I love Earth. I love the mountains, the oceans, the savannas, and the perfect combination of gases, atmosphere, and distance from the sun that creates the conditions for life. I feel like that isn't said enough. I love this planet. It is 4.5 billion years old and the humans time on the planet has only been a fraction of a fraction of that time. Yet, in this small amount of time, we have been able to severely destroy the conditions that have allowed for life; conditions that have taken billions of years to become just right for the first prokaryotic cells to form.

The failure of the international community, especially the United States, to act decisively to protect the environment and address climate change, will be written as one of the greatest failures of humankind to act in the face of a common crisis. Over this semester, this course has made it clear that the picture is bleak, the future may not be better for our grandchildren (a cliche I know, but a salient anecdote), little serious action has been taken, and an environmental fiasco is inevitable in the nearer future.

Over the course of the semester, the distinction between short-term and long-term priorities became clearer. I have often believed that the economy and unemployment are the most pressing issues facing the United States, if not the global community. However, there will always be short-term issues facing nations, the problem facing those who seek to find solutions to environmental issues is that many of these issues are fundamentally long-term. The ability to change societal norms to look at long-term problems in the face of "pressing" short-term issues will be one of the greatest challenges.

I also believe there is a lack of a transformational figure to unite the environmental movement and drive it to the fore of the public consciousness. Yet my biggest take away from the class is the need to talk about these issues. The discussions we had in class allowed for a variety of opinions, but all seriously acknowledged the pressing environmental issues and the need to work towards solutions to prevent a true catastrophe. The need for mature conversations with the goal of direct solutions is incalculable.

My greatest fear that I articulated in the letter to my future child was that my generation failed to protect and preserve a planet that allowed for my life. Earth is fantastic and unique, and rarely is there a true appreciation for a world that has allowed for the creation of the greatest civilization in the history of the planet. Humankind is special, but merely a fraction of a long cosmic history. The thought of destroying something that is awe inspiring (http://vimeo.com/44801709) is an unconscionable prospect.