Irene Sanz

PhD student in the University of Alcalá, Spain

Today's Date: 30th January 2007

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Well, two years ago my sister brought a kitten which was very sick. Vets told us that she may not recover but now she is quite fine and I love her. I could not help crying when I saw her for the first time, she had temperature and some diseases, besides she was quite weak. Well, she has just jumped on to my legs.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

I used to go with my grandparents to a pine wood next to our city. We used to bring omelettes and spend there the afternoon talking and playing. And also, in front of my former house there was a park where I used to go with my mother and then with some friends.

Now? Well, I am not sure. I like being in contact with nature in general, in a forest area, having a great sight and with some friends. Four months ago I went with some friends to Cercedilla, a village with some mountains to practice trekking and I had a great time. It was a bit hard for me, but I loved the experience of being in contact with nature.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?

I used to love dolphins because they are so nice and at the same time intelligent. Now, I think cats are also very interesting animals and in relation to cats, I would like to give a special place to the iberic lynx, an endangered animal that lives only in Spain

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?

Just one challenge? Well some politicians should start thinking seriously about Kyoto. Apart from CO2 emissions, we have serious problems with deforestation and everything is related with the climatic change. We have left the nuclear problem behind, at least that it is what we think but maybe in the future we should start thinking of new energies.

5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Well, I would tell them to think as Native Americans do regarding nature, if you treat the natural world with the same respect you treat human beings, then, there will be some hope. Natural resources do not last forever, neither do we.