Jefe de Horticultura, Jardín Botánico Nacional, Viña del Mar, Chile [Head of Horticulture, National Botanical Garden, Vine of the Sea, Chile]
Today's Date: 29 August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Cuando tenía 10 años de edad, hacía vacaciones, en el campo de un tío en el sur de Chile y veia la destrucción de los bosques de Robles para abrir terreno para la actividad agrícola y ganadera y esa experiencia de vida en el campo y destrucción de bosques me marcó para toda la vida. [When it had 10 years of age, vacations ago, in the field of an uncle in the south of Chile and veia the destruction of the forests of Oaks to open to land for the agricultural and cattle activity and that experience of life in the field and destruction of forests marked me for all the life.]
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Curarehue, al interior de Pucón, en el sur de Chile. [Curarehue, to the interior of Pucón, in the south of Chile.]
Now? Pucón. [Pucón]
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
no tengo animal favotito. [I do not have favotito animal.]
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?
La destrucción de los bosques tropicales y los bosques templados, el gran cambio será de tipo climático. [The destruction of the tropical forests and the forests temperings, the great change will be of climatic type.]
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Hay que socuializar el conocimiento de la naturaleza, de la flora, la fauna y su ambiente a nivel de detalle, especialmente la flora que esta demasiado "underrated" [It is necessary to socuializar the knowledge of the nature, of the flora, the fauna and its atmosphere at detail level, specially the flora that this too much "underrated"]
[translations done using Babel Fish Translations, http://babelfish.altavista.com]
Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!
August 29, 2006
Joep Hendriks
Director - Parque Cóndor, Ecuador
Today's Date: 08/29/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Seeing a raptor flying.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, moors, even till now.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Peregrine falcon, because it has such a great way of flying.
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?
Stopping the destruction of natural habitat; that will be in the future also the greatest challenge.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Respect your environment and don't waste our natural resources.
Today's Date: 08/29/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Seeing a raptor flying.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, moors, even till now.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Peregrine falcon, because it has such a great way of flying.
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?
Stopping the destruction of natural habitat; that will be in the future also the greatest challenge.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Respect your environment and don't waste our natural resources.
Emily Neidigh
Outdoor Recreation Planner / FWS
Today's Date: 08/29/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
There was a creek that flowed under a railroad track near my parent's house. I thought it had such potential for wildlife - if only we could remove the tons of litter that seemed to cover it. We did a bit of work with what we could move and carry as kids. I guess that was when habitat restoration became a love for me - being able to remove some evidence of human impact and make the world look untouched - little miracles that even I can perform.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
My favorite outdoor place was in a tree. Any tree - any place. I read in them, climbed them, ventured to peer into nests and collected leaves as I believed a scientist would - to identify them all. I suppose if I had to choose a specific place, I would choose my grandparent's farm. It was my job to venture as far and through as many barbed wire fences as I could when we visited at Christmastime. I was an explorer - a discoverer – seeing and experiencing things written in my head as an epic journal which would inspire many.
Now? I relied on a lot of different wild places when I was in college – as fortresses from the city. Now I live in rural America and find myself without just one place to choose.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I love the dragonfly. Any dragonfly really, and almost any insect. I suppose the overall reason for loving an insect is because so many of them are misunderstood - not being "cuddly" or controllable. Really very fascinating creatures with simple - but powerful - construction such as the dragonfly to the more technical and acrobatic flies. The smallest difference between each species' wing veination indicating their place in the world. And dragonflies.. well, there's a time when that seemingly fragile flier can eat a small fish with alien-like techniques. Such things are fascinating and offer a challenge to the viewer.
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?
There are two things - and it can be difficult to accomplish them both. We need people to care about the resources enough to conserve them. But we need people to understand the difference between conservation and management techniques such as harvesting. I think Leopold said it best when he said "One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise". We need to convince people that economics don't matter if the natural world falls apart. Everything is linked and we need to look far enough into the future to at least try and see what investment will make the most difference.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
When I visit a place that doesn't have the resources to teach children the arts, I feel pain for those children and the beauty that they are missing. I hope that they will be able to develop an appreciation for those things if they ever get the opportunity to experience them. The same is with the outside world. There is something so refreshing - so timeless - so healing - about the outdoors. And everyone should get the opportunity to experience it. So, take the time. Get outside. Consider the life of the ant - of the tree - of the antlion waiting for a meal to slip into their funnel. When you walk a trail - don't focus so much on the wildlife you see or don't see - but imagine the wildlife that's been there and what they may have been doing.
Today's Date: 08/29/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
There was a creek that flowed under a railroad track near my parent's house. I thought it had such potential for wildlife - if only we could remove the tons of litter that seemed to cover it. We did a bit of work with what we could move and carry as kids. I guess that was when habitat restoration became a love for me - being able to remove some evidence of human impact and make the world look untouched - little miracles that even I can perform.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
My favorite outdoor place was in a tree. Any tree - any place. I read in them, climbed them, ventured to peer into nests and collected leaves as I believed a scientist would - to identify them all. I suppose if I had to choose a specific place, I would choose my grandparent's farm. It was my job to venture as far and through as many barbed wire fences as I could when we visited at Christmastime. I was an explorer - a discoverer – seeing and experiencing things written in my head as an epic journal which would inspire many.
Now? I relied on a lot of different wild places when I was in college – as fortresses from the city. Now I live in rural America and find myself without just one place to choose.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I love the dragonfly. Any dragonfly really, and almost any insect. I suppose the overall reason for loving an insect is because so many of them are misunderstood - not being "cuddly" or controllable. Really very fascinating creatures with simple - but powerful - construction such as the dragonfly to the more technical and acrobatic flies. The smallest difference between each species' wing veination indicating their place in the world. And dragonflies.. well, there's a time when that seemingly fragile flier can eat a small fish with alien-like techniques. Such things are fascinating and offer a challenge to the viewer.
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?
There are two things - and it can be difficult to accomplish them both. We need people to care about the resources enough to conserve them. But we need people to understand the difference between conservation and management techniques such as harvesting. I think Leopold said it best when he said "One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on land is quite invisible to laymen. An ecologist must either harden his shell and make believe that the consequences of science are none of his business, or he must be the doctor who sees the marks of death in a community that believes itself well and does not want to be told otherwise". We need to convince people that economics don't matter if the natural world falls apart. Everything is linked and we need to look far enough into the future to at least try and see what investment will make the most difference.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
When I visit a place that doesn't have the resources to teach children the arts, I feel pain for those children and the beauty that they are missing. I hope that they will be able to develop an appreciation for those things if they ever get the opportunity to experience them. The same is with the outside world. There is something so refreshing - so timeless - so healing - about the outdoors. And everyone should get the opportunity to experience it. So, take the time. Get outside. Consider the life of the ant - of the tree - of the antlion waiting for a meal to slip into their funnel. When you walk a trail - don't focus so much on the wildlife you see or don't see - but imagine the wildlife that's been there and what they may have been doing.
Robert A. Ritchie
Parks Naturalist, The Niagara Parks Commission
Today's Date: 29.August.2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
My parents exposed me (and my siblings) to nature of all sorts through the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. My father is/was interested in birds so in searching for birds in the trees for him to observe and identify I was more interested in the beauty, friendliness and sheltering of the trees. It has only been in the latter half of my life that I have come to realize that the web of life that radiates out from “my” central core of trees is really what it is all about, for me.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
In 1956 when I was 8 years old my parents moved us out of Toronto (even then it was a metropolitan area) to a small “hobby” farm north of the city (it was farming country then but is subdivisions and wealthy estates now). I remember thinking it was the worst thing that could happen, leaving all my city “chums” behind, moving from a big city elementary school to a one-room country school with eight grades taught by one teacher; but it was the best thing that could have happened to an 8-year-old boy. The adjacent forest became my favourite place and I got to know about 1000 surrounding acres very intimately – every pond, lake, forest, field, hill, valley, etc., and all the occupants therein. Then came puberty and a driver’s license………………………..!
Now? “Be Here Now” – no one favourite place, but I do spend a lot of time in the Near North of Ontario, especially inside the polygon bounded by Parry Sound, North Bay, Algonquin Park and Huntsville.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
As I get older I search for the inherent beauty in each and every species (flora and fauna) regardless of the labels and attributes (both positive and negative) that human beings ascribe to them. What makes each of them tick and where do they fit into the greater scheme of things (the web of life)? As a child I had a “koala bear” and a “fuzzy rabbit”; I still have them (hidden away safely in my blanket box, along with the first shoes of my children), although the Koala bear is getting thread bare from love.
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?
The greatest environmental challenge facing us now is getting human beings to live within their means as it relates to the overall Carrying Capacity of our individual environments and the planet as a whole, and the survival of all the other species that we threaten with extinction. The greatest challenge in the (immediate/pending) future will be our own survival as a species when The Correction (my emphasis) plunges our burgeoning population to well below the Carrying Capacity that the environment and the planet ascribe to us.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Examine your “wants” and your “needs”, don’t give in to needless advertising and marketing, give up something each day that you don’t need, “live lightly on the E(e)arth”, and “teach your children well”. “You can’t always get what you want but you just might find you get what you need.” But my favourite quotation is: “Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.”
Today's Date: 29.August.2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
My parents exposed me (and my siblings) to nature of all sorts through the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. My father is/was interested in birds so in searching for birds in the trees for him to observe and identify I was more interested in the beauty, friendliness and sheltering of the trees. It has only been in the latter half of my life that I have come to realize that the web of life that radiates out from “my” central core of trees is really what it is all about, for me.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
In 1956 when I was 8 years old my parents moved us out of Toronto (even then it was a metropolitan area) to a small “hobby” farm north of the city (it was farming country then but is subdivisions and wealthy estates now). I remember thinking it was the worst thing that could happen, leaving all my city “chums” behind, moving from a big city elementary school to a one-room country school with eight grades taught by one teacher; but it was the best thing that could have happened to an 8-year-old boy. The adjacent forest became my favourite place and I got to know about 1000 surrounding acres very intimately – every pond, lake, forest, field, hill, valley, etc., and all the occupants therein. Then came puberty and a driver’s license………………………..!
Now? “Be Here Now” – no one favourite place, but I do spend a lot of time in the Near North of Ontario, especially inside the polygon bounded by Parry Sound, North Bay, Algonquin Park and Huntsville.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
As I get older I search for the inherent beauty in each and every species (flora and fauna) regardless of the labels and attributes (both positive and negative) that human beings ascribe to them. What makes each of them tick and where do they fit into the greater scheme of things (the web of life)? As a child I had a “koala bear” and a “fuzzy rabbit”; I still have them (hidden away safely in my blanket box, along with the first shoes of my children), although the Koala bear is getting thread bare from love.
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?
The greatest environmental challenge facing us now is getting human beings to live within their means as it relates to the overall Carrying Capacity of our individual environments and the planet as a whole, and the survival of all the other species that we threaten with extinction. The greatest challenge in the (immediate/pending) future will be our own survival as a species when The Correction (my emphasis) plunges our burgeoning population to well below the Carrying Capacity that the environment and the planet ascribe to us.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Examine your “wants” and your “needs”, don’t give in to needless advertising and marketing, give up something each day that you don’t need, “live lightly on the E(e)arth”, and “teach your children well”. “You can’t always get what you want but you just might find you get what you need.” But my favourite quotation is: “Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.”
DeeVon Quirolo
Co-founder/Executive Director, REEF RELIEF
Today's Date: August 29, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I was born in South Florida and my earliest memories feature swimming at the beach as a young child; I have always lived near the ocean.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
see above
Now? The coral reefs of the Florida Keys were an incredible underwater world when I first saw them in the 1980's. That beauty and diversity and joy made living in Key West at that time an exceptional experience. I could walk around a nearby island to harvest enough conch for dinner in those days and the water was "gin-clear" as they called it.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite is the sea turtle; wise and slow and ever moving forward, voyaging around the world.
My other favorite is the dolphin, spritely and free, expressing the joyful abandon of living in the ocean.
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?
The decline of our oceans that support our food chain, atmosphere, economy, and quality of life.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Every journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step; so be the change in your own life; make a small difference every day by adopting an ecofriendly lifestyle that respects all the diversity of life around you and encourage others to be respectful as well. Resist the mainstream mindset that accepts the notion that it is ok deplete all our natural resources for our immediate short term pleasure.
Today's Date: August 29, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I was born in South Florida and my earliest memories feature swimming at the beach as a young child; I have always lived near the ocean.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
see above
Now? The coral reefs of the Florida Keys were an incredible underwater world when I first saw them in the 1980's. That beauty and diversity and joy made living in Key West at that time an exceptional experience. I could walk around a nearby island to harvest enough conch for dinner in those days and the water was "gin-clear" as they called it.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite is the sea turtle; wise and slow and ever moving forward, voyaging around the world.
My other favorite is the dolphin, spritely and free, expressing the joyful abandon of living in the ocean.
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?
The decline of our oceans that support our food chain, atmosphere, economy, and quality of life.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Every journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step; so be the change in your own life; make a small difference every day by adopting an ecofriendly lifestyle that respects all the diversity of life around you and encourage others to be respectful as well. Resist the mainstream mindset that accepts the notion that it is ok deplete all our natural resources for our immediate short term pleasure.
August 28, 2006
Kani Meyer
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Kentucky
Today's Date: 8/28/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Perhaps the most moving experience was the sight of female leatherback turtles struggling to haul themselves up a beach in Trinidad to lay their eggs. The thought that this action has been going on for thousands of years (perhaps millions) and that these habitats are now endangered by humans made it a particularly poignant experience.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Growing up I had the wonderful experience of spending summers on an island in Maine. We hiked mossy trails, boated to nearby islands to rock hop around their perimeters, visited remote fishing communities and just had the time and interest to learn the plants and birds of the region.
Now? I am on that island as I write this. I am the 8th generation here so the roots grow deeply.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I really have no favorite...I love and respect all animals except, maybe the tick...
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?
Human population and the pressure it puts on all the other organisms with which we share this planet is the biggest threat I see today. We need to realize that the planet is not here to serve us but that we are here due to the nature that surrounds us and that has informed our evolution.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Humans are causing the largest environmental changes that are happening today. We must remember that life on Earth will go on, but that we as a species may not due to our impetuous misuse and misunderstanding of how Earth systems work.
Today's Date: 8/28/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Perhaps the most moving experience was the sight of female leatherback turtles struggling to haul themselves up a beach in Trinidad to lay their eggs. The thought that this action has been going on for thousands of years (perhaps millions) and that these habitats are now endangered by humans made it a particularly poignant experience.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Growing up I had the wonderful experience of spending summers on an island in Maine. We hiked mossy trails, boated to nearby islands to rock hop around their perimeters, visited remote fishing communities and just had the time and interest to learn the plants and birds of the region.
Now? I am on that island as I write this. I am the 8th generation here so the roots grow deeply.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I really have no favorite...I love and respect all animals except, maybe the tick...
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?
Human population and the pressure it puts on all the other organisms with which we share this planet is the biggest threat I see today. We need to realize that the planet is not here to serve us but that we are here due to the nature that surrounds us and that has informed our evolution.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Humans are causing the largest environmental changes that are happening today. We must remember that life on Earth will go on, but that we as a species may not due to our impetuous misuse and misunderstanding of how Earth systems work.
E. Rushing
President/Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
Today's Date: August 28, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
The biggest impact on me has been with nature and the work that I am currently doing at the Garfield Park Conservatory and really understanding the impact that plants have on every aspect of our daily lives.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
My favorite public place was the park or just anywhere outdoors.
Now? Now I love being close to the water any lake or ocean.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite animal is the lion. Everyone and everything reveres the lion.
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?
The greatest challenge now is global warming and recycling. I don’t think any of us can tell what it will be in the future other than catastrophic if it current environmental issues are not addressed now!
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
My advice to everyone would be do your part now to protect the environment and our natural resources and teach your children to respect nature.
Today's Date: August 28, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
The biggest impact on me has been with nature and the work that I am currently doing at the Garfield Park Conservatory and really understanding the impact that plants have on every aspect of our daily lives.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
My favorite public place was the park or just anywhere outdoors.
Now? Now I love being close to the water any lake or ocean.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite animal is the lion. Everyone and everything reveres the lion.
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?
The greatest challenge now is global warming and recycling. I don’t think any of us can tell what it will be in the future other than catastrophic if it current environmental issues are not addressed now!
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
My advice to everyone would be do your part now to protect the environment and our natural resources and teach your children to respect nature.
Linda Cocca
Mass Audubon
Today's Date: 8/28/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
In my early thirties, my husband and I vacationed at a house in New Hampshire that had a Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds. Not only did I realize for the first time how many bird species there are, I was able to identify those that I saw.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The beaches of Cape Cod---during the off-season.
Now? Mass Audubon Sanctuaries and the national parks that I have visited.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Birds and insects.
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 wildlife habitat due to development and global warming.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Get involved in land protection in your local community.
Today's Date: 8/28/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
In my early thirties, my husband and I vacationed at a house in New Hampshire that had a Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds. Not only did I realize for the first time how many bird species there are, I was able to identify those that I saw.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The beaches of Cape Cod---during the off-season.
Now? Mass Audubon Sanctuaries and the national parks that I have visited.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Birds and insects.
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 wildlife habitat due to development and global warming.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Get involved in land protection in your local community.
Lajos Endrédi
Conservationist in Kittenberger Zoo, Hungary
Today's Date: 28.08.2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I have many “biggest impacts”… The latest was during a research on our lions and chimpanzees. We observed the behavioural effects of intensive environmental enrichment program on whole daily activities. I had arranged, and I had set the materials for it, and I was waiting… It was great to see not only the effects not only on lions and chimpanzees, but on their keepers and spectators too.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I spent my childhood on the natural banks of the Danube . I explored the new sandbanks in every summer, the animals of the unique area, and naturally the fruits of nature when I was got hungry…
Now? Unfortunately, the Danube has changed… There are no sandbanks (because of the safe sailing), the water is dirty, so swimming is too risky in it. Now I like to be in the Adriatic coast, in Croatia . I like the historical Mediterranean spirit, the sea, and naturally the wildlife of it.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
As a collection manager, always the latest animal I have arranged. But, there is a permanent favourite: the coati. Why? I think who met them, surely knows.
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 live in a country, where the environmentalism is a very low ranked question. Maintaining of (decreasing) living standard consumes the energy of people, where is no tradition of environmentalism. There aren’t wish to think about the long term future. I think this problem is typical for the all relatively poor, but well industrialized countries, as the Eastern European countries.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
The life can survive the human, but we can’t survive ourselves… One thing we should do: prolonging the deadline.
Today's Date: 28.08.2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I have many “biggest impacts”… The latest was during a research on our lions and chimpanzees. We observed the behavioural effects of intensive environmental enrichment program on whole daily activities. I had arranged, and I had set the materials for it, and I was waiting… It was great to see not only the effects not only on lions and chimpanzees, but on their keepers and spectators too.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I spent my childhood on the natural banks of the Danube . I explored the new sandbanks in every summer, the animals of the unique area, and naturally the fruits of nature when I was got hungry…
Now? Unfortunately, the Danube has changed… There are no sandbanks (because of the safe sailing), the water is dirty, so swimming is too risky in it. Now I like to be in the Adriatic coast, in Croatia . I like the historical Mediterranean spirit, the sea, and naturally the wildlife of it.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
As a collection manager, always the latest animal I have arranged. But, there is a permanent favourite: the coati. Why? I think who met them, surely knows.
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 live in a country, where the environmentalism is a very low ranked question. Maintaining of (decreasing) living standard consumes the energy of people, where is no tradition of environmentalism. There aren’t wish to think about the long term future. I think this problem is typical for the all relatively poor, but well industrialized countries, as the Eastern European countries.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
The life can survive the human, but we can’t survive ourselves… One thing we should do: prolonging the deadline.
Tamlin Grier
Freelance Photographer, South Africa
Today's Date: 28 - 09 - 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
For me it has to be going to the forest in Wilderness by myself I was filled with so much joy and freedom everything seemed to come alive I wasn’t observing it anymore but for the first time I felt like I was truly apart of everything that surrounded me
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I grew up always being somehow in the outdoors either beach, or farms nothing specific just outside in general
Now? Anywhere outdoors outside of cityscapes fresh air doesn’t matter where
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I can't think of a specific one but since childhood black panther's and Indian tigers have always fascinated me their whole presence and respect that they demand and their elusive nature
just magical creatures
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'm no professional but i would have to say that I think it has to be our eating habits we've become so use to putting our wants before our needs in all aspects of our life that it has lost its sacredness thus leaving us void of rational thinking and we end up using and abusing all natural resources putting all kinds of toxins into our natural environment and our bodies which are supposed to be holy temples
one of the greatest challenges i think is not what we need to change physically but our mindsets about life
first we think then we feel then we act
so to change anything we need to go to the root our hearts and minds
challenge ourselves and our so called beliefs
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Become more aware, fill the emptiness you have inside with it's true longing a spiritual relationship with God and start living your lives according to His laws not our flawed understanding thereof
Today's Date: 28 - 09 - 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
For me it has to be going to the forest in Wilderness by myself I was filled with so much joy and freedom everything seemed to come alive I wasn’t observing it anymore but for the first time I felt like I was truly apart of everything that surrounded me
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I grew up always being somehow in the outdoors either beach, or farms nothing specific just outside in general
Now? Anywhere outdoors outside of cityscapes fresh air doesn’t matter where
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I can't think of a specific one but since childhood black panther's and Indian tigers have always fascinated me their whole presence and respect that they demand and their elusive nature
just magical creatures
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'm no professional but i would have to say that I think it has to be our eating habits we've become so use to putting our wants before our needs in all aspects of our life that it has lost its sacredness thus leaving us void of rational thinking and we end up using and abusing all natural resources putting all kinds of toxins into our natural environment and our bodies which are supposed to be holy temples
one of the greatest challenges i think is not what we need to change physically but our mindsets about life
first we think then we feel then we act
so to change anything we need to go to the root our hearts and minds
challenge ourselves and our so called beliefs
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Become more aware, fill the emptiness you have inside with it's true longing a spiritual relationship with God and start living your lives according to His laws not our flawed understanding thereof
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