is astounding.
My posting name is the name of both of my dogs, Polar and Bear. One is big and white, and the other is big and black. How fitting! Also is the fact that I love Polar Bears too. :)
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This brings profound sadness…foot dragging that’s been going on a couple of years now and we’re nearing the point of no return.
Sickened, but not surprised - a group of people who feel that oil trumps human lives probably consider animals a no brainer.
The horrendous impact that this administration is having on our world is incomprehensible to me. I can’t imagine people so totally without conscience that they base all their decisions on $$.
Planet Earth is one of my favorites pb.
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Don’t forget about all those folks with high self esteem who pose naked in the wide world of porn. For soon, they may be replaced with human-like robots.
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polarbear:
If you have not already seen the film and/or read the book, you might enjoy checking out Being Caribou. It documents the travels of authors/photographers Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison as they followed the Porcupine Caribou herd on their annual migration for 5 months in 2003. It’s actually how they spent their honeymoon. A very pertinent look at this species, and how proposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge could have a devastating impact on them - and likewise on the rest of the species in that ecosystem -including First Nations peoples.
http://www.beingcaribou.com
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This may not really be in keeping with the concern of polar bears but now that I’m above the Arctic Circle I am waiting on a good chance to photograph polar bears, or at least one bear.
The Inuit community I live in has really high sightings of polar bears, they always come into town because the town is situated right off the ocean and I suppose they float on in as the ice breaks up. It’s called Hall Beach.
But I’ve been there a month and there haven’t been any sightings of bears yet. I’m disappointed but also curious if that is a sign of something greater.
If I ever do get any photos, I’ll post them at my Flickr site.
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Watch two documentaries if you can:
1. Sharkwater
2. Refugees of the Blue Planet
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God we’re ignorant.
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Magdalene…….Be careful! I’ve seen photos of what an attacking polar bear can do….ya got to respect them and keep your distance. I’d link to the photos but it’s kind of gory :)
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Did anybody else hear about a proposed lit of the gun ban in National Parks? I was watch the news half asleep and, for two days thought that it was a nightmare that I dreamed up due to overwork, but here is the proof
http://article.wn.com/view/2008/05/01/Interior_chief_wants_to_ease_gun_ban_in_national_parks/
If I remember correctly, it was due to concerns of wild bears (mostly in Alaska) wondering further inland - obviously in search of food.
By the way, we are not ignorant, just incredibly lazy. Planet Earth makes me sad - I don’t think they show sharks in the best light. Sharkwater is excellent.
I actually don’t like professional color photography, it is edited too much. And it definitely cannot replace life. I think where photography serves best is in journalism as a record of the moment…
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Vika:
Ya I heard about that laughable proposal on the lift on the ban. Mostly it’s the bears that are laughing because they are actually in less danger since a) stupid humans will more likely get drunk and shoot each other, so that means less humans and b) the ones that are left will only have handguns and they’re not much use against bears.
In all seriousness, that dumb-ass proposal will give a false sense of protection to people in National Parks and is more of a threat to the safety of other park users, Rangers, and Law Enforcement officers than anything else.
Cure cold - cut off head.
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Brian,
I’m still worried, other humans might claim that bears took possession of their weapons and shot back!
The cure does work - I use it for headaches :)
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You know what is funny?
The problem is this: no science is exact and every scientific method has flaws. As accurate as you can be, the data can be interpreted in many ways.
With the same data, two teams of experts, one team from the doomsday group, the other from the opposition, they will interpret the data quite differently.
Even more interesting is that every scientific discovery has gone through paradigm shifts. There are always skeptics and there is always opposition.
The one thing that is for certain, we need BOTH sides.
Regardless of what you say, polar bears dying, Al Gore’s movies, David Suziki’s Let’s All Eat Seafood from the already overfished oceans, they will always try to get their view to be the defacto and any other view to be denied.
Anyone remember light? Was it a particle or a wave? That debate lasted centuries and there were huge scientific teams that battled over it, fiercely, though the public didn’t care because we didn’t have the media like we do now.
The key thing, the truth is somewhere in the middle!!! If you take an HONEST approach and consider BOTH sides with a scientific mind, you’ll realize that they BOTH hold water! Therefore, the truth is somewhere in the middle!
And ask yourself, how much research have you seen from the opposition? Did you look for it or did you simply read the media (remember Matt’s rants about media bias, do you think Climate Change is an exception to this?) ? Did you try to understand what the opposition has said?
How about biases, did you apply critical thinking techniques to BOTH the doomsday AND the opposition? Did you consider the possible sources of bias? I bet they are the same, MONEY!
And if you think the doomsdayers don’t have money in their minds think again, they do!
My point, try to be objective, don’t just read some article on the Polar Bear from one journalist who claims to have consulted a scientist, if it really concerns you, research and see “what are the polar bear numbers, what are all possible factors causing their behaviour to change” etc…
Let’s not watch the media and go “yeah, CNN is full of shit, we know they are after oil in Iraq and trying to scar the Iranians, oh but CNN is right on the money with climate change” try to see BOTH sides!!! Then decide for yourself.
Don’t just take someone else’s opinion, if you are really concerned look at the numbers!
My Girlfriend: “We should unplug your laptop at night, that’s a waste of power”
My response “In sleepmode, Sweetheart, the only power is that of an LED, a few uWatts, and hysteresis losses in the transformer in the power adapter. When you power it on, the inrush current through the capacitors, and there are many, is quite high, as all devices in the laptop run through their bootup sequence at full power. Consider servers, when powering on the fans run at full capacity for 20 seconds, however when awaking from hibernate, they do not, and you do not have any delay in waiting for the system to boot”
My Girlfriend: “They said at the conference that stoves or TV’s are not meeting the requirements”
My response “Did they actually measure the power on mode, power off mode, standby mode and compare? Of course the “power save” mode is going to be different from the full power mode. What for biases in things. Some of their arguments do not make any sense. They don’t even understand transformer losses and what is applicable and what is not or how the system really works and where the power really goes!”
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Quoting vika:
Now that would make a great YouTube video!
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As someone holding a B.S. in Biology, I can say that scientific method both sucks and blows, plus there are always statistics to cover the flaws. I thought the particle/wave fight was still going on - I guess it is not really relevant anymore. But, some things are easy, because they can be seen.
What always bugged me is that if you (I’m just talking to a generic unbeliever here) do not give a damn about global warming/environmental change - I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Earth went through periods of cold-heat even throughout the most recent human history. During second World War Leningrad saw some of the coldest winters on record. But, what you should be concerned about is the pollution that has been going up into the atmosphere ever since the industrial evolution. Even when reading classical literature from early 20th cent. you see descriptions of London covered in soot. Do you honestly believe that Nuclear Bombs dropped on Japan and subsequent nuclear testings had no Global impact? That plastic containers so popular for their convenience have not affected your health? That pesticides and herbicides have no contribution to raising levels of cancer? That birth control pills have no effect to raising levels of disorders that were before never seen in young women - MS? That cars do not contribute to levels of asthma in children? The list is long, so if you care not about the Earth and other species, at least have the decency to be selfish enough to care about yourself.
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Quoting vika:
The sad part is that no one seems to care about those things. They need Al Gore’s movie and the IPCC panel because those can be made catastrophic.
If it does not affect everyone, as in those with power, then it is deemed just a fact of life and nothing will ever get accomplished.
Take a look at South-Western Ontario, the highest concentration of autism and dwarfism. Coincidence it is in the are of the Automotive Capitals of US and Canada? All those steel plants, casting plants, manufacturing plants, and let’s not forget the Chemical plants of Sarnia (surrounding Lake St Clair as well).
An enviro dude that I worked with at Gerdau Ameristeel in Cambridge (ON), said that we were waiting for the EPA equivalent to leave Sarnia. They were supposed to be there 1 month, it was over 8 months at the time, and they sent upwards of 40 people, all handing out fines left-right-and-centre (I think behind too).
Coming to BC (though heading back to Toronto this summer for 2yrs), I really appreciate just how clean it is out here compared to ON. Green is just such a different colour here.
The only thing we know for sure, is pollution, and yet no one seems to care because, like Climate Change, it would involve people changing their way of life and companies focusing on something other than profit.
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Satchboogieca,
That was kind of my point, it does affect everyone - stop driving a car not because it is causing global warming but because it is spewing toxic fumes that cause kids to develop asthma. Stop using plastics because they contain chemicals that are harmful to your health and not because they are bad for the environment. Stop taking so many unnecessary hormonal drugs - they contaminate water supplies which you will then have to drink again. Do not use pesticides on your lawns because once again it will end up in your water.
Of course the greatest damage is always done by the corporations - strip mining, I will not even go into Uranium and oil sands. Money is the name of the game. But, praise Canadian Tire for taking pesticides off their shelves. If people won’t do it themselves, make them.
I for example, would fine anyone riding in a car alone. Can you imagine the intake? We can ask oil companies to supervise the project
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Vika:
I know, I’ve said that numerous times on this site. There are things we can do, all do, and doomsday talk won’t solve anything.
We need to write in to MP’s and make each company change, one at a time, if that is what it takes. Preferably a little faster than one at a time, but we can’t expect miracles, we just work towards them.
I just get annoyed with the media’s automatic causality because that’s what sells. “Children grow up in abusive homes because of CO2 levels” and “Praying Mantii eat their young because of a lack of food, due to CO2 levels”
Yes I know CO2 has an impact, I’ve read up on more than just Al Gore, but I find many articles go nuts and they don’t understand the complexity of the system we live in. A lot more than CO2 is going on, and a lot more is man-made, as you point out.
I used to attend day care next to Bondy Trucking, College and Huron Church Rd, in Windsor. Diesel exhaust is something we grew accustomed to on a daily basis. That smell became associated with day care for me.
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I love looking at old photos as I love looking at any photos. The story in the photo is always as beautiful as the subject itself. Video often appears rehearsed or un-natural. Photos capture where people and animals feel comfortable as well as the story in their eyes. Although, I could live without the trying to look sexy photos. They always seem so amusing to me and I can just never see the sexy. Polar bears are beautiful, I hope that they are one of many animals to outlive mankind.
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Satchboogieca,
I can definitely sense your annoyance. I don’t know what sells. All sides are trying to sell something. I do not watch those media programs. I have not seen Al Gore’s film. I rearly watch David Suzuki and I am not going to see Romeo Dallaire speak although I have read his book. I do not watch Planet Earth - I have seen a tiny segment and it made me feel sad, it was too beautiful, too unrealistic. The media is also unrealistic, but not quite as beautiful. Over and Out
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OK - so Al Gore sells, David Suzuki sells, Kurt Cobain sells, Romeo Dallaire sells. Is the point that the message is diluted because there is money involved? Or is it that the message is bullshit in the cases where we assume that money is the primary objective of the message? In what category do you put these contributors?
Man cannot live by opinion alone; even Ghandi had to have a sandwich once in awhile.
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For someone who professes to converse regularly with the Almighty, George W. Bush is going to great lengths to ignore Him… Her… It?
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Monkey,
Camera Lucida came to mind too.
Becca Steps,
I remember reading “The Giver” in elementary, that was an excellent book, although i dont remember the exact details (re: stuffed animals).
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At this rate, whatever species survives our self infliction will have photographs to remember us by.
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How are modern humans able to know how mammoths looked like? Not because there were photos taken of them by some highly developped species but some relatively primitive creatures did drawings of them or carved their image into stone. Technical instruments like photographs aim for the same results (evidence, preserving pictures for those who follow), in the end only varying in matters of material, quality and comfort. In that point I doubt the alleged function of the photograph as ultimate mechanism to preserve and hand on knowledge about things that would otherwise be buried in oblivion.
There is also the question to what extant the human’s striving for mechanization is responsible for many problems mankind is facing today and wether pictures can be an adequate substitute to the original (that is of course not directly relating to the article as the article does not discuss that question) What mankind actually does is sacraficing the natural environmet (flora and fauna) to technical improvement and simulated, synthetic reproductions of what was once natural and healthy.
On the other hand I’m totally with the author considering what he said about the emotional value of capturing single moments in time, making them quasi immortal. There’s defininately a strong interpersonal component in photographs. Very often pictures reveal characteristics or feelings of persons in a way that is simply not possible in fast moving daily life.
As always there’s two sides of the medal…
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Quoting Brian Smart:
Thanks for the link. Will check it out. I could dig a honeymoon like that. Stuff like this amazes me. I want to go to Africa and live,or by the sea and scuba dive. A simple life with nature suites me just fine.
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If you have 55 minutes, watch this sweet Charlie Rose profile of Henri Cartier-Bresson who’s regarded by some as the best photographer of the 20th century:
http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2000/07/06/2/a-conversation-with-henri-cartier-bresson
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The old cliche “a picture paints a thousand words” is true. Ironically, that could mean one picture conjures up “beautiful” and “ugly” in those one thousand words, depending on who is looking at it and where their head is at that moment.
Sorry Matt. I speak as I find when looking at pictures….
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Very well said.
My daughter and her school just recently raised enough money to help one polar bear with World Wildlife. But I am afraid there is nothing we can do we already have ruined their habitat. I know we can stop things from happening and prevent them but why haven’t we. Just like why is there so many that are still burning trees the one thing that is protecting the ozone. The fire and gas from burning a tree that protects us just makes that whole bigger and bigger in the ozone. That should be on the stupid.ca website. It is very sad to think of and yet nobody mentions the sad truth of the world we live in. To think a photograph is the only link to the past and present and future brings you 2 tears. How could we be so blind, and look the other way?