There is a new project that I’ve heard about and I’m very happy to hear is underway.
It’s called For the Love of Bees
http://www.fortheloveofbees.co.nz/
Check it out.
I believe there may be similar organisations outside of New Zealand.
But on the flipside there is news about dogs that I’m not happy about at all.
More than 3000 dogs were euthanized in Auckland in one year. In contrast, Wellington only had 48.
Although these two subjects are relatively different, they are similar in one way in particular which is seldom discussed. Our attitudes towards nature around us as we engulf the natural habitat.
For the Love of Bees is a program that realises that the bee population has been on a significant decline for many years now. The obvious problem with this is that most of nature is reliant on our plant life growing and being pollinated. So clearly if the bee population is rapidly reduced, the amount of pollination decreases also.
Scientists have recently invented synthetic man made leaves that can produce oxygen. It’s first suggested use was for oxygen generation in space travel but there are serious doubts about the longevity of the product. Due to the product’s finite lifespan, it is more likely that investors would see it as a lucrative plan for privatising oxygen, the same way they are starting to with water… It is ridiculous to invest in producing man made leaves instead of investing in protecting the natural resources we already have. But that is the logic of the world we live in.
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/8339/20140731/who-needs-trees-first-synthetic-leaf.htm
The obvious reason for the decline of bees is the increase and spread of suburban areas. As more people are stuffed in tight fitted housing, with no yards, barely any trees, the likelihood of bees having a place to live is non-existent. Not to mention people eradicating insects at the first sight of them.
The plan of this organisation is to create a bee habitat within the city centres so that there is a place for bees in the concrete jungle. This along with education of city dwellers to the importance and ability of co-habitation possibilities should in theory go along way to help this issue.
With the dog issue, it’s much the same. People who live in suburban areas barely have room for dogs to live in their houses. The dogs end up confined in small spaces for most of the day/week/year, while their owner works and the animals are left with pent up energy. The more confined our living spaces are, the more this issue will rise. This would be why the problem is more severe in Auckland, than it is in Wellington – even though apparently it’s a mystery as to why the numbers are higher…
I realise there is more to it than just housing space but I’m surprised that whenever this is talked about, this particular issue is never raised.
Current suburban living is leaving no space for animals, essentially people are going to have to stop owning pets for it would be borderline cruelty to animals to have one.
As for renters, agents and landlords barely want to allow you to be a renter if you have children, let alone have pets! For most of society, or city/suburban dwellers, animals will no longer be a part of everyday life.
This is just two cases of human habitat consumption being a major player in animal decline or suffering, there are many cases with various animals that include mammals, sea life, birds and insects.
Sometimes the issues aren’t even habitat, they are just the simple selfish reasons of uncaring people. For example, people in the UK were dumping their black coloured pets because they apparently do not photograph well in selfies.
There is a real lack of due care when it comes to considering how our living habits affect the life of other species around us. What are the repercussions going to be in a few years time? Why can’t we as humans – the self titled ’intelligent ones’ – figure out how to have what we want but be conscientious about it as well?
There is far too much easy money to be made at the sacrifice of all. It’s about time we looked at our future, investing in nature just as much as cheap housing.
I realise this is a bit of a lecture.
But I feel that the people changing our land and moulding our future are making quick decisions based on exploiting a monetary opportunity at the cost of all other life on this planet. We, the everyday people, who aren’t spending everyday trying to exploit a dollar out of every situation, need to take a minute to figure out how each of us can do our bit to help mother nature out a bit.
I think communal projects like this are brilliant. Another being communal Gardens. There are plenty of ideas that would be ideal for all walks of life. I think we could all benefit from participating in something that helps the planet. I’ve made a start in my own yard. I’ve planted heaps of fragrant bee attracting flowers, (even though my girl is allergic to bees. She approves though) I have also made a bird house to encourage birds to live on my property as they too are having difficulty with living conditions. I’m also going to check out this bee project as well and think hard on what I can do to help out the dogs. I hope at least some of you out there read this and feel the same.
Chur
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