It creates us much angst worrying about the possibilty of planet earth ending as we know it. To refer to it as "sentimentality" can trivialises it yet it is in our interest to know we can think of any new world in a positive manner. What is worrying is THE ATTITUDE that is destroying the planet. If the planet was changing of its own accord (ie without the disproportional humn influence) then any fretting could well be called sentimentality. The reality is that selfish individuals and corporations are undeniably responsible so that fighting against the powers that are changing our planet is as profound as praying or performing a spiritual ritual. Arthur C Clarke ended his book "2001 - A Space Oddysey" with an environmentalist *attitude* that addresses the issue. The (short) final chapter is reproduced on this site.