Introduction to the Growing Environmental Crisis

The purpose of this civic issue’s blog is to explore the harmful effects that our exploitation of the environment has on the natural world. Whether it’s as large scale as the depletion of the Amazon Rainforest or as seemingly insignificant as the growing number of landfills, all our actions have impacts on the environment around us. It is only us who can ultimately decide whether we want to save it or help destroy it.

The most heartbreaking part is that the ones who suffer most from out ignorance and sheer cruelty are the other creatures of the planet who we are supposed to live in harmony with. Our greed and insensitivity has led to the destruction of thousands of natural habitats like the coral reefs, rainforests, and arctic tundras as well as the loss of millions of innocent, peaceful, and undeserving lives. It is up to us to prevent the further degeneration of our (and the animals’) only home’s biodiversity.

According to World Wild Life Fund for Nature (http://www.worldwildlife.org), one of the largest non-profit international organizations dedicated to the conservation of biodiverstiy and reduction of the human footprint, 17 species including the Amur Leopard, Black Rhino, and Mountain Gorilla are critically endangered. This means that these species have an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Amur Leopard- Critically Endangered

The Amur Leopard- Critically Endangered

 

The Black Rhino- Critically Endangered

The Black Rhino- Critically Endangered

 

The Mountain Gorilla- Critically Endangered

The Mountain Gorilla- Critically Endangered

Aside from those species that are critically endangered, an additional 48 species are either endangered or highly vulnerable to endangerment.

In addition to dwindling species, our world’s most unique and precious habitats and ecosystems are being exploited for natural resources- so much so that they have virtually been destroyed, along with their peaceful inhabitants. Places like the Amazon (South America) , Southern Chile (South America) , Namibia (Africa), The Congo Basin (Africa), The Coral Triangle (Western Pacific Ocean), and The Galápagos Islands (Pacific Ocean) are just a few examples of the ecosystems that are at high risk.

Despite knowing that these species need our help to be reintroduced into their habitats (which by the way, may or may not still exist- thanks to humans once again), these animals and environments are still poached, hunted, murdered, and destroyed in cold blood for their furs, pelts, ivory, skins, and natural resources. The lucrative nature of these animals in our desensitized, market oriented, and in my opinion, bloody stupid man -made world has become more valuable than a life itself.

It is shocking and utterly shameful to understand this realization. It is my goal to show how fundamentally wrong this notion is as well as galvanize support for not only the WWF but for the promise of restoring biodiversity to our planet once again. Aside from those species that are critically endangered, an additional 48 species are either endangered or highly vulnerable to endangerment.

I plead you to please show your support and take action (https://www.worldwildlife.org/how-to-help) in any way you can. The destruction has to stop. Millions of lives must be saved. If we don’t dutifully uphold our moral responsibility for saving our vanishing world, we are no better than those who are actively destroying our planet every day. By changing small things in our lifestyle (like maybe using reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones, and trying to monitor out water and electricity consumption) and fighting for every life out there, we will make a difference.