Connecting Past and Present
March 13, 2023 By: Yang Ni
The Conservation Movement
The conservation debates concerning the development of Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite Park originated during the times of Pinchot and Muir up to this post-pandemic era. Pinchot’s utilitarianism championed utilizing natural resources to benefit greater human beings, while Muir put more pressure on conserving natural resources to maintain their wilderness status1. Pinchot believed that the development of a dam within Hetch Hetchy Valley would have economic value for the residents of San Francisco by generating electricity and providing clean water for domestic and industrial use. In contrast, Muir believed the valley was supposed to be protected from human activities since it was a natural wonder1. Over the years, the dam was constructed, but since it provides water for domestic use, there is no recreation and swimming that is allowed, but it remains to be a tourist attraction site for individuals seeking peaceful natural retreat experiences. In 2019, Restore Hetch Hetchy researched to establish the consequences that could be felt in case the dam was demolished, showing that people are still divided in either following Pinchot’s or Muir’s doctrines related to the conservation movement.
Medialink; https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-10-29/yosemite-restore-hetch-hetchy
1Nash, Roderick F. “Chapter Ten: Hetch Hetchy.” In Wilderness and the American Mind, 5th ed. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2014.
Urbanization
Ever since urbanization took root in Canada, animals have shaped the urban environments. 2 Depending on the timeframe, the bylaws set by different municipality authorities revolve around the types of environments where the animals should be kept. Due to the risks of spreading infections, noises and odours associated with animal rearing, some rules have been set in place. 3 Kheraj outlines the historical revolution of the urban environment shaped by the presence of domestic animals in Canada’s urban centres. For individuals to be allowed to keep animals within Canadian cities, they should ensure they provide animals with clean drinking water, a balanced diet, the opportunity for periodic exercises, and veterinary medical care. The animal owners are supposed to obtain special permits and licenses renewable yearly that will enhance compliance with the bylaws and regulations by the municipalities’ authorities. To enhance environmental conservation, penalties and fines are imposed on animal holders violating the bylaws set. Overall, as Mike shows, most pet owners in the city are very responsible. 4
Medialink; https://explore.ucalgary.ca/pets-and-city-living-animals-crowded-urban-centres
2 Animal control bylaw provisions. (2020, March 16). Humane Canada. https://humanecanada.ca/our-work/focus-areas/animals-and-the-law/municipal-legislation/animal-control-bylaw-provisions/
3 Kheraj, Sean. “Urban Environments and the Animal Nuisance: Domestic Livestock Regulation the Animal Nuisance: Domestic Livestock Regulation in Nineteenth-Century Canadian Cities.” Urban History Review 44, no. 1/2 (2015): 37–55. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24887912.
4 Mike Fisher. Pets and the city: Living with animals in crowded urban centres (2020, November 17). https://explore.ucalgary.ca/pets-and-city-living-animals-crowded-urban-centres