Private Citizen (Philippines)
Today’s Date: JULY 21, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
THE SEA AND ITS CREATURES
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
YES, THE BEACHES
Now? YES, STILL, THE BEACHES
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
DOLPHINS, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T HAD A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ANY. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY DREAM TO GET CLOSE AND TOUCH ONE. MY ONLY ENCOUNTER WITH THEM IS THROUGH BOOKS. I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT CREATURES. FROM MY READINGS, THEY ARE HIGHLY SOCIALIZED AND HAVE TRAITS WHICH ARE HUMAN-LIKE.
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?
NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, THE GREATEST CHALLENGE IS THE DECLINE OF MANY COMPONENTS OF NATURE (ANIMALS, PLANTS, RESOURCES) DUE TO DEVELOPMENT.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
THE EASIEST WAY TO CONSERVE NATURE IS TO LEARN TO LOVE AND ENJOY ITS BEAUTY AND MAGNIFICENCE.
Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!
July 20, 2006
Teresa M. Woods
Kansas State University
Today's Date: 7-20-2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
camping as a child
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes.
Now? Yes.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Elephants -- perhaps because of their intelligence.
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?
Pollution. Air pollution leads not only to direct health risks like asthma, but also to global warming, acid rain, etc. Water pollution leads to eutrophication of bodies of water as well as toxic build-up, poisoning numerous organisms or even just changing the normal chemical dynamics. Land pollution through agricultural chemicals, toxic waste dumps, etc., poison organisms and ecosystems either directly or indirectly through the trophic levels -- affecting the organisms that may normally come to mind as well as pollinators, decomposers, mycorrhizae, and all sorts of other microorganisms, and so altering ecosystem function.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Think. Seriously think your actions through to all their logical conclusions and then let your conscience be your guide.
Today's Date: 7-20-2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
camping as a child
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes.
Now? Yes.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Elephants -- perhaps because of their intelligence.
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?
Pollution. Air pollution leads not only to direct health risks like asthma, but also to global warming, acid rain, etc. Water pollution leads to eutrophication of bodies of water as well as toxic build-up, poisoning numerous organisms or even just changing the normal chemical dynamics. Land pollution through agricultural chemicals, toxic waste dumps, etc., poison organisms and ecosystems either directly or indirectly through the trophic levels -- affecting the organisms that may normally come to mind as well as pollinators, decomposers, mycorrhizae, and all sorts of other microorganisms, and so altering ecosystem function.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Think. Seriously think your actions through to all their logical conclusions and then let your conscience be your guide.
Donna LaFleur
Past-President Baton Rouge Audubon Society
Today's Date: 7/20/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
My father, an outdoorsman, shared his love for nature with me and my siblings. I was 6 years old, hiking with him to the river to fish, when we topped the bank of the river and disturbed a Great Blue Heron, who gracefully took off for parts downstream. That beautiful image is still imprinted in my mind, and as my first memory of "nature," it is one I experienced with the same wonder and awe that now characterizes my admiration and reverence for the natural world.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The forest and the river have always been my favorite places - from the swimming hole I enjoyed as a child near Covington, Louisiana, to the hiking trails I visit today throughout Louisiana and Mississippi.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Difficult to choose from such a wondrous variety of life forms - but I seem to be drawn to birds. Flying is a skill we humans have long desired, from the seemingly magical flight characteristics of the hummingbird to the strength, speed and accuracy of a falcon. The personality, affection, intelligence and communicative skills of my pet parrot have endeared her to me, so while I greatly appreciate other animals, birds are my favorites (don't tell the dog).
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?
Global warming will bring serious consequences to our world, but it's impossible for me to forget that water usage and availability is also of prime importance, as well as the destruction of habitat for countless species of plants and animals. Ultimately, human overpopulation and dominance of the planet is connected to all of these issues as well as others, so perhaps that's the greatest challenge facing us.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Our natural environment is being undervalued and undersold in our capitalistic society. The true value of the environment can not be measured in dollars and cents. You cannot create a healthy planet in which to live, diverse in both life forms and natural resources, with money.
Today's Date: 7/20/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
My father, an outdoorsman, shared his love for nature with me and my siblings. I was 6 years old, hiking with him to the river to fish, when we topped the bank of the river and disturbed a Great Blue Heron, who gracefully took off for parts downstream. That beautiful image is still imprinted in my mind, and as my first memory of "nature," it is one I experienced with the same wonder and awe that now characterizes my admiration and reverence for the natural world.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The forest and the river have always been my favorite places - from the swimming hole I enjoyed as a child near Covington, Louisiana, to the hiking trails I visit today throughout Louisiana and Mississippi.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Difficult to choose from such a wondrous variety of life forms - but I seem to be drawn to birds. Flying is a skill we humans have long desired, from the seemingly magical flight characteristics of the hummingbird to the strength, speed and accuracy of a falcon. The personality, affection, intelligence and communicative skills of my pet parrot have endeared her to me, so while I greatly appreciate other animals, birds are my favorites (don't tell the dog).
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?
Global warming will bring serious consequences to our world, but it's impossible for me to forget that water usage and availability is also of prime importance, as well as the destruction of habitat for countless species of plants and animals. Ultimately, human overpopulation and dominance of the planet is connected to all of these issues as well as others, so perhaps that's the greatest challenge facing us.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Our natural environment is being undervalued and undersold in our capitalistic society. The true value of the environment can not be measured in dollars and cents. You cannot create a healthy planet in which to live, diverse in both life forms and natural resources, with money.
Marisa Alcorta
Master's Student in Horticulture & Agronomy, UC Davis
Today's Date: 7-20-06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Living and working in the tropics during summers as an undergraduate. I spent a lot of time in the jungle, collecting and observing plants, insects and fungi. It was incredibly grounding -- stepping from such a human-dominated environment into the jungle, where plants and ferns tower above you, insects scurry about on errands I could only imagine. It gives one the gift of perspective, as I began to realize my place in the world, it gave me humility. Watching the ecology of nature unfolding before me, the cycles of life and death... it was the clearest demonstration I've ever had of how everything in the world is connected, and it was a lesson I carry with me even on the streets of bustling cities. It's hard to remember when surrounded by asphalt, concrete and cell phones, but we all depend on each other.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I grew up in Austin, Texas in a neighborhood on the edge of becoming "bad". My classmates lived on the other side of town, so my brother and I would spend summers exploring the creek that I think now was some kind of drainage system through our neighborhood. My favorite thing about the creek was watching fascinating things like tadpoles, dragonflies and minnows. I spent hours watching them, hoping to get some insight into what they were doing. I also remember exploring a razed field, where they had dug everything up getting ready to build a new housing development. I found a few arrowheads and began my love affair with rocks, I LOVED finding rocks. To this day, when I travel, I still bring home rocks. They are a tangible memory of my experiences.
Now? Now I live surrounded by flat agricultural fields, but wandering through scratchy corn plants isn't my idea of fun anymore. When I can, I go to Tahoe or Point Reyes. It's important for me to be surrounded by trees.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Well, I think dogs are the most entertaining, (thought I must say I'm not familiar with the personality of giraffes or elephants) -- but I think ants are the most interesting animal I know by far. I'm fascinated by their social behavior, and how they work as a super-organism (bees also do this).
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?
Pollution is our greatest environmental challenge at the moment. Pollution of air (global warming, particulate matter), water (pesticides, carcinogens, sediment) & soil (depletion, really, and erosion) will shorten our life spans. The environmental challenge is to stop polluting and basically re-invent industrialization so that it reverses pollution, and cleans the environment as a by-product of whatever it is we are creating.
The greatest challenge in the future for society will be of course, to make this happen and be united about it. The greatest challenge as individuals will be watching our bodies adapt or not adapt to a polluted environment... do we carry mutations that allow us to breathe dirty air better than our neighbor?
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
At least once a year, make an effort to step out of your daily life and go stand inside a forest. Stand there for a long while, and listen. Long enough that you can start to recognize different bird calls, long enough to follow an ant down the path, long enough to forget what time it is. And then try to imagine what you would do if this was your only home. Look at all the resources that you have at your fingertips -- pine needles for your bedding, plants to eat, wood to burn, small game to hunt, shade from the sun... Now scale it up a hundred thousand times.... this earth is our home, but what is happening to our resources?
Today's Date: 7-20-06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Living and working in the tropics during summers as an undergraduate. I spent a lot of time in the jungle, collecting and observing plants, insects and fungi. It was incredibly grounding -- stepping from such a human-dominated environment into the jungle, where plants and ferns tower above you, insects scurry about on errands I could only imagine. It gives one the gift of perspective, as I began to realize my place in the world, it gave me humility. Watching the ecology of nature unfolding before me, the cycles of life and death... it was the clearest demonstration I've ever had of how everything in the world is connected, and it was a lesson I carry with me even on the streets of bustling cities. It's hard to remember when surrounded by asphalt, concrete and cell phones, but we all depend on each other.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I grew up in Austin, Texas in a neighborhood on the edge of becoming "bad". My classmates lived on the other side of town, so my brother and I would spend summers exploring the creek that I think now was some kind of drainage system through our neighborhood. My favorite thing about the creek was watching fascinating things like tadpoles, dragonflies and minnows. I spent hours watching them, hoping to get some insight into what they were doing. I also remember exploring a razed field, where they had dug everything up getting ready to build a new housing development. I found a few arrowheads and began my love affair with rocks, I LOVED finding rocks. To this day, when I travel, I still bring home rocks. They are a tangible memory of my experiences.
Now? Now I live surrounded by flat agricultural fields, but wandering through scratchy corn plants isn't my idea of fun anymore. When I can, I go to Tahoe or Point Reyes. It's important for me to be surrounded by trees.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Well, I think dogs are the most entertaining, (thought I must say I'm not familiar with the personality of giraffes or elephants) -- but I think ants are the most interesting animal I know by far. I'm fascinated by their social behavior, and how they work as a super-organism (bees also do this).
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?
Pollution is our greatest environmental challenge at the moment. Pollution of air (global warming, particulate matter), water (pesticides, carcinogens, sediment) & soil (depletion, really, and erosion) will shorten our life spans. The environmental challenge is to stop polluting and basically re-invent industrialization so that it reverses pollution, and cleans the environment as a by-product of whatever it is we are creating.
The greatest challenge in the future for society will be of course, to make this happen and be united about it. The greatest challenge as individuals will be watching our bodies adapt or not adapt to a polluted environment... do we carry mutations that allow us to breathe dirty air better than our neighbor?
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
At least once a year, make an effort to step out of your daily life and go stand inside a forest. Stand there for a long while, and listen. Long enough that you can start to recognize different bird calls, long enough to follow an ant down the path, long enough to forget what time it is. And then try to imagine what you would do if this was your only home. Look at all the resources that you have at your fingertips -- pine needles for your bedding, plants to eat, wood to burn, small game to hunt, shade from the sun... Now scale it up a hundred thousand times.... this earth is our home, but what is happening to our resources?
Kathleen (Kate) Orchard
St. Christopher Heritage Society
Today's Date: 20 July 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I was not allowed to keep a pet when I was young, but I survived on the David Attenborough 'Zooquest' books (I did not have TVin those days) and Gerald Durrell's books, which had a great impact on me.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I moved around a bit - pre-teens was the wood filled with silver birch trees behind my house (Ashvale, Hants, UK). Teenage by the Thames at Reading (Berks, UK) feeding the swans and ducks and along the Kennet and Avon Canal, catching sticklebacks and cyclops.
Now? Wingfield Forest and river, St. Kitts, Eastern Caribbean
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
A hard question - there are many, but a special favorite is the Leatherback turtle, because I've seen them in their natural habitat, giant adults nesting and little babies hatching. Its the sort of thing I dreamed about when I read those wild animal books as a child.
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?
Now - Human population increase and the spread of western values of making more money. In the future - More of the same, more habitat loss and degradation and the threat of the only 'wild' things being in zoos and arboretums.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Reduce, reuse, recycle, recover.
Today's Date: 20 July 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I was not allowed to keep a pet when I was young, but I survived on the David Attenborough 'Zooquest' books (I did not have TVin those days) and Gerald Durrell's books, which had a great impact on me.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I moved around a bit - pre-teens was the wood filled with silver birch trees behind my house (Ashvale, Hants, UK). Teenage by the Thames at Reading (Berks, UK) feeding the swans and ducks and along the Kennet and Avon Canal, catching sticklebacks and cyclops.
Now? Wingfield Forest and river, St. Kitts, Eastern Caribbean
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
A hard question - there are many, but a special favorite is the Leatherback turtle, because I've seen them in their natural habitat, giant adults nesting and little babies hatching. Its the sort of thing I dreamed about when I read those wild animal books as a child.
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?
Now - Human population increase and the spread of western values of making more money. In the future - More of the same, more habitat loss and degradation and the threat of the only 'wild' things being in zoos and arboretums.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Reduce, reuse, recycle, recover.
Amartya Saha
University of Miami
Today's Date: July 20, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you ?
I’ve been interested in freshwater aquatic ecosystems since childhood, and the realization that in many parts of the world they are under threat, or are already being degraded made me wish to work towards their conservation. Mainly fishes, but also macroinvertebrates, amphibians, mollusks, etc.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, the Himalayas and Western Ghats mountain ranges in India, Arabian Sea beaches outside of Bombay, ponds in Bengal
Now? Florida Everglades, southern Arizona, cloud forests in Peru, savannah in Brazil, Atlantic forest remnants in Misiones, Argentina
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
animal.. hmm.. rhinos perhaps. i saw some in Kaziranga National Park in India long ago, and their size, speed and combination of gentle minding their business peacefully grazing combined with their power impressed me. But there are many other animals...
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?
degradation of land (through intensive agriculture mainly), threats to water resources (flow alterations, various forms of pollution), loss of biodiversity
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
try and use less of everything, try reuse ( and not just recycle ) -- could be bottles, paper.. think where the item or energy came from, what ecosystems were destroyed by mining for metal or production of pulp for packaging, pollution due to manufacturing and transport...the basic concepts of one's ecological footprint. Now depending on where one lives, there are limitations to how much one can reduce this footprint. But there still is a range of consumption and reuse, and one can decrease it.
Today's Date: July 20, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you ?
I’ve been interested in freshwater aquatic ecosystems since childhood, and the realization that in many parts of the world they are under threat, or are already being degraded made me wish to work towards their conservation. Mainly fishes, but also macroinvertebrates, amphibians, mollusks, etc.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, the Himalayas and Western Ghats mountain ranges in India, Arabian Sea beaches outside of Bombay, ponds in Bengal
Now? Florida Everglades, southern Arizona, cloud forests in Peru, savannah in Brazil, Atlantic forest remnants in Misiones, Argentina
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
animal.. hmm.. rhinos perhaps. i saw some in Kaziranga National Park in India long ago, and their size, speed and combination of gentle minding their business peacefully grazing combined with their power impressed me. But there are many other animals...
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?
degradation of land (through intensive agriculture mainly), threats to water resources (flow alterations, various forms of pollution), loss of biodiversity
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
try and use less of everything, try reuse ( and not just recycle ) -- could be bottles, paper.. think where the item or energy came from, what ecosystems were destroyed by mining for metal or production of pulp for packaging, pollution due to manufacturing and transport...the basic concepts of one's ecological footprint. Now depending on where one lives, there are limitations to how much one can reduce this footprint. But there still is a range of consumption and reuse, and one can decrease it.
Christine ACY Kumar
Private Citizen
Today’s Date: 07-20-06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I've had so many but probably the most impressive was hiking in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state and a chance encounter with a pair of Golden Eagles. It was sunset, my husband and I were watching the sky change colors at about 8000 ft after a day of stunning hiking views and a full belly of simple hiking fare and a glass of Margeaux painstakingly packed in by me secretly. As we meditated quietly on the beauty of the immense landscape which unfolded before us, elk browsing 1000' feet below us in the near valley, I felt more than heard air moving, only to discover a pair of Golden Eagles had landed in the stunted tree above our heads. The tree was all of 10 feet tall maybe - stunted by the constant winds moving through this region of the pass. I completely forgot the sunset and my wine, and watched this pair interact for about five minutes. I truly do not think they realized we were there since we hadn't moved at all. Perhaps this was a night time roost for them. I don't know. I made the mistake of reaching for my camera and of course they saw the movement of my hand long before I could raise the camera. They took off immediately, falling with the effects of gravity on their impressive weight until their wings got lift. They soared right past my face - perhaps all of 6 feet away. I looked into the eyes of the one bird and felt like I connected to it for an eternity. Of course, it was only a split second. Then I felt the wave of air pushed by their wings blast across my face.
Wow! The majesty of such an experience is not one you forget anytime soon. I can still see, hear and feel them in my mind's eye as though it happened only yesterday. This was in 1994, over twelve years ago. I've experienced many other animals in the wild, some might consider them to be greater, but not in my mind. I doubt much could compare such a freak encounter with two wild Golden Eagles that I could have literally reached out and touched, if only I dared.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yeah, the brook which ran behind my house. I spent more time there than anywhere else. I still do - in my mind.
Now?
No not really. I'm stuck in a city - I HATE it. Why do people create these sterile anatural noisy ugly environments? I pine for open unspoiled spaces every day of my adult life since moving here. THERE'S NO CONNECTION TO THE LAND OR TO NATURE. Now wonder people treat the earth so badly - millions who live in cities don't even know her anymore. Or have forgotten her in the quest for human success. There is a nature preserve that is about 20 minutes from where I live. I visit there a lot. It's been the only way to keep my sanity while living in the city for my husband's job.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite class of animals are birds. Why? I guess I see a lot myself as well as my hopes and dreams reflected in them. They are intelligent, beautiful and resourceful creatures. They are bipedal just liken humans - a rare phenomenon in nature. Birds sing sweetly or at least earnestly and they can form complex social structures that never cease to amaze me. They inhabit practically every possible permutation of biome the earth has thrown at them and have taken to the air, land and sea and done it all with exquisite aplomb. While I've never met a bird I don't like, I'd be lying if I didn't say the Emperor Penguin was my favorite bird. There is not one thing about these birds which doesn’t absolutely amaze and astound me. It is my ULTIMATE dream in life to see an Emperor in its native habitat. One I have summer access to is the Hummingbird. Another extreme example of a bird which I absolutely revere.
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 threat is multi fold, I don’t consider one any worse than the other - they are all horrible:
1) Human Overpopulation
2) Deforestation and loss of habitat
3) Wanton, Abject and Senseless Consumerism coupled with programmed obsolescence to yet increases consumerism and drive the economy.
4) Reliance on oil and other dirty means of energy, and the lack of willingness to invest in REAL and VIABLE alternative energy while we pollute our oceans and parks, land and air in our never-ending quest for oil. Due to the current US administration's unholy covenant with the oil industry, sadly this attitude will continue for some time despite all the warnings from experts who can read the writing on the wall much more clearly than our politicians can. It's really ultimately the people's fault however since most put ZERO pressure on their government to actually DO something about it. We'd rather be mired down in a war for carbon in the Middle East, wasting billions and billions of dollars, than to have invested all that blood money in hydrogen research. I'm ashamed to be a human being most days, honestly.
5) Global Warming (which is really just a combination of human greed and politicians sitting around with there thumbs up their collective butts worrying they will have to make the hard decisions and commit political suicide in the process.)
Of these above, we hear the most right now about Global Warming and the release of greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere - particularly the carbon based gasses. However, in my mind, the BIGGEST problem is really human overpopulation. I think six billion people all struggling and vying for resources is what is driving the whole nightmarish scenario.
Right now, for wildlife, the single largest threat is deforestation and loss of habitat. Very few animals are not facing this threat right now.
As for part B - hard to say. I hope that we will get a handle on oil & coal consumption in the next 100 years. With giants like Indian and China rising who want to use what the West did as their models for economic development, things could get a LOT worse before they get any better. Hopefully I'll be dead by then!
I want to give the canned answer of Global warming, but really I'm going to have to narrow it down to protecting habitats and all the unique creatures who live in them. I think ultimately this will prove to be a greater challenge than Global Warming. I think that eventually, assuming we don’t' tip the canoe and screw up the earth's climate so badly that all of the polar ice caps melt and we shut down the THC ultimately plunging the earth into another Little Ice Age, protecting our species will prove to be an impossible task. Hawaii has lost three bird species to extinction since 2000 alone. Humans will continue to claim land for our burgeoning population at the expense of every other living creature. I see a future where the Amazon forest is paved and the only animals that survive are the generalists - like starlings, pigeons, tamarisk and Tree of Heaven. I see a total loss of biodiversity, and I have no clue how this can be stopped, why it seems everyone cares buut nothing really seems to get done about it or how we explain what happened to future generations. The entire concept of LAND USE needs to be completely REWRITTEN. Otherwise, Africa, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and Asia will all look like Europe. Little cutie cute controlled pseudo environments which are devoid of most of their wildlife. You'll have to purchase an entrance pass to a national park 5 years in advance to even get into it - there will be so many people and so little natural resources left.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Protect and love Mother Earth as though she is your lifeblood, because she is! Stop exploiting her and her creatures as though they are simply put here for our amusement and consumption. People like to think they are above the natural laws and even above the forces of Earth itself, but she will rise again eventually and restore the natural order. And then when calamity strikes and humans die in the millions, or possibly even billions, we will cry and blame God as having forsaken us. Really it was us that forsook the Earth, and she will return the favor in kind. It's inevitable. She's seen eternity, and she has endless days ahead. She's just biding her time right now. We are but a blink. Beware!
Today’s Date: 07-20-06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I've had so many but probably the most impressive was hiking in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state and a chance encounter with a pair of Golden Eagles. It was sunset, my husband and I were watching the sky change colors at about 8000 ft after a day of stunning hiking views and a full belly of simple hiking fare and a glass of Margeaux painstakingly packed in by me secretly. As we meditated quietly on the beauty of the immense landscape which unfolded before us, elk browsing 1000' feet below us in the near valley, I felt more than heard air moving, only to discover a pair of Golden Eagles had landed in the stunted tree above our heads. The tree was all of 10 feet tall maybe - stunted by the constant winds moving through this region of the pass. I completely forgot the sunset and my wine, and watched this pair interact for about five minutes. I truly do not think they realized we were there since we hadn't moved at all. Perhaps this was a night time roost for them. I don't know. I made the mistake of reaching for my camera and of course they saw the movement of my hand long before I could raise the camera. They took off immediately, falling with the effects of gravity on their impressive weight until their wings got lift. They soared right past my face - perhaps all of 6 feet away. I looked into the eyes of the one bird and felt like I connected to it for an eternity. Of course, it was only a split second. Then I felt the wave of air pushed by their wings blast across my face.
Wow! The majesty of such an experience is not one you forget anytime soon. I can still see, hear and feel them in my mind's eye as though it happened only yesterday. This was in 1994, over twelve years ago. I've experienced many other animals in the wild, some might consider them to be greater, but not in my mind. I doubt much could compare such a freak encounter with two wild Golden Eagles that I could have literally reached out and touched, if only I dared.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yeah, the brook which ran behind my house. I spent more time there than anywhere else. I still do - in my mind.
Now?
No not really. I'm stuck in a city - I HATE it. Why do people create these sterile anatural noisy ugly environments? I pine for open unspoiled spaces every day of my adult life since moving here. THERE'S NO CONNECTION TO THE LAND OR TO NATURE. Now wonder people treat the earth so badly - millions who live in cities don't even know her anymore. Or have forgotten her in the quest for human success. There is a nature preserve that is about 20 minutes from where I live. I visit there a lot. It's been the only way to keep my sanity while living in the city for my husband's job.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favorite class of animals are birds. Why? I guess I see a lot myself as well as my hopes and dreams reflected in them. They are intelligent, beautiful and resourceful creatures. They are bipedal just liken humans - a rare phenomenon in nature. Birds sing sweetly or at least earnestly and they can form complex social structures that never cease to amaze me. They inhabit practically every possible permutation of biome the earth has thrown at them and have taken to the air, land and sea and done it all with exquisite aplomb. While I've never met a bird I don't like, I'd be lying if I didn't say the Emperor Penguin was my favorite bird. There is not one thing about these birds which doesn’t absolutely amaze and astound me. It is my ULTIMATE dream in life to see an Emperor in its native habitat. One I have summer access to is the Hummingbird. Another extreme example of a bird which I absolutely revere.
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 threat is multi fold, I don’t consider one any worse than the other - they are all horrible:
1) Human Overpopulation
2) Deforestation and loss of habitat
3) Wanton, Abject and Senseless Consumerism coupled with programmed obsolescence to yet increases consumerism and drive the economy.
4) Reliance on oil and other dirty means of energy, and the lack of willingness to invest in REAL and VIABLE alternative energy while we pollute our oceans and parks, land and air in our never-ending quest for oil. Due to the current US administration's unholy covenant with the oil industry, sadly this attitude will continue for some time despite all the warnings from experts who can read the writing on the wall much more clearly than our politicians can. It's really ultimately the people's fault however since most put ZERO pressure on their government to actually DO something about it. We'd rather be mired down in a war for carbon in the Middle East, wasting billions and billions of dollars, than to have invested all that blood money in hydrogen research. I'm ashamed to be a human being most days, honestly.
5) Global Warming (which is really just a combination of human greed and politicians sitting around with there thumbs up their collective butts worrying they will have to make the hard decisions and commit political suicide in the process.)
Of these above, we hear the most right now about Global Warming and the release of greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere - particularly the carbon based gasses. However, in my mind, the BIGGEST problem is really human overpopulation. I think six billion people all struggling and vying for resources is what is driving the whole nightmarish scenario.
Right now, for wildlife, the single largest threat is deforestation and loss of habitat. Very few animals are not facing this threat right now.
As for part B - hard to say. I hope that we will get a handle on oil & coal consumption in the next 100 years. With giants like Indian and China rising who want to use what the West did as their models for economic development, things could get a LOT worse before they get any better. Hopefully I'll be dead by then!
I want to give the canned answer of Global warming, but really I'm going to have to narrow it down to protecting habitats and all the unique creatures who live in them. I think ultimately this will prove to be a greater challenge than Global Warming. I think that eventually, assuming we don’t' tip the canoe and screw up the earth's climate so badly that all of the polar ice caps melt and we shut down the THC ultimately plunging the earth into another Little Ice Age, protecting our species will prove to be an impossible task. Hawaii has lost three bird species to extinction since 2000 alone. Humans will continue to claim land for our burgeoning population at the expense of every other living creature. I see a future where the Amazon forest is paved and the only animals that survive are the generalists - like starlings, pigeons, tamarisk and Tree of Heaven. I see a total loss of biodiversity, and I have no clue how this can be stopped, why it seems everyone cares buut nothing really seems to get done about it or how we explain what happened to future generations. The entire concept of LAND USE needs to be completely REWRITTEN. Otherwise, Africa, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and Asia will all look like Europe. Little cutie cute controlled pseudo environments which are devoid of most of their wildlife. You'll have to purchase an entrance pass to a national park 5 years in advance to even get into it - there will be so many people and so little natural resources left.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Protect and love Mother Earth as though she is your lifeblood, because she is! Stop exploiting her and her creatures as though they are simply put here for our amusement and consumption. People like to think they are above the natural laws and even above the forces of Earth itself, but she will rise again eventually and restore the natural order. And then when calamity strikes and humans die in the millions, or possibly even billions, we will cry and blame God as having forsaken us. Really it was us that forsook the Earth, and she will return the favor in kind. It's inevitable. She's seen eternity, and she has endless days ahead. She's just biding her time right now. We are but a blink. Beware!
Paul Tarlowe
Wildlife Education Specialist, NJ Div. of Fish and Wildlife
Today’s Date: 7/20/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Hiking in the Great Smoky Mts. on a summer vacation trip when I was 10 opened my eyes to nature - I wanted to hike every trail there....
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
"The Brook" - a small brook near where I grew up. We spent our summer days there building dams, looking for crayfish, etc....
Now? Well, the Olympic Rain Forest in Washington, Mt. Ranier and Crater Lake are favorite places I've spent time, but now in NJ it would be the mountains/forests of NW New Jersey.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Don't really have one...........
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 environmental illiteracy and unwillingness to sacrifice of the American public.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We rely on them for our very existence, don't waste/ruin them.
Today’s Date: 7/20/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Hiking in the Great Smoky Mts. on a summer vacation trip when I was 10 opened my eyes to nature - I wanted to hike every trail there....
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
"The Brook" - a small brook near where I grew up. We spent our summer days there building dams, looking for crayfish, etc....
Now? Well, the Olympic Rain Forest in Washington, Mt. Ranier and Crater Lake are favorite places I've spent time, but now in NJ it would be the mountains/forests of NW New Jersey.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Don't really have one...........
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 environmental illiteracy and unwillingness to sacrifice of the American public.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We rely on them for our very existence, don't waste/ruin them.
Lauren E. Garske
Ph.D. student (Ecology)/University of California, Davis & Bodega Marine Lab
Today's Date: Thursday, 20 July 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Probably being introduced to tidepools when I was only 5 years old. My fascination with nature took hold there and continued to develop over the years as I became more aware of how each pool was a unique microcosm filled with dependencies, conflicts, and interactions. It made me realize how integrated everything is and so ecology has been a natural choice for my profession.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
the tidepools at Natural Bridges State Park, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Now? There are so many... I am especially fond of the Baja Californian desert, kelp forests along the Pacific coast, hikes among the coastal redwoods...
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Not sure that I could choose just one but for the moment, I'll venture to say the octopus because they are wonderfully interactive and curious animals, definitely show intelligence, and live a life nothing like ours!
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?
Awareness - there is as much denial about the state of our environment as there is naive ignorance. Until we collectively acknowledge issues such as human impacts on pristine environments and global warming, we won't be able to act effectively to address them. I think that recognition of our own role in the ecosystem, in terms of both our imposition of forces on nature and the loss following its degradation are essential.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Consider how your choices and actions today will be reflected in the environment tomorrow - then scale it by enough orders of magnitude to represent the global population. Whether its non-sustainable use and exploitation of resources, input of chemicals with unknown effects, or abuse/ignorance of our surroundings, there is an impact that will carry forward; be observant. The laws of physics show that energy is neither created nor destroyed - allocate your energy thoughtfully. Change and inspiration begin with individuals.
Today's Date: Thursday, 20 July 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Probably being introduced to tidepools when I was only 5 years old. My fascination with nature took hold there and continued to develop over the years as I became more aware of how each pool was a unique microcosm filled with dependencies, conflicts, and interactions. It made me realize how integrated everything is and so ecology has been a natural choice for my profession.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
the tidepools at Natural Bridges State Park, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Now? There are so many... I am especially fond of the Baja Californian desert, kelp forests along the Pacific coast, hikes among the coastal redwoods...
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Not sure that I could choose just one but for the moment, I'll venture to say the octopus because they are wonderfully interactive and curious animals, definitely show intelligence, and live a life nothing like ours!
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?
Awareness - there is as much denial about the state of our environment as there is naive ignorance. Until we collectively acknowledge issues such as human impacts on pristine environments and global warming, we won't be able to act effectively to address them. I think that recognition of our own role in the ecosystem, in terms of both our imposition of forces on nature and the loss following its degradation are essential.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Consider how your choices and actions today will be reflected in the environment tomorrow - then scale it by enough orders of magnitude to represent the global population. Whether its non-sustainable use and exploitation of resources, input of chemicals with unknown effects, or abuse/ignorance of our surroundings, there is an impact that will carry forward; be observant. The laws of physics show that energy is neither created nor destroyed - allocate your energy thoughtfully. Change and inspiration begin with individuals.
Judith S. Weis
Professor, Rutgers University
Today's Date: July 20 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
At the beach at age 7, finding a hermit crab in a whelk shell and the shell was covered with barnacles and algae. It was a walking community, although at the time I did not know the word community. I think that's what got me interested in marine biology
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Shelter Island, NY
Now? Salt marshes in Accabonac Harbor, East Hampton NY
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Chameleons in Madagascar because of their walking with a hesitation step, their accuracy with their long tongue in catching insects, and their ability to look up and down at the same time (one eye up and the other down).
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?
Global climate
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
It's the only planet we have, we should take good care of it.
Today's Date: July 20 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
At the beach at age 7, finding a hermit crab in a whelk shell and the shell was covered with barnacles and algae. It was a walking community, although at the time I did not know the word community. I think that's what got me interested in marine biology
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Shelter Island, NY
Now? Salt marshes in Accabonac Harbor, East Hampton NY
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Chameleons in Madagascar because of their walking with a hesitation step, their accuracy with their long tongue in catching insects, and their ability to look up and down at the same time (one eye up and the other down).
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?
Global climate
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
It's the only planet we have, we should take good care of it.
John Mac Carpenter
Past president of Native Plant Society of Texas
Today's Date: 7-20-2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Perhaps the biggest single thing that has caught my attention...although I grew up knowing that the area in west Texas where I grew up had been short grass prairie and was degraded to desert scrub, my first guy realization was driving to the farm where I grew up, I suddenly realized that when I was a small child I could see over the mesquite in the range land, I was now 6'2", driving over roads that had been raised more than a foot before they paved so that they wouldn't go under water during heavy rains as they did when I was a child and driving a full sized pickup instead of sitting in the back seat of a '41 Chevrolet sedan, I could no longer see over the mesquite, so I knew totally that the mesquite was a recent addition. One of my earliest memories was of the floods along the Pecos River in 1941 and then the great profusion of wildflowers the following spring and then no wild flowers until the middle 1950's because of drought.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
There was a place on the Pecos River, not far from our farm house that widened out into a good swimming hole with trees all around. Of course they were Tamarix ssp, invader plants. But it was a place where we skinny dipped and where I often went alone with a book.
Now? The place that feeds my soul the most is McKittrick canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains and the San Antonio hot springs in the Jemez mountains of NW NM.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The tiger....because of its perfect beauty, as in "tiger, tiger, burning bright, in the forest of the night." I also love the brown bears we occasionally see in the Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend National parks. They are always black there and always beautiful and have not yet become a danger to man....and are less in danger from us there than in most places.
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 heating of the earth and the increasing presence of nuclear waste being transported from place to place and then buried with little attention paid to the water tables it will eventually foul.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Please remember that the size of a man's vehicle is in reverse proportion to the size of his penis.
Today's Date: 7-20-2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Perhaps the biggest single thing that has caught my attention...although I grew up knowing that the area in west Texas where I grew up had been short grass prairie and was degraded to desert scrub, my first guy realization was driving to the farm where I grew up, I suddenly realized that when I was a small child I could see over the mesquite in the range land, I was now 6'2", driving over roads that had been raised more than a foot before they paved so that they wouldn't go under water during heavy rains as they did when I was a child and driving a full sized pickup instead of sitting in the back seat of a '41 Chevrolet sedan, I could no longer see over the mesquite, so I knew totally that the mesquite was a recent addition. One of my earliest memories was of the floods along the Pecos River in 1941 and then the great profusion of wildflowers the following spring and then no wild flowers until the middle 1950's because of drought.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
There was a place on the Pecos River, not far from our farm house that widened out into a good swimming hole with trees all around. Of course they were Tamarix ssp, invader plants. But it was a place where we skinny dipped and where I often went alone with a book.
Now? The place that feeds my soul the most is McKittrick canyon in the Guadalupe Mountains and the San Antonio hot springs in the Jemez mountains of NW NM.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The tiger....because of its perfect beauty, as in "tiger, tiger, burning bright, in the forest of the night." I also love the brown bears we occasionally see in the Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend National parks. They are always black there and always beautiful and have not yet become a danger to man....and are less in danger from us there than in most places.
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 heating of the earth and the increasing presence of nuclear waste being transported from place to place and then buried with little attention paid to the water tables it will eventually foul.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Please remember that the size of a man's vehicle is in reverse proportion to the size of his penis.
Doug La Follette
Secretary of State-Wisconsin
Today's Date: July 20, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Just playing in the local woods
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
No
Now? Many, maybe the wildernesses of CO
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Don't really have a favorite-mostly worry about habitats.
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?
Over population
Getting people to deal with this.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Elect people who care about the environment.
Today's Date: July 20, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Just playing in the local woods
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
No
Now? Many, maybe the wildernesses of CO
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Don't really have a favorite-mostly worry about habitats.
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?
Over population
Getting people to deal with this.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Elect people who care about the environment.
David Le Maitre
Dr. Natural resources and Environment, CSIR
Today’s Date: 20 July 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Two things really. Reading children’s books on natural history when I was pre-teen, particularly Gerald Durrell's books on his collecting trips to Africa which inspired a love of natural environments and of the extraordinary beauty that is there, a beauty that satisfies many longings. This was coupled with an early introduction to Rachel Carson’s "Silent Spring" which I read as a teenager and which opened my eyes to the damage being done to our environments. The second was going on family holidays mainly involving shell collecting along remote beaches along South Africa’s east coast and hiking and camping trips in the mountain areas near Cape Town.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I guess the beaches and rocky shores of the east coast although the Cederberg Wilderness Area north of Cape Town would have to come a close second.
Now? I love walking in the Jonkershoek valley where I live just a few minutes from the centre of Stellenbosch (about 40 miles from Cape Town). It's truly a beautiful valley and wonderful place to live which is why I chose to raise my children there.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favourite animals are cats, especially the smaller wildcats because of the way they move and their independence. But the leopard would have to rate as number one. There is something about the look in a leopard's eyes which is not there in any other cat I have seen. A wildness, something untamable and unpredictable, more menacing than a lion. I also admire their ability to survive in relatively densely populated areas, often with no-one being aware of their presence.
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?
Where to begin? Every environmental issue is connected to every other in our small world. There is no single "magic bullet". I think that two things are key: (a) population growth coupled with (b) the growing inequality of access to resources and wealth between and within countries. The net result is a demand for security which leads to aggression; which, in turn generates social and political instability that feeds the expenditure on "defense" at the expense of meeting real needs. The wealthy get wealthier - depleting a disproportionate amount of resources - and the poor are compelled to use what they can get at levels that they know are not sustainable. The problems we have right now will continue undiminished in the future as long as we continue down the road of depleting our environmental resources and using threats, force and corruption to commandeer what remains. Ultimately I think it comes down to fear and greed - both make people hold on to what they have rather than share.
Most people with an environmental awareness can grasp that a simpler lifestyle can be more satisfying. Most also grasp that there are important dimensions to life which feed the human spirit. I have been encouraged that an American like Barbara Kingsolvers can write essays like those in her book "Small Wonder" which show that she grasps these points. But persuading the bulk of humanity that change is needed and needs to happen soon is going to be difficult. I believe that recent studies such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment have clearly shown us that we live on a finite globe with finite resources, and that we are making a serious mess of our life support systems with, seemingly, no thought to the consequences for future generations - our children and children's children. We cannot go on like we are, but changing course will not happen easily or overnight. As a scientist and ecologist I can do what I can but we need a fundamental shift in people's expectations from life and their value systems. I am not sure how to achieve that. I am afraid that Michael Crichton is taken far more seriously than Jared Diamond, Tim Flannery or Al Gore.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Take time out to stop and think about your life and the way you live. Ask yourself: How much electricity and fuel do I use? How much time do I spend behind the wheel of a car? How much local food do I eat? How much waste do I generate? How much do I spend on things I do not really need? How much time do I spend doing simple things like taking a walk? Caring for or helping someone? Doing the things I believe I really should be doing? How much do all the things I do really add to my quality of life?
You can make a difference by changing the way you live and by explaining to your friends why you have decided to change. If you change two other people's way of life and they each change two others, it will soon change everyone. At the same time you can take what you have to spare and share it with someone or some group that will share it with someone whose need is greater than yours.
Today’s Date: 20 July 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Two things really. Reading children’s books on natural history when I was pre-teen, particularly Gerald Durrell's books on his collecting trips to Africa which inspired a love of natural environments and of the extraordinary beauty that is there, a beauty that satisfies many longings. This was coupled with an early introduction to Rachel Carson’s "Silent Spring" which I read as a teenager and which opened my eyes to the damage being done to our environments. The second was going on family holidays mainly involving shell collecting along remote beaches along South Africa’s east coast and hiking and camping trips in the mountain areas near Cape Town.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I guess the beaches and rocky shores of the east coast although the Cederberg Wilderness Area north of Cape Town would have to come a close second.
Now? I love walking in the Jonkershoek valley where I live just a few minutes from the centre of Stellenbosch (about 40 miles from Cape Town). It's truly a beautiful valley and wonderful place to live which is why I chose to raise my children there.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
My favourite animals are cats, especially the smaller wildcats because of the way they move and their independence. But the leopard would have to rate as number one. There is something about the look in a leopard's eyes which is not there in any other cat I have seen. A wildness, something untamable and unpredictable, more menacing than a lion. I also admire their ability to survive in relatively densely populated areas, often with no-one being aware of their presence.
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?
Where to begin? Every environmental issue is connected to every other in our small world. There is no single "magic bullet". I think that two things are key: (a) population growth coupled with (b) the growing inequality of access to resources and wealth between and within countries. The net result is a demand for security which leads to aggression; which, in turn generates social and political instability that feeds the expenditure on "defense" at the expense of meeting real needs. The wealthy get wealthier - depleting a disproportionate amount of resources - and the poor are compelled to use what they can get at levels that they know are not sustainable. The problems we have right now will continue undiminished in the future as long as we continue down the road of depleting our environmental resources and using threats, force and corruption to commandeer what remains. Ultimately I think it comes down to fear and greed - both make people hold on to what they have rather than share.
Most people with an environmental awareness can grasp that a simpler lifestyle can be more satisfying. Most also grasp that there are important dimensions to life which feed the human spirit. I have been encouraged that an American like Barbara Kingsolvers can write essays like those in her book "Small Wonder" which show that she grasps these points. But persuading the bulk of humanity that change is needed and needs to happen soon is going to be difficult. I believe that recent studies such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment have clearly shown us that we live on a finite globe with finite resources, and that we are making a serious mess of our life support systems with, seemingly, no thought to the consequences for future generations - our children and children's children. We cannot go on like we are, but changing course will not happen easily or overnight. As a scientist and ecologist I can do what I can but we need a fundamental shift in people's expectations from life and their value systems. I am not sure how to achieve that. I am afraid that Michael Crichton is taken far more seriously than Jared Diamond, Tim Flannery or Al Gore.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Take time out to stop and think about your life and the way you live. Ask yourself: How much electricity and fuel do I use? How much time do I spend behind the wheel of a car? How much local food do I eat? How much waste do I generate? How much do I spend on things I do not really need? How much time do I spend doing simple things like taking a walk? Caring for or helping someone? Doing the things I believe I really should be doing? How much do all the things I do really add to my quality of life?
You can make a difference by changing the way you live and by explaining to your friends why you have decided to change. If you change two other people's way of life and they each change two others, it will soon change everyone. At the same time you can take what you have to spare and share it with someone or some group that will share it with someone whose need is greater than yours.
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