Doughtie: Nature of Lowcountry has changed in 60 years, not for the better
Other than my annual controversial passion for saving our cobia, I try very hard not to rile folks up by expressing my political, religious or other personal beliefs that no doubt will paint a target on my back.
But Wednesday, I was flipping through the TV channels and came upon the Discovery Channel show "Racing Extinction."
Seeing that I primarily watch nature shows, history programs and lots and lots of fishing shows, this particular program caught my attention and before I knew it, I became so transfixed by the program a M-80 firecracker could have gone off next to my ear and I doubt if I would have noticed. It was that good.
With the climate change meeting going on and all the back-and-forth accusations that it is either real or fantasy driven by "tree huggers," all I have to do is look right here in my own backyard to see that indeed things have changed.
Furthermore, in my eyes at least, most of these changes are not caused by some age-old repetitive cycle that will straighten itself out over time but by us humans.
I am not some angry bunny-hugger guy that sits around all day eating Grape Nuts, instead I am a fairly mellow person that is, simply put, sad that we put our own self-interests in front of this beautiful creation called nature.
If indeed God created all you see around us in seven days, we sure as heck don't seem to appreciate his efforts.
So what was in this program that had me riveted to every word? Being in advertising and graphic design all my adult life, I understand that the producers worked hard to make the show so compelling that it might be televised nationally, so taking that into account, I accepted some parts but not all parts.
It was simply the overall message that got me. In a nutshell, its intention was to inspire each and every one of us to look at this amazing creation we live in and care for it or else the writing is on the wall.
Take the debate about carbon dioxide emissions and its affects. All we hear about is the harmful affects on the atmosphere, but did you know that much of that carbon dioxide is absorbed into our water and oceans? I didn't.
Hearing that it messes with my greatest love, the ocean, I wasn't about to change the channel. If you want to see how the acidic affects of CO2 (and methane gas) alter our oceans, put a seashell in vinegar and watch what happens.
If you are now thinking that I am full of bull, that's fine. But right here in the Lowcountry, I have had 60 years to observe how humans have changed this piece of paradise and sadly, not always for the better.
I love where I live and will always love this place, but unless we do better, and do it quickly, it will lose its reputation for being a model for environmentally responsible development.
Just yesterday, I had a call from a gentleman over near Beaufort asking me who he might call that could help him get data about the effect of ground-water runoff on the creeks around his homestead from a proposed development planned near his home.
Oh how I felt for him. He told me how the waters where he had fished, crabbed, caught shrimp and picked oysters all his life were now in jeopardy and sadly, very few people took the time to come and voice their concern at the County Council meeting that would give a yea or nay to the development.
We talked for quite some time about this issue plus making it more affordable to connect to sewer lines for those of us that live near rivers and now rely on septic tanks.
My opinion on this mirrored his: Over time, water and sewer utilities will more than make up any financial expenditure and at the same time, protect our precious waters from fecal intrusion and other contaminants.
Don't get me wrong, I have not given up hope, but with the incredible influx of people here, we have to do better than electing developers to positions where they hold the keys to our future.
It simply doesn't make sense. If you get a chance to watch "Racing Extinction," it is definitely worth it. If nothing else, it might get you thinking and that, my friends, may lead to you to getting involved in a future that is worth passing on to the next generation.
This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 8:44 AM with the headline "Doughtie: Nature of Lowcountry has changed in 60 years, not for the better."