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Distance does not afford us any protection anymore, and we are not immune to what happens in the rest of the world. Globally we are facing the 6th mass extinction of species in our planet’s history, one driven solely by the presence and actions of one species – our own. As conservationists and educators, we have a responsibility to protect endangered species, a responsibility to those people we are trying to teach, and an overall responsibility to increase awareness of issues that will impact the natural world. Collectively in NZ, and as a small country with only two degrees separation between each of us, we are in a powerful position to bring the population issue to the attention of the public, education providers, conservation organisations, media and our policy makers. Edward O. Wilson, author of the Diversity of Life, stated “Human demographic success has brought the world to this crisis of biodiversity. Human beings ... have become a hundred times more numerous than any other land animal of comparable size in the history of life ... Our species appropriates between 20 and 40 per cent of the solar energy captured in land plants. There is no way that we can draw upon the resources of the planet to such a degree without drastically reducing the state of most other species...”. It is therefore our time to act and to encourage action before more of our species are relegated to the history books. And now we will let the book do what it does best: deliver its message of wonder, loss, horror and hope through its compelling imagery. And then we invite you to join us, to start the discussion about overpopulation here in NZ . Visit us at the Facebook link below and make your views heard!
Child: Omo girl in Ethiopia. Photo: Hans Sylvester
“Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking so that humanity stops threatening its lifesupport system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own – indeed to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder “– Wangari Maathai LINKS www.populationscount.co.nz populationspeakout.org/the-book/ populationspeakout.org/the-campaign/ www.facebook.com/pages/Why-PopulationsCount/298974280152397?ref=hl
As far as the eye can see, greenhouses cover the landscape in Almeria, Spain. Photo: Yann Arthus Bertrand
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Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden