“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” — Albert Einstein
Stand Up
Tag Archives: leadership
You Can Do It
Here is a short video by Greta Thunberg, someone who very much inspires me. Please watch and share it. Thank you.
We Can Do Better
As many of you know, I love the beach. There is something very restorative about feeling my feet in the sand, hearing the sound of the waves roll back and forth, and swimming in the ocean. Yet I was sadly confronted with a painful reality. I saw a beautiful seagull desperately trying to dislodge a fish hook that it had swallowed. All I could see was a fishing line and what appeared to be blood on the bird’s beak. While I reported the injured bird to the lifeguard and he said he would call it in, my thought was that the bird would die or starve before too long. Please, if you fish, have the decency to recycle your fishing lines properly, and don’t throw them back in the water. Or better yet, don’t fish. We can do better than this, folks. Birds don’t deserve to suffer at our hands.
Nicely Said
Historic time
There is no doubt, we are living through a historic moment in time and our whole way of being in the world is being challenged because of COVID-19. Some people have already lost their lives and we are all struggling to find order in the midst of the anxiety-producing situation at hand. May we remember that kindness is a gift we can all afford to give and that nature is and can be a balm to our souls.
Ann Frank, a young Jewish girl who was forced into hiding for two years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, said it well, “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.”
10 ways to help and save wildlife
- Urge elected politicians and government agencies to support policies—such as ivory bans and other restrictions on wildlife trade—that protect animals. Your voice matters!
- Visit a national wildlife refuge, park, or other open space and learn about the endangered species and other animals that live there. Stay informed and support policies that keep these areas wild and protect native species.
- The Endangered Species Act has proven to be an effective safety net for imperiled species—extinction has been prevented for more than 98 percent of the animals under its care. Urge your elected officials to preserve the important safeguards in the Act.
- One of the easiest and most effective ways to help wildlife is to preserve the environment in which the animals live.
- Participate in or hold your own local trash clean-up to help protect the habitats of endangered species and other wildlife.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle!
- Save energy. Driving less, using energy efficient vehicles and appliances, and simply turning off the lights when you leave a room reduce energy use. Many power plants rely on coal and other fossil fuels that damage animal habitats when they are extracted and pollute the environment and contribute to climate change when they are burned.
- Plant native flowers, trees, and bushes in your backyard. This gives local wild animals food, shelter, and a place to raise families. Avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
- If you see an animal at the park, on a nature trail, or near a water source, let them be and do not remove them from their environment. These animals survive best in their own habitat. Take a picture instead.
- Be An Educated Consumer and Think before you buy. Learn more about consumer choices that are better for animals and the environment.