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Environmental Protection and Happiness

My environmentalism ties in with promoting happiness.  All of us love nature.  Some do not like camping or backpacking or mosquitoes.  But we evolved in the natural world and therefore have an innate affinity for the natural world that has been called Biophilia.  Everyone feels better seeing and being surrounded by green plants than surrounded by concrete.  Everyone likes seeing and being near water, as we are fortunate to often be in the land of 10,000 lakes.  Everyone likes the sound of waves lapping on the shore or a brook flowing over rocks. 

              One reason I want to protect the environment and expand experience of nature is to promote happiness.  Toward that end, we should work to have more urban gardens and parks in economically disadvantaged inner city areas.  It will substantially increase the happiness, sense of peace, and life satisfaction of residents of those areas.

               The proposal to convert half our land to nature and wilderness also feeds our happiness.  Even if you are not a camper and never visit those places, knowing they exist and that we have not consigned most of the species on earth and most of the species in Minnesota to extinction or to existing only as museum pieces with tiny populations in tiny areas will feed our souls and our happiness. 

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