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The Enemy Of Wildlife
Nov 9, 2009

We Have Met The Enemy
and it is us

This is a long article, but important to wildlife conservationists
http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/red_list/?4143/Extinction-crisis-continues-apace

Excerpt:
The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ shows that 17,291 species out of the 47,677 assessed species are threatened with extinction.

The results reveal 21 percent of all known mammals, 30 percent of all known amphibians, 12 percent of all known birds, and 28 percent of reptiles, 37 percent of freshwater fishes, 70 percent of plants, 35 percent of invertebrates assessed so far are under threat.

“The scientific evidence of a serious extinction crisis is mounting,” says Jane Smart, Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group. “January sees the launch of the International Year of Biodiversity. The latest analysis of the IUCN Red List shows the 2010 target to reduce biodiversity loss will not be met. It’s time for Governments to start getting serious about saving species and make sure it’s high on their agendas for next year, as we’re rapidly running out of time.”

Click the link to read more....

My Thoughts: concerning 17,291 species on the verge of extinction
(These are my own personal opinions, and do NOT reflect the efforts nor philosophy of NWHS )

I realize that's a long read, but it's very sobering information. I have dedicated the last 20+ years of my life to wildlife, and the last 5 years to general wildlife conservation. The facts in this IUCN data report is why. If a human wants to make changes on this planet, this is a great area to apply oneself. Most won't read this long post, and even fewer will like it.

A person can get to feeling quite helpless when it comes to general politics, homelessness, aids and many of the other ills that face our species. These are problems humans have brought upon ourselves. I certainly don't mean to sound callous, and I do care about this suffering and condition of the human race. I am rather outspoken about our involvement (and eagerness) to go to wars. But most, maybe all of these problems are by-products of there being way too many humans, and a population that is exploding unabated. It is politically incorrect to point this out, because of the social and religious impact of suggesting that anyone not procreate. "Go forth and multiply" is the prime directive and is a moral issue, and in some point of views, a mandate.

When will there be enough humans to fulfill this mandate? When will there be too many? When we are passed that point, and many agree we have, then the only recourse is to slow down on our population expansion. All of us are to some extent, in control of that. We, as a species, make decisions whether to bring more humans into the world, or not. Two children per two humans, then call it quits. If a human is involved in the creation of two humans, then they can voluntarily stop making more. Snip, snip. That will in theory, level the human race. In reality it would actual cause a slow decline, as losses of youth through accident or disease would lower the balance.

If we can get the world into this philosophy, it can be carried even further, for an even faster correction of all of the associated problems, and go one child per every two humans. In this vast flood of humanity, that is choking our Earth into a veritable wasteland, who can really logically say there are not near enough humans yet?

There is a biological curve observable in any studied overpopulation of any species. Too many bacteria in a petri dish, growing unchecked, consumes all of the nutrient, and poisons itself in it's own waste. Too many deer in the forest, with no predators, results in the consumption of all food source and results in a weakening of the population group, the onset of disease, and then great losses in population.

We humans are the same in that respect. The inevitable will occur no matter what technology is used to prolong that inevitability. We observe the lead lag and crash phases of any other species, resulting from unchecked population growth, but resist applying that possibility to ourselves. Some will state that we deserve that eventuality, for our greed and selfishness. Others will deny it, even as it happens (is it happening now?).

The saddest result of all, is the tremendous losses of so many other lifeforms on this planet as a result of our "success" as a species. We must not only take responsibility for our reckless growth, we also must take blame for the destruction of other lifeforms we are causing. We can blame the big industries, blame government, even blame religions, but in the end run we as individuals make the decision to make more of our own numbers. Big industry, government, even religion cannot be blamed. They react to the cause, and we create the cause. We have met the enemy and it is us.

So, while humans throw rocks at giant oil companies, factory farms, polluting industry, remember,, they are just fulfilling the needs of a population that refuses to quit growing. They are simply the supply, we are the demand. If we reduce the demand, supply (and the problems it causes) goes down.

Until then, fully expect the number of other lifeforms on this planet, to head into extinction. As humans are passing out blame, each of us needs to look into the mirror. Sorry for the rant, I guess I got carried away.

When it comes to the ever-increasing numbers of humans, I guess our whole race is getting carried away.
Visibility: Everyone
Posted: Monday November 9, 2009, 5:54 pm
Tags: wildlife extinction conservation [add/edit tags]

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