Journal Entry #1 Saving our Biodiversity

I could not agree more with the article written by Vandana Shiva. It seems to me that as humans we are so busy looking at the small things around us that we tend to forget the small things. In this case the small things being something that we do not even see, such as the microorganisms  that hold basically everything together. It is just sad to me that our world tends to care more about industry than environment. That a tree can be a home to several species and we thing nothing of it when we cut it down. The comment about saving the tigers vs saving the microbes really made me think. Why do we spend so much time and effort into saving these animals (not to say that this is wrong as they have a right to live and flourish as well) and we put basically no effort into saving the small things? I agree with Shiva, what right to we have as humans to force species into extinction? The answer is none. It is a right that we do not possess. We also do not have the right to exploit the resources of Third World countries for the benefit of our own. Our country does not have the right to get richer as the poor countries continue to get poorer. This article is one that should be read by all. It is an eye opener, we need to realize that as humans we are not the only species on this planet. The soil that we walk on contains many life forms and provides nourishment to many species. Biodiversity is life and is something that we must cherish and preserve.
Reading Healing Earth's Scars was much more promising and provided much needed hope for the future. If there is something that we all need as human beings it is hope because without it we are basically left with nothing. It is amazing to read about a six year old child who made a promise to put trees back in the mountains that were destroyed from his father's mine, and even more amazing to discover that he would in fact succeed. We are given hope for China, a country that is destroying itself, and a country that so many have given up on. If we can hold on to hope then we can hold on to the future and China has a future they are beginning to see. TACARE provides us with hope for the future for the women in Third World countries and has improved the lives on the people in villages, restoring and protecting the forests. These are things that provide us with the hope that we need and the little extra push to convince us that things can and will get better if we are willing to do something about it.
As far as saving endangered species I am an advocate for saving all species. I believe that a beetle that is being threatened to be extinct is just as important as a large mammal that is endangered as well. These creatures have every right to live on this planet and I feel that as human beings we have a right to protect them and keep them safe. A big part of my religion (Judaism) is about protecting all creatures and providing them with the respect that they deserve. We share this planet with them and we do not solely own it. This part of the book was encouraging and I hope that it convinces those who do not understand saving endangered species that it is essential to our planet and our ecosystems.