All Creatures Great and Small
Tomorrow is Earth Day 2019 and the theme is Protect Our Species. Across the world thousands of creatures great and small are declining at shocking rates.
The Natural History Museum, London, stated in February, 2019 that
” The number of insects is falling at such a perilous rate, that if nothing is done to halt the decline, our own future could be at risk.“
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day began in 1970. Global ecological awareness was growing. Rachel Carson’s book, The Silent Spring , published in 1962, was a wake-up call on pollution and the deadly effects of the chemical inscecticide DDT.
In 1969 the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught fire because it was so polluted with industrial waste. In California thick yellow smog was choking Los Angeles and oil was washing up on the beaches at Santa Barbara.
On April 22, 1970, millions of people across the US protested. In July 1970 The Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act were signed into law by President Nixon.
One Billion People
Now Earth Day is marked across the globe. In 2016 The Paris Climate Agreement was signed by 174 countries and the European Union. Next year 2020 will be the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
Earth Day Network, the world’s largest environmental movement, estimates one billion people in 192 countries will mark the day on Monday.
I am marking Earth Day, and this year’s theme, Protect our Species, by posting images of creatures I have photographed on five continents. They are all endangered. I cannot imagine a world without them. Will the next generation have the joy of seeing them in their natural habitat?
Under The Pulse, on my website, are posts I have written on the topic of climate change, endangered species and the environment. They include shrinking snows of Kilimanjaro, melting glaciers in Europe and the seed bank in the Arctic.
World Wildlife Fund. Currently 100 die each day. The math is devastating.
Earth Day 2019
As I was finishing this piece I saw and heard the new song, Earth, the brainchild of rapper, Lil Dicky. This features 30 of music’s biggest names as animated animals. Justin Bieber is a baboon, Ariana Grande a zebra, Ed Sheehan a koala bear. Rap style with street language – it is, says Lil Dicky, “all about saving the Earth” and raising awareness on the “environmental crisis going on right now.”
This will reach a generation who may never have the opportunity of seeing elephants or rhino in the wild.
Next year will be the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Stay tuned.
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Angela, thank you for writing this piece and reminding me of earth day…and why, from my perspective, making earth day, every day is important.
your photos and stories are powerful. The baby orangutan! heartbreaking and precious at the same time. I so hope that baby has a good life and can get back into the wild.
Cheryl, Thank you for your comment. it was important to me to get this written. On my travels I have witnessed how much climate change and loss of habitat is affecting wild life.
The visit to the orangutan sanctury was heartbreaking. To see babies whose parents have been killed was so sad. If we each do one little thing on this earth day to respect the environment there is hope.
angela
Like you, I have traveled to many of the wild places on earth and seen the wonderful animals and plants that live there. thanks for highlighting how important it is to save the richness of life before diversity is destroyed by the impact of human civilization. Your photos are amazing
Thank you Bill, yes, to stop the destruction and save the richness of life is so incredibly important for all of us, and also for future generations. we have been lucky to go to these places, i hope the opportunity continues. that is why i wrote the piece – in my small way to raise awareness.
Thank you for your comment on my photographs. I think they help to tell the story.
Angela