To Hell with Future Generations

 

The 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Pearly Beach Conservancy was held at Klein Paradijs on 19 December. Twenty-three people were in attendance. The Chairperson opened with a quote from a Native American source that went something like this: “We do not inherit the Earth; we borrow it from future generations.”

The minutes of the previous AGM were approved and the Chairperson reported on the achievements of the Conservancy over the past year. A new committee was elected and the meeting ended with informal conversation over refreshments. The Chairperson who, with her husband, is the owner of the Klein Paradijs farm, then offered to take those who were interested on a guided walk. A dozen or so members followed her on a circuitous route past a dam and up into the mountain fynbos before returning to the homestead.

The one-and-a-half-hour ramble was informative, the indigenous vegetation was in prime condition and the view out over Pearly Beach to the sea put the whole area into perspective.

Back at home, I went over the outing in my head and was struck by two observations. The first had to do with the neighbouring property to the west. A wire fence marked the boundary between low fynbos and a dense forest. Tall Myrtle trees had swallowed up all other vegetation on the adjoining property. The contrast was startling, and I again realised that only through human intervention will the invasion of alien species be kept in check. This is a depressing idea, because it means that we have to live with a constant threat from a situation that is of our own making, having intentionally introduced these plants from Australia over a century ago.

The second thought that occurred to me stemmed from the fact that at the meeting there had not been a single person under the age of sixty. My wife and I were among the founding members of the Pearly Beach Conservation Society back in the mid 1980s. We were in our thirties, and the other members were of a similar age or in their forties. I don’t think there was anyone much older than 60. So, what has changed that younger people appear to have little or no interest in Conservation?

When I consider how disastrous the past 40 years has been for the natural environment, and how bleak the future looks as the effects of Climate Change accelerate, I am puzzled by the apparent apathy on the part of the youth and parents of young children. Are they not capable of imagining the future that lies ahead? Why are they not motivated to do something to slow the process of environmental degradation? Is it out of ignorance, or lethargy, or even despair that they show no interest in supporting their local Conservation group?

After struggling with these questions for a while, I was suddenly struck by a novel consideration. Although I endorse the noble sentiments of the Native American elders, and will continue to support the work of the Conservancy, there is no point in worrying about succeeding generations. If young people are too stupid or self-absorbed to care about the future quality of life on this planet, why should I bother myself with their predicament? And, anyway, I won’t be around to face it with them. No, when they and their kids are choking to death in the toxic smoke from an apocalyptic inferno, they will only have themselves to blame.

With that liberating thought, I felt justified in pouring myself a glass of wine and retiring to the stoep to watch the birds and tortoises coming and going, and to enjoy the feeling of relief at having a weight off my mind.

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