FIRE! (mini environmentalist's rant)

[Bertha Venation]

Mrs. V. and I live in an idyll -- a slowly disappearing idyll, I'm afraid.

Living in a semi-rural part of Southern Maryland, we're surrounded by acres and acres of trees. In the last two weeks, about a mile from our house, several acres have been clearcut for new homes.

Today, I have the windows open because it's a whopping 55F and rising and the house, the cats, and Mrs. V. desperately need the fresh air.

Along with the fresh air, we smell the bonfires. The developer gets rid of the trees he's clearcut by burning them. :grr:

On a lighter note, this construction is taking place on the stretch of road we've recently adopted for trash pick-up -- so we'll also get to clean up after the construction workers instead of just our neighbors who chuck trash out their car windows! E-ha.

[Kamika]

1. wow they're stupid

They could sell them and get A LOT of money.

Go to him and ask if you can just take the trees

[Bertha Venation]

3. Money?

Certainly that's the developer's main interest, and certainly, it's not mine.

I rather think a developer who clear-cuts trees should advertise "free firewood" before the cutting is done, post a weekend when the wood can be picked up (lots of poor people around here need heat fuel), then the following Monday have wood chopper trucks brought in to chop up the rest for recycling.

But no. That would cost him.

[Coventina]

2. I empathize

Nothing hurts more than to see big, beautiful trees cut down.

The apt complex next door to me had two long rows of huge, beautiful cottonwoods. They cut them all down a couple of years ago. The sounds of the saws drove me just about insane. I was crying uncontrollably. I swear I could feel their pain and terror.

[Bertha Venation]

4. I don't know if that empathy is

a gift or a curse, Coventina. But I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels it.

[Lorien]

5. Same thing here just last week

Apt. complex behind me cut down about eight MASSIVE live oaks, just because the owner didn't like them. Now my shade and beauty is gone and I can really hear the roar of the freeway beyond them. I don't believe that trees feel anything, but the creatures that live in them and those of us that enjoy and love them do. The air is certainly cleaner with them, they increase property value and decrease heating bills in the summer.Our souls need nature; we're hardwired for it; more than just our bodies depend on it for survival. For the land owners, it's all about laziness and control; burning perfectly useful trees happens continually here in Florida-all day and every day. Just think of the beautiful furniture that could be made from one of those hundred year oaks!Such waste and thoughtlessness is criminal.

I. too cried all day as the chainsaws roared. I can hardly look out of my windows now-it just makes me sick to do so. It there any other species on earth that works so hard at destroying all that makes life worthwhile?

[Eumenides]

6. Isn't that illegal?

I live in Tampa and anytime someone wants to cut down an oak they have to jump through hoops. My neighbor has one on his property that is slowly dying and it has started to lean (conveniently) right towards my house. He doesn't think they'll let him touch it.

[gator_in_Ontario]

7. Across the state, in Ft. Pierce

McDonald's had to pay big money when they cut down some oaks....Laws that were passed in those halcyon days of "walkin' Lawton"