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Fourth Place – Krysztof Franaszek (Thomas Wootton High School) Krzysztof Franaszek is currently a junior at Thomas Wootton High School and spends most of his spare time practicing Tae Kwan Do or reading books or the newspaper. His favorite subject is Biology. Essay Abstract: Man’s connection with Nature has been a central theme in the minds’ of many since the dawn of historical times. The relationship humans have with their natural surroundings has been both defined by our ability to change it, intentionally and collaterally, and they ways in which the environment dictates our lifestyles. In its current state of being, the natural world is a defining component of how people eat, commute, and reside, while people’s activities contribute and curtail to diverse aspects of the natural world. While many have stressed respect for nature due to its inherent beauty and wonder, it has not been until historically recent times that humanity has been faced with the challenge of defending Nature from our own neglect and consumptive tendencies. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, exponential human population booms, and increased reliance on fossil fuels, the natural habitat is at a greater risk than even before. While countless scientists and intellectuals are working out the nuances of the world’s natural mechanics and developing technological alternatives that will help alleviate our drain on natural resources, one must consider the equally vital component of the general populace’s willingness to alter its lifestyle in order to further stabilize natural harmony. The task of telling millions of individuals to reverse, curtail, or expand their daily routines is a monumental one, as is any minor change proliferated on a vast scale. As blessed we are to have thousand of diligent and enlightened scientists expanding our knowledge of the universe, we are equally fortunate to have the teachings and experience of thousands of years to help tackle our own fears and reluctances towards change. In particular, the universally-applicable and ubiquitous lessons of the three principle founders of the Abrahamic faiths are exceptionally useful in teaching contemporary society how to better treat its surrounding world. Christian dogma on Man’s responsibility to care for God’s creation, the Jewish emphasis on the world as a manifestation of the beauty in God’s design, and the Muslim understanding of humanity’s role as a guardian of Allah’s creation collectively deliver a potent message on our role as benevolent care-takers of the environment. Those who wish to seek an immediate application of this message could do so by lobbying and petitioning the United States government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty agreeing to limit harmful emissions and working towards more ecologically friendly legislation.
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