Category Archives: Kindness

Animals, Kindness, Leadership, Seals

Happy Seals

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Marine Mammals of Maine

I sometimes feature a nonprofit organization which is doing important work to save some of the precious wildlife on our planet.  So, today, I am sharing some news from Marine Mammals of Maine.  As you know, I love seals.  I am happy to report the group has admitted 48 animals into its facility.  Some seals needed critical care and others had been stranded because their mother could not care for them.

Here are two highlights – the organization responded to 100 stranded marine mammals in southern and mid Maine and it admitted 48 seals into its triage facility, including gray, harp and harbor seals.  In the past, it admitted an average of 40 seals over the entire year.

I am very happy to know many people are working to make a positive difference for these precious animals and I applaud them for their efforts.  Please consider making a donation of your money or time to your favorite animal shelter or animal welfare organization.  I also include a link below for Marine Mammals of Maine.  Thank you.

https://mmome.org/

Children, Kindness, Leadership

A Young Woman and Her Video

Whether we know it or not, we all affect one another and are responsible for one another.  Yet we often close our eyes and go about our own daily business.  In this time, and in this world, we must realize we are responsible for the well-being of a complete stranger and of the smallest animal.  Once we recognize how inter-connected we are only will this world become a better place.

Take a moment and ask yourself, ‘How can I make a difference?  When you have your answer, go out and do it.

Please watch and share this heartfelt video from a young ballerina.

Thank you.

Animals, Kindness, Leadership, Orangutans

Orangutan Hero

6 Young Orangutans

As many of you know, I recently went to a conference sponsored by The Climate Reality Project.  The conference topics included climate change, communication, social justice, sustainability, and alternative energy solutions.  All areas are of interest to me but I found myself keenly focused on how to create the right conditions to speak with someone, especially when that person has a different mindset and an opposing point of view.  Atmosphere is important, and so is understanding that certain people will be more open to facts than others.  A well-known professor said we need to focus on the positives, rather than telling the other person she or he is wrong.  With that in mind, let me tell you about a hero.

Daniel Stiles is a detective, researcher and well-known author who has traveled across the world to save many animals who are about to become extinct.  He focuses on gorillas, chimps and orangutans, and rescues them from ape traffickers.  Sadly, ape trafficking is part of the illegal wildlife trade, a far-reaching business that is worth billions of dollars.  Unlike rhinoceros horns, tiger furs and elephant ivory, ape smuggling involves live animals –some of whom are only a month old.  Of those animals that are found, and that is usually one out of ten, they are discovered hidden in plastic bags in hand baggage, or beaten so badly and drugged that they need serious rehabilitation.  Gorilla babies cost as much as $250,000 and are in high demand.  Like orangutans, they are prized for their intelligence, sensitivity, empathy, and understanding.

Most recently, Daniel did work in Bangkok, Thailand.  He set up, with Freeland (a nonprofit group which combats human and wildlife trafficking) and Thai police, a sting operation to save some orangutans with the infamous “Tom”, a well-known smuggler.  Luckily, he was able to rescue two tiny baby orangutans that were found in the backseat of a taxi cab.  Sadly, Tom was nowhere to be seen.  I know there are other heroes out there working to improve the plight of animals, and hope you are one of them too.

Animals, Kindness, Leadership

Wildlife Trade

Tiger and its cub

I was catching up on my emails and received this beautiful photo from a fellow environmentalist.  I thank her and am so grateful she sent it.  It reminded me, again, that we all wish to be safe, to love and protect our offspring, and to be free.  With that in mind, I urge you to do whatever you can to protect wildlife.  Sadly, we are in the midst of the sixth greatest extinction of all time.  Species are disappearing due to climate change and the human appetite for wild goods such as leopard coats, tiger skins and cobra boots.  The illegal wildlife trade is worth millions, and only 10% of global trade in banned wildlife is intercepted.  Please make sure to support activities which protect our animals, not kill them.  Thank you.

Animals, Kindness, Leadership

Some Good News

Geese

One day I was walking home from work and was feeling the heat, it was 96 degrees Fahrenheit.  As I continued on my path past the park I was carefully looking for the geese and their goslings.  Based on my previous sightings, I knew there were at least two pairs of parents and six goslings.  I was concerned about them becoming dehydrated or burning their webbed feet on the black asphalt.  After a few minutes I was relieved to see four goslings sitting right next to the lower basin of the park water fountain with their parents protectively watching them.  I made sure the basin was filled with some fresh water and then turned around to discover someone had left a container filled with water in the middle of the walkway.  There were the other two goslings and their parents.  What a relief.  I felt so happy that I was not the only one thinking of the animals.  And I even had a renewed sense of humanity’s goodness.

I took a photo of the goslings next to the fountain while one of them was staring up at me.  Hopefully, you like it.  Animals are so much like us; they need water and food, and a safe place to live.  With that in mind, I thank you for making the world a better place by your actions, and for taking care of the animal kingdom.  Our actions, be they little or big, make such a difference.  And I am betting you feel really good when you do something for someone or something outside of yourself.

Animals, Forests, Kindness, Leadership

Orangutans – Shocking!

Photograph by Mattias Klum, National Geographic Creative
Photograph by Mattias Klum, National Geographic Creative

I just read something I did not wish to see.  “The Guardian” headline said Bornean orangutans are now critically endangered because of shrinking forests.  Trust me, as an animal lover and environmentalist, I did not want to see that headline.  I would have preferred to read something like forests are growing and orangutan populations are increasing.

Because of habitat loss, illegal hunting and forest degradation we are going to see an 86% decline in the orangutan population between 1973 and 2025.  You are all intelligent readers, but let me put it starkly, that means if you have 100 orangutans only 14 would be left!  The other reality worth noting is that orangutans only reproduce every six to eight years.  So that means it is inherently much harder for orangutan populations to rebound.

So what can I say to make any of this sound more uplifting and less depressing?  Point one, Bornean orangutans are very adaptable and can survive in a degraded forest.  Point two, we can take actions to ensure that the current number of Bornean orangutans, which stands at 41,000, increases.  Please check the label and read ingredients for the foods you eat.  If palm oil is listed Don’t Buy It.  I repeat, don’t buy it.  Palm oil is one of the top reasons forests are being destroyed and depleted.  Point three, your actions make a difference.  Thank you.

Animals, Kindness, Leadership, Life, Nature

In Honor of Earth Day

seal

Tomorrow is Earth Day and I wish to share the wonderful piece of advice below.

“Treat the Earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” –American Indian Proverb

Animals, Kindness, Leadership

Thrombosis – What is it and can it affect you or your pets?

Katie's+Voice+Event+in+IllinoisI became aware of thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms about five years ago and wanted to share what I know about them with you.  In a nutshell, thrombosis means your blood is clotting.  Blot clots occur for a number of reasons including immobility, damage to a vein, or because of health and environmental reasons.  When a clot blocks a blood vessel it can cause serious health problems and even death.  An embolism occurs when the clot breaks up and pieces of it enter the lungs.

I urge you to learn more and protect yourself, your loved ones, and your pets.  And perhaps you would like to support the fundraiser noted in the photo to help promote awareness and prevent needless tragedy.  Sadly, the young lady pictured above died because people in her life (including doctors) were not aware of the signs and symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

Some signs and symptoms include: redness, swelling, and difficulty breathing.

For more information and tickets please go to the following  website. http://www.katiesvoice.org

Thank you.