{"id":2872,"date":"2016-11-05T01:27:38","date_gmt":"2016-11-05T08:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/?p=2872"},"modified":"2016-11-03T17:53:41","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T00:53:41","slug":"edward-abbey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/featured\/edward-abbey\/","title":{"rendered":"Edward Abbey"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the 1950’s and 60’s Edward Abbey worked as a seasonal ranger in Arches National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Florida Everglades, and Lassen Volcanic National Park. \u00a0He was an author and staunch advocate for the environment. \u00a0In 1968 he published his first non-fiction book,\u00a0Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness<\/em><\/a>, based upon his time at Arches.<\/p>\n

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Edward Abbey<\/p><\/div>\n

Almost thirty years ago, in 1987, he was labeled a racist and eco-terrorist based upon his opposition to illegal immigration (he was concerned that population growth would further damage the environment) and the tactics he supported to fight government and industry (he felt he was defending people and the environment from terrorism perpetrated by government and industry). He denied these labels. \u00a0Politically he was an anarchist and drew the interest of the FBI for most of his later life.<\/p>\n

In a 1976 speech, Abbey, also a philosopher, \u00a0said:<\/p>\n

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“It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it\u2019s still here.<\/p>\n

“So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space.<\/p>\n

“Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”<\/p>\n

\u2013 Edward Abbey<\/p>\n

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This 1985 video is an eight minute essay written and presented by Abbey with a \u00a0backdrop of Arches National Park. In it Abbey reminisces about his time at the park and laments the loss of the wild park he knew when he worked there \u2013 “too many roads now, too much asphalt, too much traffic, too many people.”<\/p>\n

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