The Art Of Paying Attention by Beth Surdut: Illustrated Wildlife Radio Encounters on NPR
I’m a wildlife illustrator, essayist, and
storyteller in the Southwest United States. I research the behavior of
each creature, write about our true encounters, interview experts,
collect sounds, draw each critter, and then go to the local NPR station
to record with an Emmy award-winning producer. My multi-platform series,
The Art of Paying Attention, airs and is posted on
azpm.org, the NPR
affiliate Arizona Public Media.
When Rachel Carson wanted people to pay attention to the effects of
environmental pollution, she personalized the far-reaching effects of
pesticides by asking readers of her New Yorker pieces to look out their
windows. And they did. Not only did people see the corpses of poisoned
squirrels, they took action. Whether motivated to protect the human
species or every little life in the larger ecosystem, the results raised
enough awareness to make changes.
Like Carson, I know from experience that if you pay attention long
enough, you can see the whole world in your yard. And once you start
looking, it is hard to stop. From my perspective, paying attention
brings care, care brings love; and that love engenders protection.
With this series, I am extending an invitation to observe, with
unbounded curiosity, the wild life that flies, crawls, and skitters
along with us in our changing environment.
In this time of environmental doomsayers–and we do need to hear the
bad news– the enormity of destruction can render some of hopeless. I
offer a joyous and, I hope, action-inducing alternative to those of us
who are motivated by wonder rather than by fear and guilt. By being
aware of what is around us, each of us can care for our little patch,
and together form a quilt of protection. And have a great time doing so.
http://www.boredpanda.com/the-art-of-paying-attention-illustrated-wildlife-radio-encounters-by-beth-surdut/
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