Before our boat tour today, I thought that the "1000 Islands," which crowd the upper St. Lawrence Seaway, were mostly undeveloped, a scenic natural landscape that is also used for human recreation. In fact, almost all of the islands and islets (which actually number more than 1800) are privately owned and inhabited.
The tour proved to be a study in human greed, development and ingenuity, including elaborate means of dealing with utilities. Sure, a wide variety of wildlife also reside on the islands but their welfare seems to be secondary.
As we explore this planet, our expectations are not always met. We may be disappointed by what we discover, as I was today. But, unless we witness the impact of human activity, we will not alter our course. Indeed, we are now experiencing the consequences of our poor stewardship.
