Saving Half of The Earth

It's looking more clear that by 2020, two-thirds of wild animals on our planet will be gone. Life is being extinguished as fast as when the dinosaurs disappeared. Unless we stop this tragedy, the Earth’s delicate biodiversity could completely collapse, leaving our planet deathly silent and uninhabitable for humans.

Scientists say our best chance to save our ecosystems and 80-90% of all species is giving them enough safe space to thrive, then nature uses its wisdom to regenerate. It's being called The 50% Plan. To get this off the ground we have to show our governments now that people overwhelmingly want to protect 50% of Earth from deforestation, dirty energy, and industrial fishing and agriculture. 

Here's a petition: https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/protect_half_our_planet_loc_sus/

Learn more:

Could we set aside half the Earth for nature? (The Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/radical-conservation/2016/jun/15/could-we-set-aside-half-the-earth-for-nature

How do we achieve the goal? (Nature Needs Half)
http://natureneedshalf.org/nature-needs-half/how-do-we-achieve-the-goal

Conservation: Glass half full (Nature)
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v531/n7593/full/531170a.html

Sixth Wildlife Mass Extinction May Happen in 2020, Experts Say (Nature World News)
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/30805/20161027/year-2020-era-wildlife-mass-extinction.htm

Don't Mourn, Regenerate!
https://www.organicconsumers.org/essays/message-marrakesh-don%E2%80%99t-mourn-regenerate

May all beings be well and happy, free of suffering and the causes of suffering.

What A Fish Knows

For those who eat fish, consider this book and the author's recommendation that - because fishes, have individual personalities, feel love and emotions and understand their world in much the same ways as we - one should "do your homework" to learn about how the fish you want to eat were raised, captured, killed, etc. and decide if you are ok with that whole process before voting with one's dollar for that kind of activity.

Jonathan Balcombe's book is called What A Fish Knows.

Toward the end of the NPR interview program "What A Fish Knows" (here), Jonathan reminds us that none of us have any say over the form (family, gender, even species) in which we are born, and this should inspire great empathy for others.

"I think that recognizing that animals have a proper place in the Earth is the next great social movement for our species."

May all beings be happy and well.

Stunning Loss, Some Gains

While we can readily project that the results of the 2016 US Presidential and Congressional elections will make life harder for most beings on Earth over the coming years, news from the election was not all bad.

In fact, many local election results supported animals in some meaningful ways, showing that compassion did factor into the election.

Read HSUS President Wayne Pacelle's report on his blog.

May all beings be happy and well, free of suffering and the causes of suffering.

Buddha Wisdom

May all beings be well and happy, free from suffering and the causes of suffering. SVAHA