The Crisis Identified in the "Last Child in the Woods" Finds an Adult Remedy

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The Crisis Identified in the "Last Child in the Woods" Finds an Adult Remedy

Controversy Flares as Outdoor Education Introduces Environmental Sanity through Human-Nature Psychology

FRIDAY HARBOR, WASHINGTON, Jun. 27 -/E-Wire/-- "A form of insanity grips modern, consumer-oriented, cultures - a sickness that can only be cured by reconnecting with the natural world that nurtures us" reflects Dr. Charles Yaple, in his Editor's Column in "Taproot: the Journal of the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors" at State University of New York, Cortland.

Disputing the noted science writer Alan Caruba, Yaple and his authors says that we have lost the sanity to bond with things of lasting value in nature so, out of sensory deprivation and frustration, we stressfully pursue endless temporary fixes. For this reason we suffer from anxiety, mental illness and the pollution produced by our inadequate substitutes for nature's perfection.

Caruba disagrees. In his article, "The Green Enemies of Progress" in The Patriotist, he says, "The real threat to our lives are the Greens. There are other threats, but this evil anti-progress, anti-capitalist, anti-energy, anti-science, anti-God movement is the real cancer."

Taproot introduces "Ecopsychology", an environmentally sound relationship building psychology, as an excellent tool to stop the "nature-deficit disorder," that Richard Louv identifies in his book "Last Child in the Woods". Ecopsychology improves our well-being by safely reconnecting our thinking with the balancing and restorative powers of nature. It helps us sensuously reconnect our conscious thinking with the intelligent, restorative powers and spirit in natural systems around and within us.

The lead article in Taproot salutes Dr. Michael J. Cohen, the pioneering founder of Project NatureConnect, who directs the course, job, grant and degree programs at the Institute of Global Education. The article, "On All Nine Legs-Teaching Outdoor Love to an Indoor World", by Janet Thomas, explains how Cohen developed Organic Psychology, a healing way of thinking and feeling that improves relationships through thoughtful sensory contacts with nature.

Cohen, author of "The Web of Life Imperative" (Trafford 2003), also offers strong nature sensitivity enabling tools in Taproot to help us consciously connect our thinking with the natural world's unifying grace and cooperative ways. Because we passionately support what we love, we personally and environmentally benefit from embracing the unifying beauty and intelligence of nature.

"Gatherings: the Journal of the International Community for Ecopsychology" states, "This edition of Taproot makes a significant contribution to improving our relationship with ourselves and the environment." In disagreement, Caruba, declares Ecopsychology to be an absurd pseudo-science, a hogwash psychobabble about problems it alleges we cause by living extremely nature-separated lives. Cohen says, "Sadly, Mr. Caruba is a victim of socialization that trains us to believe the lies of our nature-exploitive ways. We must learn to live in balance with the soil, water, sunshine air, cooperation and regenerative relationships in nature that sustain our survival."

As a Native American (Okanagan), Jeannette Armstrong, in her Taproot article, "Keepers of the Earth," demonstrates the madness of our disconnection from nature and that our language reflects our insanity in comparison to forms of expression used in Okanagan. In their society, land and place have the same root syllable, not our arrogance (insanity) that the land is ours to exploit for endless natural resources.

In her "Obligation to Endure" article, Sandra Steingraber outlines practical steps that most anyone can take to sanely make a difference and continue the good fight begun by the likes of Rachel Carson.

Numerous book reviews, news, practical resources, contacts and forthcoming events that support Ecopsychology and Outdoor Education round out this issue of Taproot. It strengthens any individual who wants to help people enjoy personal and environmental sanity by co-creating it with nature.

The Coalition for Education in the Outdoors, at the State University of New York, Cortland, is a non-profit network of environmental education centers, conservation and recreation organizations, schools, fish and wildlife agencies, and businesses to support outdoor education.

Contacts and Information:

Dr. Michael Cohen, Project NatureConnect, [REDACTED-PHONE], [REDACTED-EMAIL], www.ecopsych.com/mjcohen.html.

Read the Taproot lead article with optional links to many informative sources: www.ecopsych.com/2005taproot.html.

Dr. Charles Yaple: [REDACTED-EMAIL], www.outdooredcoalition.org.

Gatherings: www.ecopsychology.org/journal/ezine/gatherings.html.

Alan Caruba: www.patriotist.com/acarch/ac20031013b.htm.

A 400 word version of this release is available for immediate release at www.ecopsych.com/tapenvt.html.

Project NatureConnect

Dr. Michael Cohen, Project NatureConnect, [REDACTED-PHONE], [REDACTED-EMAIL].

http://www.ecopsych.com

http://www.outdooredcoalition.org

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