Leopards

What are critically endangered animals telling us about our future?

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Amur Leopard

The unnecessary and illegal killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe has brought a lot of media attention to the welfare of animals. I am deeply saddened by Cecil’s death but am grateful for heightened awareness among the public and the positive actions many are taking on behalf of animals worldwide. Airlines such as Delta, United, and American have all banned the transport of big-game trophies on their flights. They said they will not transport the remains of lions, elephants, rhinoceros, leopards or buffalo.

We desperately need to protect our animals. We are now in the middle of one of the greatest mass extinctions of plants and animals since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Plus, scientists estimate we are losing dozens of species every day. They calculate 30-50% of all species could be extinct by 2050.

Do you know which animals are on the critically endangered species list? Quiz yourself. Here are some of the answers: the Sumatran Rhino, the Leatherback Turtle, the Mountain Gorilla, the Vaquita, the Yangtze Finless Porpoise, the Sumatran Tiger, the Sumatran Elephant, the Amur Leopard, and the Pangolin.

When we lose species it is like losing pieces of a puzzle which fit together and make up a big picture. If you lose one piece small changes lead to big problems which are not easy to solve. Plants, animals, and humans all depend on one another and are part of a giant ecosystem. Losing one piece, even if it is small, unravels our sustainability, and that affects every single one of us. One thing we can all do is protect animal and plant habitats. Our very future and well-being depend on it.

Trees

What They Are Not Telling You

CowI started watching a very insightful film, “Cowspiracy”, the other day and it really made an impression on me. As an environmentalist, I know a lot about climate change and its causes, and I know a lot about the solutions. Yet I was taken aback by the things I did not know. Did you ever have that happen to you? You might have re-read a book you had read long ago, or you meet someone new and you realize there were nuances you had not picked up.

We all know, the climate is changing and our global environment is suffering. And many people can tell you climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels which add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. But what many leaders and organizations are not telling you is that animal agriculture is the number one cause of environmental destruction and devastation. Raising cattle produces more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation sector. In numbers, livestock and their byproducts produce 51% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and transportation produces only 13%. So, what we really need to talk about is diet.

A meat-eater needs 18 times more land than a vegan does in order to eat for one year. Plus, animal agriculture is responsible for 91% of the destruction of the Amazon forest. Did I mention the following fact? The waste from 2500 dairy cows equals the entire waste from a city of 411,000 people. So, you can help save the Amazon and our rainforests simply but changing how you eat. Instead of a hamburger eat a veggie-burger. Instead of whole milk try soy milk. It may seem hard at first but once you get the hang of it you will feel better, and make a positive difference for the planet.

Birds

Leadership

Over the weekend I was quietly sitting on the beach and had the good fortune to see a parade of geese walk in front of me. It was amazing. I had never before seen anything like it in my life. I always thought geese stayed near ponds and did not hang out by the ocean. As you can see from the video, there they were, magically walking across the sand. As I watched them I figured out they were on their way towards a marsh-like area of the park. I felt so grateful they were not scared of me, or any other beach goers for that matter, and there was a place for them to go to in the evening.

That experience at the beach was a stark contrast to the one I had at an outdoor art festival where I saw a very sad and disturbing sight. Just so you get a feel for the situation, the temperature was 94 degrees and it was burning hot. A popular weather site said it felt like 108 degrees. As I was wiping sweat from my forehead, I turned my eye and saw a woman walking her very small dog on the black pavement. The dog was whimpering, panting, had her tongue hanging out, and was pulling on her leash. As the dog owner walked past me the dog tried to get closer to where I stood on a small patch of green grass. Obviously, the dog needed water and probably had burned the pads on her paws. I tried to speak with the woman but she said the dog was fine and did not need anything. Everyone standing within a few yards of me was concerned for the dog.

It is so important for us to show concern for others and to appreciate the gifts nature bestows upon us. Animals are so very precious and we need to respect and care for them. How many times in our lives do we stop caring for others? How often are animals harmed? How many times do we see someone throw trash out of the car window or waste precious resources? We can all stand up and be leaders. We can make the world a better place.

Oceans, Trees

Solutions for Flooding

MarshWe know the climate is warming and that floods and heavy downpours are getting worse. We also know icecaps are melting and sea levels are rising. Many people around the world are affected, especially Bangladesh. It is one of the poorest countries in the world and one that is hardest hit by flooding. Sea levels in the open ocean are rising three millimeters per year but are rising six times faster along the estuaries of southwest Bangladesh.

New Jersey’s beaches and nearby towns are also affected by rising sea levels. Think of Superstorm Sandy and the destruction and loss it caused. One of the reasons coastal towns and cities are being devastated by storm surges is because they have lost their natural defenses. Sand dunes, salt marshes and mangroves have been removed to make way for housing, amusement rides, or hard walled barriers.

Engineers, designers and ecologists now know it is imperative to keep and plant more sand dunes, salt marshes and mangroves. Those soft barriers and natural defenses are necessary. They break up wind, reduce wave heights, and soak up tidal surges. Physics makes it clear, hard barriers (flood gates or sea walls) cannot soak up water. They just push ferocious water back somewhere else. Soft barriers can move with water and soak it up. Mangroves reduce the number of deaths from tsunamis and actually thrive on rising sea levels.

Sadly, we are destroying one percent of mangroves each year, a tragedy which goes unreported. As for salt marshes and sand dunes, I know we have already lost too many. Time is of the essence. Nature can be one of the best defenses against the worst storms and devastating flooding. It is time for us to respect nature, protect it, and work with it. Only then can we avoid unnecessary tragedy and loss.

Oceans, Trees

Beauty and Courage

I recently went to a picnic with some buddies who are environmentalists like me. As we sat around talking we shared some of our frustrations and some of our joy. It made me wonder about my next blog. What is beautiful to you? What are the positive things happening in your life? Did your son or daughter make you laugh? Did you take a walk in the park or in the forest? Perhaps you helped someone do something she could not do alone. Or maybe you looked up at the stars and recognized a constellation or two.

Sadly, there are many people who have never experienced the beauty of nature. They have never put their arms around a tree or walked in a meadow of wild grasses. Some have never seen an ocean or swam in a lake. Others just know the smell of diesel gasoline, and polluted air. Recently, I had the chance to visit Arkansas and Missouri. I was amazed by the beauty of the rolling hills and hay bales, and by all of the lakes and streams. I was happy to go swimming and breathe in some clean, country air.

Luckily, there are so many people making a positive difference in the world and inspiring others to do the same. While I was at my picnic I met Steve Posselt, an Australian who is raising environmental awareness by kayaking around the world. If you look at Steve he has the build and energy of a young man. When I asked him his age he told me he was in his 60’s. I was impressed. He is passionate about leaving a healthy planet for his grandchildren, and about ending our dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal.

I hope you can see beauty around you. And I hope you can protect that beauty. Sometimes, it just takes a little bit of courage to do so.

Elephants, Tigers

Wildlife, did you know…?

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“By destroying our planet in order to satisfy our greed for happiness we bequeath the future to the future generations a world damaged beyond repair with all the negative consequences that this will have for their lives. We must act therefore responsibly for our children and those who succeed us in this life.” Pope Francis

This quote makes me think about animals and illegal trade. Many people mistakenly purchase ivory statues or ivory necklaces for good luck or status. Other people buy medicines made from tiger parts. Sadly, at least one tiger per day is killed for use in traditional Chinese medicine. And the population of elephants in Tanzania is down by 60% because of illegal poaching. Those purchases come with devastating consequences, the death of 30,000 innocent elephants per year for their ivory and the death of innocent tigers for their body parts.

As I have mentioned before, animals are a precious part of our world. Without them we are impoverished. On a trip to Africa I once had the opportunity to watch a wild baby elephant happily play in muddy water and gleefully spray it all over herself. It was a sight that touched me to the core and one which I will never forget. Having said that, I have not seen wild tigers. Yet I am amazed by their beauty which clearly appears in this wonderful photo courtesy of tigersincrisis.com.

Illegal wildlife trade is one of the largest criminal activities in the world. It ranks in the top five of illegal business activities and is worth about $7.8 – 10 billion per year. Please demand strong enforcement, tougher penalties, prosecution, and better protection for animals. We can no longer afford to think only of ourselves. We must think about wildlife, and we must protect it.

Carbon Footprint Reduction, Children, Leadership, Uncategorized

Did you see the Pope’s latest announcement?

Pope FrancisThis morning Pope Francis released an encyclical about climate change. People have been talking about it for months and eagerly waiting to see what would be said. An encyclical is a papal letter sent to all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. Of particular note, the letter basically establishes the church’s position on an issue.

The reason this document has attracted so much attention is the fact that the Pope has taken a stand on a controversial issue, human-caused climate change. Now I have not yet read the text, but the Pope was expected to speak of climate change in broad terms and bring moral, ethical and religious concerns to a debate which has often been framed as only an environmental one.

A leaked version of the encyclical quotes the Pope as saying “climate change raises the deepest questions about humanity…what is our ethical and moral responsibility to each other?”. And I will bet we will read something about climate change affecting those who are the poorest and least equipped to handle the burdens brought on by extreme drought, devastating floods, and horrific wildfires.

The encyclical should have far-reaching effects. It may change the nature of political discussions among the presidential candidates in the United States, and hopefully will positively affect the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change talks in Paris in December. A new global climate treaty is to be crafted at that time.

Critics of Pope Francis will say that he should not discuss scientific matters. That said, I am sure he has relied on the best scientific information.  And I am certain the Pope has listened to Caritas Internationalis (the Church’s overseas aid agency) telling him that development work with the world’s poorest is being undone by climate change effects. The bottom line, those who have contributed the least to climate change are paying the highest price in terms of its consequences, and that includes the animal kingdom.

Uncategorized

Good news and how to save some money

Dollar signIt is time for some good news and a suggestion for how you can even save some money.

Many of you may already be aware of the fossil fuel divestment movement which is spreading across the United States and the rest of the world. For those of you who are not familiar with the movement, it is a movement which encourages investors (large and small) to remove their investments from publicly listed coal, gas and oil companies. So, if you own a mutual fund which holds oil company shares you would sell that fund and buy another mutual fund which has no fossil fuel shares. One purpose of the movement is to combat climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere and to hold fossil fuel companies responsible for the role they play in climate change.

Getting to the good news, more and more institutions are selling their fossil fuel investments. The list includes Stanford University, the University of Hawaii, and the University of Maine. And it includes cities such as Boulder, Colorado; Providence, Rhode Island; and the city of Moreland in Australia. But the list does not end there, for there are churches of all faiths and various foundations which have divested. What is most telling to me is that the Rockefeller Brothers Fund has divested. If the Rockefeller Brothers Fund has made their decision, so can you. And here is how you can save some money. Sell your fossil fuel investments before their share prices go any lower. I am willing to bet fossil fuel stock prices will continue to drop. If they do, and you have sold your shares, you will be ahead of the game.

Historically, there have been other successful divestment movements. One, which comes to mind, helped end apartheid in South Africa. The fossil fuel divestment campaign is already proving to be successful. Join me and many others, and be part of it.

Oceans

What cruise ships do not tell you

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Powder blue Surgeonfish

How many of you take vacations on a cruise ship? I am sure you are tempted by the idea of traveling to tropical islands and quaint cities. You might also enjoy getting a suntan while sitting by the pool. Perhaps you enjoy all of the dining and entertainment options which are found on board a larger cruiser. You could eat a four course meal with wine on one evening, see a dance performance, or go gambling. If you saw pretty pictures of yellow and blue fish you could decide to go snorkeling or scuba diving. Just beware of what I am about to tell you.

About 20 million people board cruise ships each year. That said, the average cruise ship holds about 3,000 people but newer ones hold 8,000 passengers. What the cruise ship industry is not telling you is the average ship with 3,000 people and crew produces 21,000 gallons of sewage per day. That is enough sewage to fill ten swimming pools in one week. Where does that waste go? It goes, untreated, into the water. This means harmful levels of fecal matter, heavy metals, bacteria, and other contaminants are dumped into the ocean or river. Federal law says sewage only has to be treated if the ship is within 3 nautical miles of shore. Scuba diving or snorkeling might not sound so tempting right now.

The average cruise ships emits more sulfur dioxide than 13 million cars and more soot than 1 million cars. The industry could do better. One way would be use cleaner fuels and have ships plug into onshore power. Cruise lines could also replace sewage treatment technology which is 35 years old. If you don’t like the idea of swimming with sewage, tropical fish and dolphins don’t either. The next time you book a trip, opt for an environmentally friendly cruise line.

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