We Need Nature, Not the Other Way Around

​“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”

— Mahatma Gandhi

​Have you ever thought about how deeply human nature is intertwined with the natural world? Why is it that the sight of clear, flowing water soothes a person’s nerves, while the noise of the city can sometimes feel overwhelming?

​Recently, a post by a blogger caught my attention. The caption read: “North and South Korea were a single nation until 1946. After World War II, the country was divided into two parts. Between these two nations, there lies a piece of land left entirely untouched by both sides. If either side crosses into it, war will break out.”

​When I saw that place, I was truly amazed. Though untouched by human hands, it is astoundingly beautiful. This brings up a question: while we strive to build beautiful and comfortable places, why fail to understand that we are destroying nature’s original beauty and joy? The tranquility and peace of mind we so desperately seek have already been created for us, yet we are ruining them with our own hands.

​As modern society advances day by day, we are destroying nature at the exact same pace. Nature is being ruined simply to feed human desires. For instance, you used to live just fine before the invention of things you now claim you “cannot live without.” Coal-fired power plants produce an average of 7 million tons of harmful gases each year. Consider the immense damage this inflicts on nature—the very air we ourselves breathe. Yet, better, eco-friendly ways to produce energy exist. We simply refuse to stop using coal power plants out of greed, because they yield more energy compared to other sources. In pursuit of our own profit, we are losing both nature and our health. In truth, clean air is the cure for many ailments. Nature gives us its all, and in return, we are destroying its vibrant wildlife and breath-taking charm.

​Looking at it from another perspective, let us assume the average human lifetime is 100 years. What kind of environment are we leaving behind for future generations once we are gone? Will we become the reason our descendants see the animals we once knew only in pictures? You can easily live without items and clothing crafted from the skins, wings, or bones of the animals you admire. I urge you not to sacrifice animals for short-lived trends that barely last five years at most. I would like to direct your attention to a popular proverb: “A good person leaves behind a garden, while a bad person leaves a stain.”

​In conclusion, imagine what nature would be like without humankind. The food chain among animals would simply continue undisturbed. Now, try to imagine ourselves without nature—it is almost beyond imagination, isn’t it? That is because all our needs are enveloped by nature. I believe that when there are boundaries in everything, it becomes all the more beautiful. Let us not allow our greed to flourish under the guise of “need.” Whenever I think about the future, I hope that future generations will not have to wait in line for hours just to see a single animal, or queue up to relax in a lush, tree-covered space. If a single person fights against greed, it may yield no grand result or merely master their own desires. However, if every person in society fights against it together, we can achieve truly great things.