Humans, as individuals and as a species, have short memories. Our cycles of war, economic turmoil, political corruption and religious scandal attest to this trait. So too do the "natural disasters" that plague our societies, many of which are preventable.
A few years after Katrina, there is pressure to rebuild on land below sea level, relying on better levees to protect the region. A decade after the Great Flood of 1993, towns reappear on the Mississippi floodplain, determined to survive. Across the globe, we settle on steep hillsides, invade fire-prone areas, occupy barrier islands and even construct our own islands in the sea. At the same time, we level forests, drain wetlands, irrigate deserts and plow up prairies, oblivious to the consequences.
Of course, the ever increasing human population is the primary engine behind many of these practices but our short life span, devoid of perspective, is also a significant factor. We feel immune to the natural and human disasters that have shaped our planet and our civilization. And when it comes to our own impact, we forget the past and ignore the future.
