It's surprising that the image of Noah's Ark is used so often, even in our modern and scientific age, to describe the complex biological "vessel" planet Earth. Well, the ark is springing lots of leaks, like the cartoon above, and the crew is desperate to figure out what to do with the woodpeckers.
There is a UN conference on biodiversity going on right now in Nagoyo, Japan that is stalled on how to address the alarming loss of species around the world. The trouble is that it is actually the humans who are sinking the good ship Earth, because of our sheer numbers and our disregard for the diversity of creatures.
Once again a conference intended to protect the planet is going nowhere, with disagreements over funding and timelines. Governments already anxious about faltering economies are reluctant to commit to protecting species and habitats. We don't seem to get it that if we don't we will be left with a world populated by coachroaches, weeds, and starving humans.
Why do you think we are unwilling to stop "soiling our own nests?" Do you think it would be brave or foolish for our own government to commit to hard targets for biodiversity protection?
It's infuriating, to say the least; but also to be expected. When economies sour, and jobs are on the line, we tend to look at causes like the environment as "fringe" or "fat" causes that must be cut or back-burnered.
ReplyDeleteWe'll get it some day. Probably in the months leading up to "too late."
Our current Government will never get it. Ian is right, it comes down to the money.
ReplyDeleteThese conferences on the environment make me wonder: Did they all fly in? Are they eating local food and staying in ecological residences? How much do these very events affect our environment, not to mention our economy?
ReplyDeleteI sure hope they don't wait until its too late. I think it will be a very courageous step to start changing the way we live. It won't be easy, and there are some ways in which it might help our economy, but it would certainly hurt in the shortrun.
Canada has been given an award during this conference! The trouble is, it's the Dodo Award, handed out to the country which has the greatest potential to do good which instead chooses policies and practices leading to extinction. Infuriating. Doesn't get it. Makes me wonder. I concur with each of these sentiments.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I'm at the point where I wouldn't care if our delegates went to these conferences in coal-fired ships and trains as long as they actually achieved something.
Thanks.
It's one of those cases where the answer is as plain as the nose on your face, but no one has the political..."BALLS" to do anything about it.
ReplyDeleteLook at the whole incinerator issue. Driven by money and jobs with little concern for the enviroment, or the will of the people. It's good that we now have a council that is more concerned with their constituents.
We are an equal opportunity church sjd, so our politicians need to have ovaries as well.
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