'Building Arks' Sanders Hammers Constructs Case for Environmental Preservation

Author: Campus Editor in Chief

Scott Russell Sanders, noted author, committed environmentalist and Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Indiana delivered a speech entitled "Building Arks," Thursday March 6, in Dana Auditorium. Introduced by his close friend, Stewart Professor of English and Environmental Studies John Elder, Sanders spoke eloquently and passionately on the environmental destruction inflicted by modern man. Using the biblical tale of Noah and the Ark as his touchstone Sanders described a new model of conservation: the building of arks -- "vessels designed to preserve from extinction not merely our fellow creatures, as on Noah's legendary ark, but also the wisdom necessary for dwelling in place generation after generation without diminishing either the place or the planet." Sanders defined ark more specifically later on in his speech, as, "any human structure, invention or gathering that conserves the wisdom necessary for meeting our needs without despoiling the planet."
Elder introduced Sanders as a "a premier writer about environmental and cultural issues." He praised Sander's "honesty in acknowledging the wounded-ness of our time" and described Sander's voice as one "of wisdom and clarity." At the conclusion of his prefatory remarks Elder thanked the many people who helped lure Sanders from Indiana. In particular Elder thanked Luke Farrell '03, whose idea it was to invite Sanders.
Sanders acknowledged Elder's praise, remarking of his friend, whom he physically resembles, "the highest compliment I'm ever paid is to be mistaken for John." Sanders noted that he had visited Middlebury College three or fourth times in the past, and then briefly summarized the history and probable future of the essay "Building Arks," an earlier version of which appeared last spring in Vermont's own Wild Earth magazine and a final version of which will appear in a book in a few years.
Sanders began his speech by recounting a recent environmental controversy in his hometown, Bloomington, Indiana, in which a private citizen sold a 50-acre wood to a developer. The action sparked fervent, sustained protest and led Sanders to ponder the destruction of wild lands throughout this country. Sanders, like the protestors, believes, "that a civilized community must show restraint by leaving some land alone, to remind us of the wild world on which our lives depend and to keep us humble and sane." Sanders cited a U.S. Department of Agriculture estimate that 2.2 million acres of open space is lost to development each year. "The life of endless consumption is ruinous to the planet and bound to fail," he said. "The question is not whether it will fail but when, and how the end of our spree will come -- by careful preparation,or by catastrophe."
Sanders then outlined the four most common responses to "Earth's limits." People evincing the first response refuse to acknowledge the environmental destruction wrought by man. Those demonstrating the second response believe in the power of technology to reverse the destruction. Those holding to the third response trust that the market economy will eventually overthrow current patterns of destructive living. Finally, those of the fourth response acknowledge that "we are living on borrowed time," but continue to live extravagantly.
In contradistinction to these people are those who "strive to live more simply." These are the ark builders, or men and women who eschew excessive consumption, maintain and manufacture their own goods, conserve land and animals and revel in the company of one another and the natural world around them.
"The flood I have in mind is partly the literal rise in sea level from global warming," said Sanders, "but more generally it is the cumulative effect of our assault on the Earth." Sanders retold the story of Noah and the ark, using it is as a parable of modern man's predicament. God, witnessing Noah's obedience, withdraws the flood waters and bids Noah, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth."
"The fear of you and the dread of you," continued God, "shall be upon every beast of the earth [ . . . ] Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything."
In an impressive display of literary analysis Sanders explored the environmental implications of God's injunction to Noah.
This injunction can be interpreted one of two ways: it may be taken as "a warning [to man] not to abuse [his] power" over nature or as a justification of man's "utter dominion over Nature." Sanders contrasted the two alternatives in stark terms, "One tradition blesses humans alone, conveying the whole Earth to our use; the other blesses all creatures alike, granting to each species its own right to survive and flourish."
Too many of those in power hold the first view, lamented Sanders, while too few among the general population hold the second. "Among the builders and tenders of arks, the ones who come closest to fulfilling Noah's task are the people who work at protecting and restoring wild lands," he said.
Sanders concluded his speech, strongly worded and endued with deep feeling, with a stunning refutation of common thinking. "Building an ark when the floodwaters are rising," said Sanders, "is not an act of despair, it's an act of hope. To build an ark is to create a space within which life in its abundance may continue."
Sanders enjoined the audience, attentive throughout his speech, to regard the earth as an ark and man not as the captains of the vessel but as "common passengers" -- "common passengers" who happen to bear a special responsibility.
Sanders answered questions following the conclusion of his speech and presided at a discussion of the "writing process" at 12:15 p.m. the next day.
Later in that same day he joined in a discussion of environmental issues.