Nature's Best Students

33 Q: In the past decade, conservation photography has become very prevalent in the photo community. Photographers such as James Balog, Robert Glenn Ketchum, and others have inspired many with their images and even changed political discourse. What role do you envision photography playing in the conservation movement in the future? A: Well, I think the best example is how former Vice President Al Gore took a slide show of images and got the attention of America. Some images were taken by his wife Tipper and some were taken by scientists and others. He put these, along with videos, into a keynote slideshow and used that simple tool to build a huge movement. It was the visuals along with the words that moved people to take action. For years we have been trying to move the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on climate change and the An Inconvenient Truth slideshow really had an enormous impact. People are discovering that you shouldn't just use slideshow programs to put text on a screen—you ought to use powerful images and get people thinking about what is at stake and what is being lost. When you use a camera correctly you begin to see things differently. You start thinking about composition and what's beautiful and what's important. To me, the most important part of photog- raphy is the way it changes the person holding the camera. I believe that as we take photographs, we start to see the world differently—and it is through that experience that we become more effective and better understand what we have. Q: Young people are sometimes bitter about the world that they are inheriting. What advice would you give my generation so that we can leave our children and grandchildren an environmentally-sound world? A: Well, when I was a student we organized the first Earth Day along with other campuses all over America. The students took to the streets of Pittsburgh carrying a coffin with a gasmask on it to remind people that air pollution kills. I took a group of 60 students to the last nesting bald eagle in Pennsylvania at the time. We didn't wait for the adults to lead, we took the lead, and I think that is a critical ingredient for today. Young people need to get a hold of this thing and become leaders and force their parents and grandparents to understand that their world is hanging in the balance. I think that is an urgent message. If the kids don't get involved we're going to lose the conservation fight because there are not enough adults who fully understand the dangers that are being set before our children by global environmental issues. Q: Young people may find it hard to make a big difference environ- mentally because they often do not have time for extensive efforts or money to change their lifestyles. What can young people do to help the conservation movement? A: Organizing within your communities and becoming a voice for nature is a start. Those things don't require you to spend any money that you're not currently spending. I think it's just a matter of feeling empowered to make a difference. A lot of young people today don't realize how much power they have; they don't understand that by organizing their friends, fellow students, and their communities they can have enormous impact. With the Internet you can coordinate a lot without spending any money. Today, the tools are there—they are better tools than what I had when I was a kid. I would direct most of the attention to Washington, to political leaders, to the House and Senate, and obviously to future presidents. Youth can do a lot with a little. Q: You became the president of National Wildlife Federation in 2004. What is the most rewarding part of your job? A: For me, the most rewarding part is working with a great team of colleagues here at National Wildlife Federation as well as great volunteers. It is wonderful to see people come together to solve a problem. It's very inspiring to see people who have courage, who have tenacity, who have a willingness to spend their own time and to spend their life making a difference. I also get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing new leaders emerge and take a strong stand. © Gerard Olson

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