From the President
If you suffer from
solastalgia, here's help for you
According to an article in a recent issue of Wired Magazine, a new
psychological disorder has recently been identified and described in the
scientific literature. Since you are reading this newsletter, the chances
are that you are the type of person who is highly susceptible to the
condition.
The syndrome to which I refer has been given the name "solastalgia" and
defined as the deep sadness one experiences as the result of changes in one's physical environment
- changes that appear to be permanent. According
to philosopher Glenn Albrecht, solastalgia is a new kind of sadness, akin
to, but different from, that experienced by indigenous populations when they
are forcibly removed from their homeland.
If, as scientists predict, drastic changes in our local environment are
occurring due to global climate change, those of us most attuned to the
natural world would be among the first to succumb to solastalgia. We might
not find ourselves being removed from our environment so much as
experiencing our environment moving out from under us, so to speak.
No mention was made in the article on how to avoid the effects of this
sadness. My guess would be that while it will be an incurable condition the
symptoms might be alleviated by one being proactive rather than passive. So
with this in mind, here are some suggestions:
*attend an Arkansas Audubon convention
*support environmental education efforts
* examine ways to mitigate one?s own impact on the environment
*complete and return the AAS survey as soon as it you receive it
Speaking of change, sometimes it can be for the good. There have been
changes made in the way we report bird sightings to the official records
committee. Curator Joe Neal has already begun building on the Parker legacy
by establishing an electronic reporting system for submissions. These forms
can be found at the Arkansas Audubon website www.arbirds.org. While you are
visiting the site, take the time to read Mike Mlodinow's excellent seasonal
summary.
Well, the sun is up so it is time for me to get out of this hammock and go
search for a Harpy Eagle. See you at Fort Smith in April.
Jack Stewart
AAS president