Today, we had a wonderful day in Shiretoko national park. Shiretoko is incredible; it's not the first wonderful national park we visit, but this one has something special and it's hard to describe. It's probably because it's so remote, so wild and pure, with harsh winters and lush summers, with the possibility to encounter bears, surrounded by the sea with high cliffs, high volcanoes in the distance, ... It feels so real. We cycled a bit through the park and did some short walks, some photos below. Being so enveloped in this natural purity, it's a good opportunity to talk about... sustainability. Throughout this trip, we've seen places with so many people, so much development, such abundant exploitation and use of natural resources. It raises some thoughts...
 |
On the way to Furepe waterfall
|
In the end, we're just animals, and we happen to have evolved with intelligence, we're able to think, to create, to change, to communicate, ... Many animals have some of these abilities to a limited degree, but humans much more than any other. The question is, haven't we seriously gotten off track? Have we forgotten what our true nature is, and how to live in harmony with our world, with nature? There is no alternative, we have to. Nature, our planet, our "mother", will always prevail, whatever we do to it - but that's not necessarily the case for the human race. In our concrete/stone houses with air conditioning, our offices with computers, our cars with silent engines, we are so distant from that natural reality. Our entire system is based on (economic) growth, and money is the main religion. This is not natural (at all), and this is clearly not what our planet can sustain.
 |
| The Shiretoko mountain range in the distance |
While cycling, and especially when camping, you fully realise how little you need to survive in a comfortable way. You don't need fuel. No car. No house. No computer or phone. You do need shelter, and of course you really need food (but you don't need more than you need). Yes it's perfectly fine to do with whatever you find - preferable locally grown or produced. I'm sure if I could properly calculate our carbon footprint again now, in the way we live now, that it would be very low - and very sustainable. OK, I know it's not an option that the whole world starts cycling and camping suddenly, but it does make you realise how things can be, and it illustrates really well.
 |
| Trying to hide in the bushes? |
Where are we going wrong??? People are driven a lot by greed and envy, pushed by abundance, and seem to have a natural tendency to want more. Look around you (and inside you): how often do people say "I don't need this, I can do with less". No, its usually the next thing. I have this car now, the next one needs to be bigger. A bigger house, a newer phone, a nicer laptop; the next job needs to pay more. Taking a step back is for losers.
 |
| The perfect kind of cycling route |
While that all sounds negative and harsh, it's not really meant that way, these are just thoughts about what is happening, trying to understand what the cause of the problem could be. I might be wrong for sure, it's just things I've seen and picked up throughout the previous months. It's also easy to talk about the problem, and you will find enough sources talking about different problems - climate change, plastic oceans, disappearing nature, etc. The big challenge is, to find a solution... Do we need a big crisis to get it solved (in fact, I'm afraid we do...)? When I visited Japan a few months after the Fukushima disaster, after Japan had taken the drastic decision to stop all nuclear plants and with that, had an acute electricity shortage, it was suddenly well accepted to cut back. Neon lights were off. Aircon was off, and so were escalators, elevators where possible, lights were dimmed, and so on. Try to make this happen in normal circumstances; tough one. So, which "crisis" will we need to make it happen???
 |
| Shiretoko Goko lake |
There is however one big thing everyone can do: stop wanting, stop needing!!! Sure, there is a certain level of comfort and possession that's OK, but very often it doesn't end with that minimum. It would help a lot to wonder each time: do I really need this? Will it make me happier? Will it make the world better? Isn't there a better alternative? In my experience, it's not that difficult and easily becomes a habit if you do...
 |
| Special rock formations at the coast |
 |
| Another example of special rock formations |