Earth Survey: Jan 1, 2008

Welcome!

Ever since I was a child, I have been very interested in nature and the environment. I have a B.S. degree in wildlife biology, and have worked as a zookeeper, wildlife biologist, and ecologist. I am conducting a brief survey of world leaders, government officials, religious leaders, corporate CEOs, environmental groups, wildlife experts, and others regarding nature and the environment. I am also very interested in religious views, customs, and beliefs from around the world, and the interactions between religion, culture, society, and the environment. This is something I am doing out of personal interest, and is not connected to any group or organization. I have been working on this project since the summer of 2006, and hope to eventually turn it into a book and/or documentary. I am hoping to make this into a global project, with responses from all segments of society. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or comments. If you have not already done so, I hope that you will consider taking part in my project, and please spread the word to anyone you think might be interested! Thanks for stopping by!

TAKE THE SURVEY ONLINE HERE http://tinyurl.com/nx4ng7

January 01, 2008

John Elkington

Founder & Chief Entrepreneur - SustainAbility (http://www.sustainability.com/)

Personal website: http://www.johnelkington.com/

Today’s Date: 1 January 2008

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

Finding myself in a dark, moonless field, between old flax-ponds, in Northern Ireland, in the mid-1950s, and surrounded by what felt like acres of wriggling elvers. See http://www.johnelkington.com/babelfish.htm and http://www.johnelkington.com/profile-jain-spirit.htm

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

- Crusader-era castles like St Hilarion in Cyprus, in the 1950s
- Any wetland habitat
- Waterfront where my cousins used to live on Vashon Island, Puget Sound

Now? The same

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

Favourite animal? Can't do just one ...

- Mammals: hares, meerkats, lemurs, dolphins, humpback whales - indeed more or less any whales

- Birds: The red kites that have been reintroduced in the west of England

- Amphibians: frogs, toads, salamanders

- Reptiles: chameleons

- Fish: The flying fish

- Insects: the honeybee and the dragonfly

Enough already!

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?

No answer given

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

No answer given