The earth is old. 5 billion years old. In that time, millions of species have evolved and become extinct. Humanity is but a temporary blip in this vast canvas over time. And yet, in that short time, we have somehow managed to impact the environment in ways very few other life forms have. And these changes have left permanent scars, and has happened at a rate faster than the life in this planet can adapt. Examples abound, from increasing CO2 levels, rapid deforestation, and higher-than-average rates of species extinction. And at such a scale, these impacts are but a statistic. And when a calamity becomes a statistic, we often tend to ignore it. And change never happens.
What triggers change is usually individual events that take on viral lives of their own - the death of the last wild southern white rhino, the recent tragic killing of a pregnant elephant in India, the illegal trophy hunting of Cecil the Lion, the death of Harambe, and so many more. It was one such event that spurred me think of the pain and the grief these creatures go through from a decision not of their in making. It was, needless to say, an emotional day.
These animals paid and continue pay the price for a choice humanity made. One cannot reverse it, but I hope to help reduce the impact we have impressed on the one life-bearing planet. On this World Environment Day, both my partner and I have pledged to donate 5% of our income to charities focused on preserving the environment, and on helping the other species who cohabit this planet survive and thrive. It may be a small amount, but over time, we hope to increase it and have even more impact.
Well you join me?
