EXTINCTION !

As a lifetime admirer of Sir David Attenborough, I look forward to his latest documentary on BBC TV tomorrow night. No doubt we will all enjoy seeing the variety of wildlife species on offer, but be warned - it will not be the usual spectacle, but some heartbreaking scenes of suffering and extinction!
Human activity and our insatiable appetite for more of everything is driving the Planet into a freefall of self destruction. The simple truth is, we are living beyond our means and causing this global crisis.

We only have one Planet but using the natural resources of three !
Having seen the trailer of the extinction documentary, it will merely confirm what many have realised for decades and seem powerless to stop. This pandemic should in fact be used as a wake up call, and prompt a rethink of how we live our lives. The whole Planet and everything on it is a living entity, each species interacting and effecting all others. 

Human intelligence has to be re directed away from consumerism, and the pursuit of dreams of Happiness through financial wealth and the possession of "things". We can all make changes that would help the Planet. On a personal level, I got rid of my car 17 years ago when I moved from the country into the Town. This had many benefits, I walked everywhere which was good for my health, and saved a small fortune since. It also stopped polluting the Planet with poisonous exhaust emissions. The simple act of planting a tree is something we can all do. I don't possess a smartphone, let alone the latest model, but I manage.
Maybe it's just my generation that are fully aware of what has happened over the last 60 years. Wise people have realised a long time ago what human greed and activity would do. I have touched on this before by quoting Chief Seattle .

Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught, will we realise that we can not eat money.
 If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth.

                                I cant recall the last time I saw a Yellowhammer, or listened to a skylark, or Curlew or  Lapwing, once common bird species in decline. How sad for future generations if we don't change our ways and stop destroying the Planet.

Making A Difference

I have been heartened by the kind words of Trust Members and supporters who see the rejection of the Petition as another example of poor local representation. 1250 genuine caring people have been snubbed by the powers that be, even though they were all elected on less votes themselves.The Trust will continue to watch out for the river wildlife and take action when needed.We will not be deterred by the ambitions of a few with their own agendas. I have always been impressed by individuals who have made a global difference to humanity whether it be Gandhi or Attenborough, or thousands of others in their own way. Each of us has the ability to make our own mark. Chief Seattle was one American Indian, who also realised what humans were capable of when it came to damage to the environment. Some of his words are so profound and prophetic and are as relevant today as they were in the 1800s. "Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realise that we cannot eat money."

"If all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to the man. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth."

Then there was Gandhi,  “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
My belief that the small area of the River Nairn from the A96 road bridge to the Bailey bridge, is an area where the wildlife above and below the water should have priority - still stands.
I cannot understand why other river users can't agree to give this tiny part of the river over to the wildlife. It is pretty well unusable for anything else anyway.
What would people rather see, river wildlife or people pursuing frivolous activities ?