BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
UNLIKE adults, many children have learned the truth about our natural world. They see that it is under grave threat from climate change and that thousands of species are near extinction. Humans pollute the atmosphere with CO2 by burning coal and fossil fuels and this in turn is devastating all species. It is disastrous to the planet, causing severe changes in rainfall in many places like Somalia and Sudan. Millions of impoverished people, women and children, have nothing to eat and are facing famine and death due to drought as you read this. The climate change caused by burning fossil fuels non-stop is killing people, too.
So, why have we humans lost our love for the wonders of nature, the flowers, trees and animals? We ignore our dependence on nature and continue to destroy it without concern but for the cries of the child campaigners and adult advocates fighting for a clean planet and to restore the climate balance? The truth cannot be ignored. We have to act to change our dependence on fossil fuels and turn to more renewable sources of energy to stop global warming. As a result, the world’s wildlife populations dropped to an all time low by an average of 69 percent between 1970 and 2018, the WWF reported.
Populations of almost every animal on earth, except rats, ants and cockroaches, have collapsed. Humans are capable of great achievements and if set out to save the world’s species of animals, they can if it is not too late. There have been successes: tigers with protection have increased in number and the lovable panda have increased by 20 percent, thanks to conservation. Wild brown bears, boars, wolves, and white-tailed eagles are increasing in numbers in Europe but are far fewer than 60 years ago.
In the Philippines, conservationists are doing great work in trying to preserve the ecosystem against loggers and destructive mining that destroys the remaining scraps of forest that are home to the remaining Philippine wildlife. There is great biodiversity here but many species are endangered and need protection such as the Philippine Eagle and Crocodile, Walden’s hornbill, the Visayan Warty pig, the tarsier, forest turtles, rare Negros pidgins and other animals, all near extinction. Corporations should adopt more of these birds and animals and support their survival through environmental groups and conservation groups.
We all should be protecting nature and campaigning to the government to turn to wind farms, solar power and geothermal sources of electrical power generation and end coal-fired power plants and never consider nuclear power. President BongBong Marcos could be the savior of the Philippine environment and biodiversity if he did change the Philippines to 90 percent renewable energy sourcing. He must be strong-minded and never fall under the control of cronies and industrialists who are out to influence and bribe the government to enrich themselves.
The natural world, a balanced climate, its environment of trees, rivers, lakes and oceans, is all we have to sustain human life. Protecting it and all life is our claim to being a civilized, cultured people respecting rights. We can win against evil by sharing this planet with all species, showing dignity and love to all life forms. Positive action is what we need to save the planet and its biodiversity before the greedy and powerful people without conscience or concern extinguish and destroy it. (preda.org)/PN
