Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!

Welcome!

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

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

August 02, 2006

Clyde Jackman

Minister, Dept. of Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

Today’s Date: July 27, 2006

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

Ever since I was a child I have had an interest in both the sea and inland waters. In the sea I find majesty where you must develop a sense of respect for both the serenity and severity of what it provides. In inland waters, whether it be a day trouting, a morning salmon fishing or a canoe trip, it is relaxing and connects you to nature. So whether it is a day with fisherman hauling their nets, or casting a fishing rod on a beautiful, early morning in July, both of these types of experiences have impacted my life in a positive manner.

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

Not one place in particular. But, the swimming area near our community was always a favorite place. Climbing amongst the rocks and cliffs in and around the community brought fantasy and fun and games. At a very young age, going cod jigging just offshore from my community allowed you to see whales and tuna and a variety of birds.

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

The whale is my favorite animal. To see it swim and dive as it glides slowly through the water is almost soothing. Then to see a creature the size of a humpback rise out of the water, then turn on its side and strike the water sending it in every direction makes you realize how majestic these creatures are.

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 change facing us now is climate change. As our climate changes so will so much of our habitat and the impact it has on us as human beings and the ecosystems around us. This will continue to present us with the greatest challenge.

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

The key to a sustainable society is balance. While we recognize that we need the economics we must never forget that we must protect and ensure we always have our natural endowments. We are connected to the sea, land and air and we must always be mindful of this.

Eviatar Nevo

Professor of Evolutionary Biology; Director- Institute of Evolution and the International Graduate Center of Evolution, University of Haifa, Israel

Today’s Date: 2 August 2006

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

Many interactions including: Studying blind subterranean mammals, Spalax; Studying wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides; Studying the microscale model of "Evolution Canyon". You can get information on all the above in our website http://evolution.haifa.ac.il

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

Nature outings

Now? "Evolution Canyon" as a microscale model of life from bacteria to mammals

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

Blind subterranean mole rats, Spalax. After studying them more than 50 years they opened my eyes as to evolution in action including adaptation and speciation. They are the best studied wild mammals (interdisciplinarily): +300 papers and two books. Now they become very important to human gene therapy.

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 is still the ongoing population explosion and the destruction of the environment and biodiversity. Then come the challenges of global warming and environmental pollution.

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

SAFEGUARD ALL NATURAL HABITATS FROM DESTRUCTION

Kevin Parker

Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

Today's Date: 2 August 2006

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

By paying attention to ones surroundings it is possible to have beautiful interactions with nature and animals on a daily basis, no matter the habitat you find yourself in - we are not separate from nature and animals, we just frequently treat them with complete disregard and ignorance

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

Now? Yes on both counts

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

Lots of favourites, but fernbird, a species I have researched, are probably my favourite as I have spent a lot of time with them, and they have loads of character

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?

People learning to use the mush between their ears for something other than their own selfish needs and wants

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

As the great Jim Harrison says, everybody could vastly improve the quality of their lives simply by paying more attention, I would add to this-attention to themselves, the other people around them, plants, animals, fungi, mould, etc , and attention to the ground beneath their feet and the sky above the heads.