A moment in time in the natural world

It is most important to read and understand the truth and dangers about what is going on with our endangered wild salmon fishery, and the obvious dangers of fish farming to the wild salmon population. 


In my opinion this is just one more example of crucial mismanagement that tells me the BC liberals defiantly haven't earned the right to form the next government.


It is a cold clear day at the end of Oct.. 2003 and I have taken my dog to her favorite place the dyke on the South Alouette river, really it is one of my favorite places too. The scenery is breath taking, the wind is blowing hard enough to give a sailor a coronary, I walk down to the river which has risen 3 or 4 feet in the last couple of weeks and see 3 dead salmon caught by a log or just floating on the bottom. As I stand there a salmon slowly swam up to the shore, his skin was all blotchy and his fins broken and ragged, he was obviously dying. I was enveloped by a deep sense of sadness watching the death of this noble battered creature, as I watched it swim in slow circles always coming back to the shore, I realized that probably for the first time in his life he had no where to go. As I watched him the sadness was replaced by wonder and respect as I realized the shear heroics and success of this animal's life, it made our lives pale in comparison. In a gauntlet of danger he was the one survivor of a thousand fingerlings that made it to the sea, he traveled countless miles with untold adventures and dangers with only his instinct and a heart as big as a lion to sustain him. When it came time to do his part to perpetuate the species he came back to where he was born with bravery and extreme tenacity, he not only fulfilled his destiny, but made the ultimate sacrifice of his life and flesh to the thousands of creatures, trees and plants that depend on his selfless sacrifice to life. 


I was immediately shamed and humbled at the mostly ignorant, selfish, destructive legacy of my own species to this planet. A species that only takes, possesses and uses, putting nothing back, a species that considers the destruction of Gods work progress and success, but considers the destruction of anything manmade a crime, unless of course you don't happen to like the person or people that built it or own it. 


Can you imagine if mankind with all our brains and promise could achieve even a small percentage of the positive symbiotic relationship with the earth and all its inhabitants that salmon achieve, just doing what comes naturally, it would without a doubt be a much better, healthier biosphere. 
In reality few if any humans contribute as generously or selflessly to the well being of the world and all its inhabitants as any salmon, let alone fulfill their own destiny or achieve their full potential as hundreds of millions of salmon do every year. 


I find it very spiritual to connect with nature. But it pains me to see the true cost of our excesses and narrow selfish, human views on the very world all species including our own needs to survive.               


Its like watching millions of lemmings rushing for a cliff, only knowing full well they are running toward their inevitable destruction, but not having the will or courage to stop their self-destructive behaviour. 


Could it be that mankind does not think it deserves to survive? 


Wayne Clark