Response to The Trees and Wasteland: An Elegy

Wasteland is a lament. It is a mournful cry against the destruction of the nature that is perhaps inevitable as a town develops and grows. The repeated phrase, "But this is an elegy" throughout, makes this clear. In complete contrast, The Trees is a working model for how humans can take resources, develop them thoughtfully in relation to the environment, and improve not only the landscape, but the economic and social community of the residents.

Gaviotas sounds like Nirvana. For a place like this to prosper, it would require that all the residents work equally hard for the common good. When reading the section where Jose Ignacio went back to inspect wells that had been installed by Gaviotas on and around the mouth of the Rio Magdalena, I realized the implication. Technology along, installed in a specific location, cannot implement change or improve conditions in that location. A community effort, all with a common goal, and the willingness to adapt for the survival of the community is what makes the difference.

I have never heard of any community like this surviving long-term. It gives me hope that it is possible. It requires complete commitment to the community and a sense of selflessness. I wonder if this concept is even possible on anything less than small enclave scale in the United States?