Prue Robinson

Environmental Officer, MEDASSET- The Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles

Today’s Date: 17 April 2008

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

Working as a wildlife rescuer and carer in Australia certainly had the biggest impact- being trained and responsible for the care of baby possums that have been orphaned, squawking lorikeets that have concussion from flying into glass and Tawny Frog Mouth birds (similar to owls) that in their majestic domineer suffered terribly with a slow poison from preying on a rat dying from rat poison and many more.

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

Yes, walking in the Australian bush near my family's holiday house in Tanilba Bay, Port Stephans. The naturalness of the bush as well as plethora of birds and creatures was always wonderfully refreshing.

Now? Living in Greece now, my fiancé’s village house certainly tops the list now. An old school house in traditional Greek style facing the sea and surrounded by an amphitheatre of mountains.

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

Horses, a love taken from childhood horse riding camps.

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 global warming is the greatest environmental challenge as it encompasses all environmental concerns in one. Undermining the very fabric of our planet- the climate, runs the risk of changing forever the ideal conditions that keep us alive and balanced in a universe of inhospitality.

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

Stop believing that the environment is 'out there' dissociated from you and your city life. It is the very basic building blocks of life, shifting the natural balance has impacts on the world that we cannot yet conceive- we are still learning about this intricate world around us, we should never assume we have 'mastered' the environment if we cannot foresee the damage we have the potential to inflict.