The Apocalypse is Already Here - What Are You Going to Do About It?
By Kari Carlisle
There is a lot of talk and preparation and fear surrounding a possible apocalypse. Human-caused and/or natural disasters lurk around every corner. Some people spend a great deal of time and resources to ensure that they and their loved ones have the best chance for survival.
As Earth Day approaches in a few days, my thoughts turn to the realization that the apocalypse has already arrived or is imminent for many. For some the apocalypse is indeed human-caused. For others natural disaster is the problem. And for yet others, I think it’s probably a combination. I’m talking about the animals, insects and plants with which we share this world.
Entire books have been written about individual species that are endangered or that have already become extinct, so I know that I can’t really do justice in this short post to the calamity befalling so many. Almost all of the largest creatures on earth are gone or facing extinction – the great apes, large cats, elephants, rhinos, whales and more will be gone because of greed and disrespect on the part of humans who are supposed to be their caretakers according to the Bible. Even if you don’t believe the Bible, common sense should indicate a need to preserve what nature has provided.
Although I’m a dreamer when it comes to my desire to preserve every species, I’m also a realist. Some species will disappear, regardless of anyone’s attempt to save them. For example, I am saddened by the fact that the Australian dingo will be extinct within decades. I’m talking about dingoes with pure dingo DNA that has not mixed with domestic dogs. Probably the last few dingoes that have remained pure are found on Fraser Island, and their lives depend solely on the dingo management decisions of the government agents there. Scary.
When dingoes are gone, or have “evolved” into a hybrid mix of some other canid species, their loss will be our loss. Their place in the ecosystem will be filled in by other top predators, but we will mourn them as we still mourn the loss of other Australian species, even while plagued with an overabundance of others. And it’s all due to human interference and mismanagement. But realistically, though sad, the loss of the dingo will not be the loss of dog-kind. We will still have an abundance of dogs, domestic, feral and wild, to fill their niche in this world.
What happens when we lose an entire genus?
Bees. The bees are disappearing. I have acquaintances who have raised bees and who no longer raise bees because their hives disappeared. Where are they going? Are they flying off and dying? What’s killing them? When I was a kid, I tended to have allergic reactions to all kinds of insect bites and stings, bees included. I was understandably afraid of bees. And bees were everywhere. Now, though I’m out hiking every day, seeing or hearing a bee is rare.
I don’t pretend to know or even have a firm belief on the cause of the bee calamity. I do think that humans are to blame for the toxins, GMO’s or whatever it is that’s leading to their demise. It could be global warming, though I don’t think that really is the major factor in the bee problem, and whether global warming is human-caused or not, well, that’s the subject of another blog post.
When bees are gone, their loss will be our loss in a more profound sense than our dingo loss. Bees are an intrinsic part of the earth’s ecosystem, pollinating crops and wild plants. Though there are other insects and birds that fill this function as well, will it be enough, or will the world suffer a devastating loss of plant life that depends on bee pollination? Plants provide us and all creatures with food and oxygen. Is the bees’ apocalypse our apocalypse?
Humans are, I’m afraid, not playing very nice with the rest of our companions in the sandbox. Greed, ignorance, apathy and numerous other adjectives apply to our own species to the detriment of others. My mother taught me to pick my battles. Saving the planet is a battle we must all be willing to fight collectively. Though there is little I can personally do to save the dingoes, the bees, and all the other living things that inhabit this earth with us, that fact in no way diminishes my responsibility, or yours, for doing what we can.
In celebration of Earth Day, please take a moment to comment below and tell me what your contribution is to protect this wonderful planet we live on. Also sign up for The Apocalypse Observer Newsletter to receive our posts in your inbox. I’ll pick a random commentator to receive a free paperback copy (or ebook, if you prefer) of C. Henry Martens’ epic novel, There Where the Power Lies. I’m sure you’ll be intrigued by the author’s take on this subject. One winner will be chosen and notified on May 1, 2015.
www.readmota.com
There is a lot of talk and preparation and fear surrounding a possible apocalypse. Human-caused and/or natural disasters lurk around every corner. Some people spend a great deal of time and resources to ensure that they and their loved ones have the best chance for survival.
As Earth Day approaches in a few days, my thoughts turn to the realization that the apocalypse has already arrived or is imminent for many. For some the apocalypse is indeed human-caused. For others natural disaster is the problem. And for yet others, I think it’s probably a combination. I’m talking about the animals, insects and plants with which we share this world.
Entire books have been written about individual species that are endangered or that have already become extinct, so I know that I can’t really do justice in this short post to the calamity befalling so many. Almost all of the largest creatures on earth are gone or facing extinction – the great apes, large cats, elephants, rhinos, whales and more will be gone because of greed and disrespect on the part of humans who are supposed to be their caretakers according to the Bible. Even if you don’t believe the Bible, common sense should indicate a need to preserve what nature has provided.
Although I’m a dreamer when it comes to my desire to preserve every species, I’m also a realist. Some species will disappear, regardless of anyone’s attempt to save them. For example, I am saddened by the fact that the Australian dingo will be extinct within decades. I’m talking about dingoes with pure dingo DNA that has not mixed with domestic dogs. Probably the last few dingoes that have remained pure are found on Fraser Island, and their lives depend solely on the dingo management decisions of the government agents there. Scary.
When dingoes are gone, or have “evolved” into a hybrid mix of some other canid species, their loss will be our loss. Their place in the ecosystem will be filled in by other top predators, but we will mourn them as we still mourn the loss of other Australian species, even while plagued with an overabundance of others. And it’s all due to human interference and mismanagement. But realistically, though sad, the loss of the dingo will not be the loss of dog-kind. We will still have an abundance of dogs, domestic, feral and wild, to fill their niche in this world.
What happens when we lose an entire genus?
Bees. The bees are disappearing. I have acquaintances who have raised bees and who no longer raise bees because their hives disappeared. Where are they going? Are they flying off and dying? What’s killing them? When I was a kid, I tended to have allergic reactions to all kinds of insect bites and stings, bees included. I was understandably afraid of bees. And bees were everywhere. Now, though I’m out hiking every day, seeing or hearing a bee is rare.
I don’t pretend to know or even have a firm belief on the cause of the bee calamity. I do think that humans are to blame for the toxins, GMO’s or whatever it is that’s leading to their demise. It could be global warming, though I don’t think that really is the major factor in the bee problem, and whether global warming is human-caused or not, well, that’s the subject of another blog post.
When bees are gone, their loss will be our loss in a more profound sense than our dingo loss. Bees are an intrinsic part of the earth’s ecosystem, pollinating crops and wild plants. Though there are other insects and birds that fill this function as well, will it be enough, or will the world suffer a devastating loss of plant life that depends on bee pollination? Plants provide us and all creatures with food and oxygen. Is the bees’ apocalypse our apocalypse?
Humans are, I’m afraid, not playing very nice with the rest of our companions in the sandbox. Greed, ignorance, apathy and numerous other adjectives apply to our own species to the detriment of others. My mother taught me to pick my battles. Saving the planet is a battle we must all be willing to fight collectively. Though there is little I can personally do to save the dingoes, the bees, and all the other living things that inhabit this earth with us, that fact in no way diminishes my responsibility, or yours, for doing what we can.
In celebration of Earth Day, please take a moment to comment below and tell me what your contribution is to protect this wonderful planet we live on. Also sign up for The Apocalypse Observer Newsletter to receive our posts in your inbox. I’ll pick a random commentator to receive a free paperback copy (or ebook, if you prefer) of C. Henry Martens’ epic novel, There Where the Power Lies. I’m sure you’ll be intrigued by the author’s take on this subject. One winner will be chosen and notified on May 1, 2015.
www.readmota.com
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