Paul Nicklen: Tales of ice-bound wonderlands

 

OUTDOOR ED. ARTICLE ASSIGNMENT: TED TALK

Paul Nicklen: Tales of ice-bound wonderlands

****

An eye opening and thought-provoking TED talk about the importance and beauty of the arctic ice, and the ecosystems that depend on it.

                Paul Nicklen had a dream; to not only protect the polar realm, but show the beauty and serenity within it. With years of trying to make his dream come true, this hilarious and inspiring photographer explains his close encounters with the not-so ferocious leopard seal, and spirit bear along with several pretty extraordinary photos. He tells tales of his adventures in the frozen land and what was witnessed in it, and spreads the message across that these beautiful moments he captured will seize to exist if we continue to live the way we do. A truly beautiful and tragic story of a land many of us tend to neglect, and how it’s our responsibility to save it.

                I have always found nature interesting; the simplicity in the beauty, and the ecosystems that all rely on each other to live are just such beautiful things. When I think of nature, I think of the sounds you here when you are out camping, and how in such a quiet place compared to the city we live in, it buzzes with the sounds of the wind or a grasshopper chirping. When I came across the TED talk I didn’t think much of it at first. I’ve always been aware of the polar cap melting but not to the extremeness that it is right now. This TED talk really pulls your heart strings and opens your heart to the creatures out in the cold. Animals such as the polar bear or leopard seal are in danger, simply because of all the damage humans have been causing. It is such a preventable problem; however we have never done so. This story inspired me for several reasons: how Nicklen was able to capture such amazing photos, how passionate he was about this cause, and how he really is desperate for us all to stop the destruction we do every day immediately. The reality of it all is terrifying to me, and this talk really has set my mind to do something about it. It has such a powerful message; anyone who watches it will be touched from this single man’s dreams and hopes. I recommend this TED talk to everyone, because one person cannot change the world. We all have too.

Nicklen, P. (2015). Tales of ice-bound wonderlands. [online] Ted.com. Available at: http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_nicklen_tales_of_ice_bound_wonderlands#t-47498 [Accessed 8 Jan. 2015].