Summary
This particular chapter is basically centered on the past of ecosystem engineering. Brand discusses at length the manner in which the indigenous influenced their environment. Moreover, he recounts the manner in which the invasion by Europeans did affect most densely populated areas in the United States of America. He makes a recollection of how the Europeans introduced chronic diseases like diphtheria that then wiped all native lives out of the densely populated areas such as the Mississippi Valley.
Brand also discusses the manner in which indigenous tribes in America, Asia and Australia used fire and earthworks to develop and maintain big gardens. His main argument is that earth has always been improved by human beings and they need to continue with this important task. His clarion to humanity is that earth gardening is the earth project that everyone should take on (Brand, 2009). He concludes that earth remains an ambitious thing.
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Reaction
Brand is clear in terms of his position in this specific chapter. He recounts all the things that human beings have done in the past. There are both the positive ones and negative ones. His aim of presenting this recollection is to ensure readers understand the mistakes of the past so that they avoid repeating them and distorting the earth. He also mentions the work of the native communities that inhabited regions and the way they played a major role in improving shapes of the landscape through agriculture. Brand’s call for earth gardening through activities like agriculture is quite progressive and one that must be supported.
Reference
Brand, S. (2009). Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto . New York: Viking .
