Is it even possible to initiate a planet bailout?
The gap between the pressure on our natural resources and governments’ response to the deterioration is widening. Never has the world faced a more pressing crisis than the current loss of biodiversity, which affects every living thing on the planet. Shouldn’t that be scary?
This morning I was minding my own business–catching up on some internet reading–and slowly seducing my first cup of coffee when I stumbled across an interview with Bill Jackson, the IUCN Deputy Director General.
“Twenty-one percent of all known mammals, 30 percent of all known amphibians,12 percent of all known birds, 35 percent of conifers and cycads, 17 percent of sharks and 27 percent of reef-building corals assessed for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ are threatened with extinction. If the world made equivalent losses in share prices there would be a rapid response and widespread panic, as we saw during the recent economic crisis. The loss of biodiversity, crucial to life on earth, has, in comparison, produced little response. By ignoring the urgent need for action we stand to pay a much higher price in the long-term than the world can afford.”
Um, yeah, well when you say it like that… it makes me feel bad. I happen to like mammals–some of my favourite people are mammals. Do we really care about our standard of living more than we do about the health of a species that we may never even see? Is it too much out of sight–out of mind? Is it still a deeply held view that protecting the enviroment constitutes a net expense to our economy? Are we so concerned with our own welfare that we consider saving money rather than spending it on protecting our enviroment? Is that not an investment–rather than consumption? Clearly, I need to speak to the oxymoron in charge.
I don’t carry the same yardstick as our global leaders to measure my prosperity. So, tell me what to do Bill. I’ve put down my coffee and I’m listening.
~uberscribbler
UberScribbler 
Poverty is a by-product of Capitalism. Other side effects are what you described – raping and pillaging our environment to further our own financial needs.
Until our society recognizes the inherent cost to our actions, we cannot do much. We complain about the ozone being deleted by carbon emissions, yet we don’t drive less – rather than talk, we need to feel it financially. Europe has a much different view of public transportation – mainly because their fuel prices are so much higher. Gas prices going up here? Good, I’m a fan. Won’t hear me complain.
Until there are direct financial consequences we will not change. A species going extinct will not do it – we will feel bad for a moment of course, but then leave the lights on and the door open before we get in our SUV.
Black enough?
S.