Dispelling the Illusion of Lifejackets: The First Step Toward a Healthy Earth Canoe. (2003 Essay Contest Winners)‪.‬

"All the world is a canoe, and whether paddlers or passengers, we are all one people together in that vessel." Chumash proverb All the world is a canoe, yet too often it is easy to see the world as a backdrop for a canoe. The difference between the two views is enormous and inherent in each is a distinct attitude. If a canoe isn't properly cared for, it will cease to be a safe vessel for travel and it, along with its passengers, will sink. This is why canoe enthusiasts protect the life of their canoe by properly storing, transporting, rinsing, and waxing it; it's in their best interest to care for the vessel that keeps them afloat on the water. If we think of the world as a canoe, we see it as something that needs care and attention if both the canoe and its passengers are to continue their present existence.