"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead, American anthropologist, 1901-1978
World Lions’ Day is ROARING towards us (it’s on 10th August 2020) and in doing some research for this website to put up something about it, I have as always found myself getting very immersed in some of the fantastic work that charities are doing.
One of the amazing programmes I found out about today was about a very special dog called Kura and Kura’s Pride.
Kura lives with the team working with the charity Ewaso Lions, who promote wildlife-human co-existence. They believe "the long-term survival of lions and other carnivores depends on finding ways people can coexist with them".
Kura turned up in the charity’s camp on the day of the Kenyan National Elections back in 2013. He was lost and lame and looking for somewhere safe to stay. And 7 years on, he is still with the camp!
And now Kura is heading the Kura Pride initiative, which is working to improve domestic dog welfare in Northern Kenya.
During the period October 2019 and June 2020, Kura’s Pride and partners managed to vaccinate over 2,600 animals against rabies and distemper. These two disease harm people and wildlife so it’s a wonderful thing to get the jabs done.
This video tells you more about it. I was struck by how happy everyone looks, dogs and people.
Kura is the Director of Emotional Stability for the charity Ewaso Lions. As such, he warns everyone of poisonous snakes and leopards nearby, and of course he loudly announces any visitor to camp.
Help #WorldOceansDay grow the movement to protect our blue planet, using #ProtectOurHome
The 2020 Focus – or theme – is all about uniting conservation action to grow a global movement calling on world leaders to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030. This essential need is called 30x30. If we can safeguard at least 30% of our ocean through a network of well protected areas, then we can ensure a healthy home for everyone!
Two things you can do:
First, sign the petition calling on world leaders to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030. Today, only 15% of land and 7% of our ocean are protected – and the aim is to protect 17% of land and 10% of ocean by the end of 2020.
Many of our world leaders however need a really good kick up the backside if these are to increase. They don’t quite seem to understand that the natural world provides critical resources which sustain life on earth. We need clean air to breathe. We need clean water to drink. We need good food to eat. We need medicines. We need the resources the natural world provides. Animals need it too.
So let’s give them a good kick up the backside and campaign for nature: Sign the petition here
Secondly, take a good look around the World Oceans Day website and see what is happening. There are resources you can download and use to spread the word. Some of these are for specific marine species such as sharks, rays, seals, hammerheads, turtles, dolphins and penguins. Others are for areas such as corals. And they come in different languages, too.
The 5th June is World Environment Day It’s time #ForNature
Colombia is the host nation
This year, the global host is Colombia. The country is home to 51,000 species with the largest variety of birds and orchids in the world. It ranks second in diversity of plants, butterflies, freshwater fish and amphibians and they flourish in over 300 types of ecosystems, some of which are in protected areas. Find out more about Colombia here.
We need nature
As the website points out, our food, air and water all come from nature. And clearly we are living in times when nature is sending us a very strong message:
To care for ourselves, we must care for nature. Or, as I like to put it, look after earth, and she will look after us.
We need to build back better for People and Planet.
Visit the website – there’s a lot to get involved with including a biodiversity quiz,
There’s a practical guide for individuals, faith groups, businesses, cities, governments, schools, universities, youth groups and civil society. You can access it here.
Please at the very least, take time to read this tool kit. Amongst other things, it explains that the five main drivers for biodiversity loss are:
Land-use change – our demand for food and resoruces are driving deforestation and destroying natural habitats world-wide.
Over-explotation of plants and animals, from the large to the tiny, with fishing, logging and poaching threatening many speicies from the pangolin to the beluga sturgeon
Climate Emergency – our warming seas are melting sea ice, so affecting polar bears, seals and fishing birds. Our coral reefs are in trouble. One in six speices could be threatened with extinction by 2050 if warming trends continue.
How to help World Environment Day
Learn – this is a great chance to find out about the wild species nad habitats we share the planet with.
Share – why is it time #ForNature? Share why you love our natural world.
Act – Act on what you’ve learn to help end biodiversity loss and th climate crisis. Then we can give nature the chance to heal and ensure a better and healthier future for everyone.
There are plenty of ways we can all act as indivdiuals to save nature, from chainging our diet to travelling less, from leaving wild green spaces in our gardens so that pollinators and ground dwelling insects can thrive. We can stop using single-use plastics, and recycle as much as we can. Grow your own (herbs on a window sill for instance, fruit bushes on a patio) and buy locally produced products and foods.
This report has steps groups can take to make a difference and they are worth exploring to see what you can do as a group.
There’s lots of help for schools as well.
Let's all stand up for nature
Some people will may drag their feet and complain. Let them. We cannot afford passengers now on this drive to look after nature. We need to have the courage of our convictions and really start making a difference #ForNature.
This petition is to the Government of Queensland, and Care2.com's The Petition Site is running it.
The koala could go extinct within our lifetime, according to researchers. This is mainly because state governments have been much too lenient when it comes to clear-cutting in the koala's last remaining habitats.
For instance, between 2012 and 2016, five thousand koalas died becuase of habitat lost, and 94% of them died because of rural deforetation. Koalas in Queensland are losing ground to huge stores and skyscapers thanks to the threat of new developments.
Unfortunately, the previous premier rolled back tree-clearing laws.
The new premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk is thinking about introducing new measures which would put an end to endless destruction of the koalas habitat.
This petition is about speaking up for koalas, being their voice, and asking the Palaszcuk government to pass new tree-clearing restrictions today. The koalas can't speak up for themeslves - they have no voice. We need to be their voice instead.
The theme “Our solutions are in nature” emphasises the importance of working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature.
2020 is a year to reflect, grab the moment and come up with creative and innovative solutions. We all need to work to stop biodiversity loss, for all people and all life on Earth.
