In-Class Writing Response to "Butterfly Lessons"

Throughout the article, Kolbert reflects upon the idea that the climate changes happening on earth right now, are having an effect on the life cycles of earth's wildlife. However, since we can not theoretically control the Earth's climate, we should keep in mind that as its inhabitants we are required to adapt to its changes in order for us to survive. "That life on earth changes with the climate has been assumed to be the case for a long time-indeed, for very nearly as long as the climate has been known to be capable of changing." This quote embodies the idea that since the beginning of time, the Earth has been changing, and therefore its inhabitants have had change as well.


I would relate the "Butterfly Lessons" article to my project on place and environment by connecting the ideas of adaptation to our surroundings. Overpopulation is an issue that will force us in the future to re-think our ways of living and scale everything that we do, down to a smaller scale.

Butterfly Lessons

"Butterfly Lessons" is an article in The New Yorker, written by Elizabeth Kolbert, and it addresses the issue of the earth's climate change and how it is affecting its wildlife. Butterflies have shifted their ranges northward, flower shrubs are blooming eight days earlier, and frogs are mating ten days earlier. These climate changes are throwing off the natural order of life for these animals and plants, and it's only a matter of time before we humans have to alter or ways of life as well. I do not think that we should look at it as a problem or as "our fault," because the Earth has been constantly changing since the beginning of time. We as humans, plants, and animals are merely its inhabitants and I think that if we want to remain here, then we need to change right along with it.

Introductory Paragraph (In terms of overpopulation, how is running out of resources and time the same? Or different?)

Some of the most important resources in the world are non-renewable, or limited. Time, however, is a very peculiar limited resource. It cannot be created, and nothing can be done about the time that's already passed. Overpopulation is an issue that requires both time and natural resources in order to be fixed, but we are running out of them at a constant rate.

If you don't think you're in denial, then you're probably in denial.

What does it mean to be in denial? Someone who is in denial won't take responsibility for their actions, or won't accept the fact that what they are doing is wrong. I don't know anyone who constantly takes responsibility for their actions, admits they're wrong, and takes the consequences with dignity.
If you've ever blamed a teacher for a bad grade, then you're in denial.
If you've ever been pulled over by the cops for speeding and then claimed that you weren't speeding, then you're in denial.
Just face the facts.