Researcher/Research Institute of Natural History, Ewha Womans University
Today's Date: 24th August, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Two dogs - one gave birth to the other - that I had with my family when I was a teenager
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
No
Now? Temple nearby and associated forest
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Dolphins, for their intelligence and cooperation among themselves (and towards humans too)
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Habitat destruction, too much logging and industralization of rainforest
in the future - most conservation efforts will be facing with local people's economics. Thus it would be important to educate them to fight over the power of industralization.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We should keep our faith - do not succumb to money nor to power.
Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!
August 23, 2006
Dr. Terry Moore
The Cat Survival Trust
Today's Date: 23rd August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Many- main event was my first visit to rainforest
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Woodlands near our family home.
Now? Any natural habitat particularly rainforest.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
All cats. As an animal at the terminal end of the food chain, if they survive, so do we! www.catsurvivaltrust.org
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now,
The World Bank and the IMF have indiscriminately loaned money to countries to carry out “developments” many of which have been a total waste of money and have failed to provide economic gain at the cost of environmental destruction. In addition corrupt governments and contractors have transferred too much of the money to Swiss and other off shore bank accounts. This has forced countries to extract timber and mineral resources from wild habitats in an attempt to repay the debts. The loss of forests, particularly in the tropics and natural habitats worldwide are the main causes of climate change. Forest clearance in the tropics is planetary suicide. In areas of forest clearance, the intense heat of the sun on cleared land during the day forces the tropical rain clouds higher into the atmosphere and the trade winds then transport them north and south of the tropics to provide tropical rainstorms on areas not designed to deal with them The additional heat retained in the tropics in cleared land and the differential in temperature between day and night create wind eddies which seed the hurricanes and transfer the heat north and south away from the tropics. Then to make matters worse as more and more forest is cut down, the air in the trade winds, which bring pollutant gases back to the rainforests in the tropics down the east coasts of north Africa and North America where they used to be “cleaned” from the air, progressively re-circulate these pollutant gases instead of extracting them. Add to this the increases in human population and the increased consumption of materials and is it any wonder the planet is no longer able to regulate itself. Everything else will follow- desertification, drought, flood, fire, starvation, death of all living fauna and flora in the sea and on land.
and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Reversing the damage and destruction.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
There is no single piece of advice unless you simply say “Live in a sustainable way”. Personally, I would ask people restrict human population growth and aim to reduce population in the future. I would also ask people to save the world’s forests. To do this we have to save the forest we have left, allow damaged areas to regenerate and replant as much as we possibly can. I would get people to build underground. (In hot countries your air conditioning bills would be minimal in cold countries your heating bills would also be minimal). Many more are being built each year but the increase rate is too slow. Etc etc, All ideas and queries to DrTM@aol.com.
Today's Date: 23rd August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Many- main event was my first visit to rainforest
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Woodlands near our family home.
Now? Any natural habitat particularly rainforest.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
All cats. As an animal at the terminal end of the food chain, if they survive, so do we! www.catsurvivaltrust.org
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now,
The World Bank and the IMF have indiscriminately loaned money to countries to carry out “developments” many of which have been a total waste of money and have failed to provide economic gain at the cost of environmental destruction. In addition corrupt governments and contractors have transferred too much of the money to Swiss and other off shore bank accounts. This has forced countries to extract timber and mineral resources from wild habitats in an attempt to repay the debts. The loss of forests, particularly in the tropics and natural habitats worldwide are the main causes of climate change. Forest clearance in the tropics is planetary suicide. In areas of forest clearance, the intense heat of the sun on cleared land during the day forces the tropical rain clouds higher into the atmosphere and the trade winds then transport them north and south of the tropics to provide tropical rainstorms on areas not designed to deal with them The additional heat retained in the tropics in cleared land and the differential in temperature between day and night create wind eddies which seed the hurricanes and transfer the heat north and south away from the tropics. Then to make matters worse as more and more forest is cut down, the air in the trade winds, which bring pollutant gases back to the rainforests in the tropics down the east coasts of north Africa and North America where they used to be “cleaned” from the air, progressively re-circulate these pollutant gases instead of extracting them. Add to this the increases in human population and the increased consumption of materials and is it any wonder the planet is no longer able to regulate itself. Everything else will follow- desertification, drought, flood, fire, starvation, death of all living fauna and flora in the sea and on land.
and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Reversing the damage and destruction.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
There is no single piece of advice unless you simply say “Live in a sustainable way”. Personally, I would ask people restrict human population growth and aim to reduce population in the future. I would also ask people to save the world’s forests. To do this we have to save the forest we have left, allow damaged areas to regenerate and replant as much as we possibly can. I would get people to build underground. (In hot countries your air conditioning bills would be minimal in cold countries your heating bills would also be minimal). Many more are being built each year but the increase rate is too slow. Etc etc, All ideas and queries to DrTM@aol.com.
Kathryn Bertok
Curator of Animals, Carnivore Preservation Trust
Today's Date: August 23, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
The interaction that has had the biggest impact on me has to be working at CPT. When I first came to CPT I had no real desire to work with cats, but thought it would be a good experience for me to have. Once I had been here for a very short while, the animals started to really affect me. I saw there stories and their desire to be happy. I knew that I could affect their lives and the lives of other animals in their similar circumstances.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
My favorite place in the outdoors during my childhood was my own backyard. We lived on 2 acres of land that had lots of forest, a very large open field and streams and ponds. There was so much to do and to see and to play with.
Now? As an adult I have found that I prefer the same things, any place that has lots of trees and water.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I don’t know that I can easily answer that. In a general sense, my favorite animal is the binturong. Very few people know anything about them, but they have such wonderful personalities and are great fun to work with. I have raised a few from birth and it was probably one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
I think they are one in the same, living beyond our means. We continue to use and use and use without thought of what impact we are making. We ignore the sprawl, we ignore the amount of resources we are using and we will eventually hit a wall. Unfortunately it is part of the human condition and that will make this a live long challenge for everyone.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Be frugal.
Today's Date: August 23, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
The interaction that has had the biggest impact on me has to be working at CPT. When I first came to CPT I had no real desire to work with cats, but thought it would be a good experience for me to have. Once I had been here for a very short while, the animals started to really affect me. I saw there stories and their desire to be happy. I knew that I could affect their lives and the lives of other animals in their similar circumstances.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
My favorite place in the outdoors during my childhood was my own backyard. We lived on 2 acres of land that had lots of forest, a very large open field and streams and ponds. There was so much to do and to see and to play with.
Now? As an adult I have found that I prefer the same things, any place that has lots of trees and water.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I don’t know that I can easily answer that. In a general sense, my favorite animal is the binturong. Very few people know anything about them, but they have such wonderful personalities and are great fun to work with. I have raised a few from birth and it was probably one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
I think they are one in the same, living beyond our means. We continue to use and use and use without thought of what impact we are making. We ignore the sprawl, we ignore the amount of resources we are using and we will eventually hit a wall. Unfortunately it is part of the human condition and that will make this a live long challenge for everyone.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Be frugal.
Dr. Gbadebo J Osemeobo
Senior Lecturer/ Bells University of Technology, Nigeria
Today's Date: 23 August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Field Survey of Wild animal populations in Kainji Lake National Park in Nigeria
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, I was in close range wild lions, elephants and many ungulates.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The lion. It can be docile when not provoked, well fed and without rearing young ones
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Loss of habitats and loss of species. Ability to restore the environment including biodiversity
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Employ ecologically friendly practices in natural resource exploitation
Today's Date: 23 August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Field Survey of Wild animal populations in Kainji Lake National Park in Nigeria
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, I was in close range wild lions, elephants and many ungulates.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The lion. It can be docile when not provoked, well fed and without rearing young ones
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Loss of habitats and loss of species. Ability to restore the environment including biodiversity
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Employ ecologically friendly practices in natural resource exploitation
Alexandre Vintchevski
Executive Director - Akhova Ptushak Batskaushchyny (APB-BirdLife Belarus)
Today's Date: 23/08/2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
TV films on nature and books by Gerald Durrel (UK)
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, in Novgorod nature was everywhere. Forest around, insects in yard.
Now? Volma fishfarm near Minsk with 150 species of birds.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Marsh harrier.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Big money for destruction of natural systems and stupidity.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Close tab when brush teeth:-)
Today's Date: 23/08/2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
TV films on nature and books by Gerald Durrel (UK)
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, in Novgorod nature was everywhere. Forest around, insects in yard.
Now? Volma fishfarm near Minsk with 150 species of birds.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Marsh harrier.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Big money for destruction of natural systems and stupidity.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Close tab when brush teeth:-)
Imad Atrash
Executive Director –Palestine Wildlife Society
Today's Date: August the 23rd, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
We have to protect the wildlife in general for us and for our new generation
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes.. Wadi Qelt site "from Jerusalem to Jericho "Palestine"
Now? The same of above
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Caracal, it is one of my best animals which I love it.. Because he is very strong wildly animal and very beautiful….
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
National Level:: the Israeli occupation because they are destroying our nature and land escape by building their Separation wall and by pass roads in the occupied Territories in Palestine ..
Global: the desertification.. The changing the climate
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We have work today for conservation of nature tomorrow…
Today's Date: August the 23rd, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
We have to protect the wildlife in general for us and for our new generation
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes.. Wadi Qelt site "from Jerusalem to Jericho "Palestine"
Now? The same of above
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Caracal, it is one of my best animals which I love it.. Because he is very strong wildly animal and very beautiful….
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
National Level:: the Israeli occupation because they are destroying our nature and land escape by building their Separation wall and by pass roads in the occupied Territories in Palestine ..
Global: the desertification.. The changing the climate
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We have work today for conservation of nature tomorrow…
Tatiana Ivelskaya
Chief, Sakhalin Tsunami Warning Center, Russia
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I grow on island, my town is located in valley, amongst mountains. So wild nature was near always .
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
It's wood and river. It was near to my house.
Now? Our planet beautifully so any natural place can be favorite.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite animals - a cats. They are perfect.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Environmental pollution because of extraction of minerals. Production of energy. Cut down (destruction) of woods.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
I like this proverb on your web-site - “We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.” - I agree...
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I grow on island, my town is located in valley, amongst mountains. So wild nature was near always .
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
It's wood and river. It was near to my house.
Now? Our planet beautifully so any natural place can be favorite.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite animals - a cats. They are perfect.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Environmental pollution because of extraction of minerals. Production of energy. Cut down (destruction) of woods.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
I like this proverb on your web-site - “We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.” - I agree...
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