We are now losing orangutans at a rate of 25 a day as a result of unsustainable palm oil. Rang-tan represents all of these orangutans whose home, the Indonesian rainforest, has been destroyed for palm oil plantations by big brands like Unilever, Nestle and Mondeléz (who make Cadbury's).
The beauty of our planet Earth depends on life, just as life depends on the beauty of our planet. We humans can appreciate its breathtaking beauty. We stand in awe of its mountains and rivers; of its great lakes and its rainforests. We share our photos on social media, as more of this world has become accessible to us. We have the power to destroy, and the power to protect and nurture it.
Nature is our treasure. Perhaps this is because it needs protecting from us. We have become its biggest threat.
Yet, we rarely take the political decisions necessary to protect it. Utility always seems to prevail. We need more food to feed a growing population. We need more houses and more roads to link them to places of work. We need more, and more, and more. "Need' is the buzz word. Necessity!
"More" became our political mantra under the guise of 'growth'. Growth is 'good', let's grow! For decades 'growth' has dominated the political landscape. It has been a political 'get out of jail' card.
Instead of sharing more fairly and judiciously the precious resources of our planet, we plunder more. Inequality is dealt with not by 'redistribution' but by growth. If the rich are allowed to get richer, then we will all be better off. 'Greed' of the wealthy has been wrapped up and packaged as a new form of goodness. It is called greed only if they don't pay their taxes - 'their fair share'. But there is nothing 'fair' about it. It is simply the freedom to exploit the worlds resources and continue to plunder our fragile planet.
We are the children of this Earth. All it takes is the political will to act. We need to save our planet from ourselves.
Populist Politicians focus on migration and the call for 'protectionist borders'. They want to erect walls to keep people out. Yet, what needs protecting is nature. Can we do that?
Instead of erecting 'walls' we need to understand what drives human migration. Not least of the factors driving human migrations are wars and climate change. Instead of turning inwards, we need to look at what we are doing to our planet.
We need to create sustainable living that fosters and works with our planet. This requires difficult political and lifestyle choices. Global trade is driving climate change.
This is why I am supporting Greenpeace.
The beauty of our planet Earth depends on life, just as life depends on the beauty of our planet. We humans can appreciate its breathtaking beauty. We stand in awe of its mountains and rivers; of its great lakes and its rainforests. We share our photos on social media, as more of this world has become accessible to us. We have the power to destroy, and the power to protect and nurture it.
Nature is our treasure. Perhaps this is because it needs protecting from us. We have become its biggest threat.
Yet, we rarely take the political decisions necessary to protect it. Utility always seems to prevail. We need more food to feed a growing population. We need more houses and more roads to link them to places of work. We need more, and more, and more. "Need' is the buzz word. Necessity!
"More" became our political mantra under the guise of 'growth'. Growth is 'good', let's grow! For decades 'growth' has dominated the political landscape. It has been a political 'get out of jail' card.
Instead of sharing more fairly and judiciously the precious resources of our planet, we plunder more. Inequality is dealt with not by 'redistribution' but by growth. If the rich are allowed to get richer, then we will all be better off. 'Greed' of the wealthy has been wrapped up and packaged as a new form of goodness. It is called greed only if they don't pay their taxes - 'their fair share'. But there is nothing 'fair' about it. It is simply the freedom to exploit the worlds resources and continue to plunder our fragile planet.
We are the children of this Earth. All it takes is the political will to act. We need to save our planet from ourselves.
Populist Politicians focus on migration and the call for 'protectionist borders'. They want to erect walls to keep people out. Yet, what needs protecting is nature. Can we do that?
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| Photo courtesy of Greenpeace |
Instead of erecting 'walls' we need to understand what drives human migration. Not least of the factors driving human migrations are wars and climate change. Instead of turning inwards, we need to look at what we are doing to our planet.
We need to create sustainable living that fosters and works with our planet. This requires difficult political and lifestyle choices. Global trade is driving climate change.
This is why I am supporting Greenpeace.
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