There is a very strong connection between this chapter and the movie, Milk the Rhino. All of the concepts explained, directly relate to the examples provided in the movie. Discussion of the benefits of these conservations vs. the harm that it does to the culture of tribes and communities. A thought that came up for me in discussion in class, as well as in the reading about the image of wild Africa was how to measure the value of publicity through programs such as Planet Earth or Discovery Channel. There are many factors:
1) It brings in a lot of tourism
2)it's not an accurate image of the relationship between wildlife and people
3)it can create an appreciation for wildlife that may otherwise be forgotten
4)programs can make it look as if there are huge portions of the world that are untouched, which can relieve a lot of people's guilt about the environment.
How can these thoughts be balanced, and reconciled? They are so conflicting. Is it right to create the "myth of wild Africa" as a business endeavor, when it can compromise the real life habits/culture/survival of African communities. As much as it is preservation, isn't it also exploitation?
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ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more: that's my big problem with environmentalism for mass consumption on TV. We love seeing the beautiful animals and learning about them but are we doing ourselves a service by perpetuating the 'wild' world myth, when in fact, we are responsible for the most sweeping and comprehensive changes the world has ever seen. If we could see these more clearly would we act with more speed and intention?