Moon Walk

Using computing power roughly equivalent to what is found in a modern calculator, a team of scientists and engineers sent humans a quarter million miles to a rendezvous and brought them safely back to earth. This achievement is a lesson to me.  The problems facing the future of the earth—climate change, growing populations, emerging diseases, shrinking natural resources—are daunting.  I do have faith that we can find our way forward to solutions. I recently prepared some remarks for the joint meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and the State Conservation Commission.  I am struck by just how much we have accomplished in finding methods to produce sufficient food, fiber, and fuel for our future population in ways that are more and more environmentally sustainable. Challenges remain, to be sure. Technical improvements are needed. Modifications to our farming and forest systems are inevitable.  But, I am optimistic.  I work with some very bright and committed people, and these same people are committed to educating the public and, more importantly, the next generation.  We must and we will succeed.