Human Involvement

HOW WE THREATEN POLAR WILDLIFE:

 Unquestioningly, humans are the main threat to all animals and plant species today. As a species, we have wreaked more damage on our planet than any other earthling, ever. Here are some of the threats we pose to the Polar Ecosystems:

• POLLUTION: over the years, humans discovered a very valuable natural resource: oil. For a while, we did not realize what our greedy use of oil meant to the natural world. But today, many organisations have been set up to prevent more damage being done to our fragile ecosystem. The air around us is being constantly polluted by cars, factories and human activity in general, putting everyone who breathes at risk. This air poisoning has resulted in Global Warming becoming a faster process, and plants and animals dying from acid rain. In the Arctic and Antarctica, oil spills are frequent invariably catastrophic for the envronment. Oil clogs the skin pores of marine mammals and gets in whales' blow-holes. It gets breathe in by fish and plasters itself to the wings of birds. It stains the sea black and poisons all plant life it touches. But oil and CO2 aren't the only pollutants. There is another, much more urgent pollution problem yet to solve: where do we send our sewage? Right now, almost all sewage ends up in the sea, getting into the lungs of fish, dirtying the water and poisoning the plantlife, just like oil. However, this dilemma is much less easy to solve. Humanity quite simply cannot stop using the toilet.
• OVERPOPULATION: with the discovery of diseases and bacteria through complex microscopes, humankind began to find cures to almost any disease. We are now living longer, healthier lives than ever before, thanks to modern medicines, and most of us have many children. Over the years, human population has exploded from a substantial 1.5 billion in the late 1800's, to over 6 billion in the past few years. Because there are so many of us, there is less room for native wildlife. Our prosperous existence means death for thousands of plants and animals each year, and we're still growing in numbers. Very soon, the world-wide human population will reach 7 billion. Some wonder whether the planet can support that many people, but one ting is certain: our growing numbers are pushing the poles further and further North and South, and with them their wildlife.
• HUNTING: many animals are hunted by humans for petty reasons. Ermines, wolverines, foxes and seals have lovely furs, whale meat is greatly prized, polar bears are annoying competitors. In olden days, whale oil was used as fuel, and whale bones had many uses: corsets, combs, necklaces, bracelets, tools, etc. Whales have been hunted for thousands of years, and are probably the animals that have suffered the most at our hands. Narwhals have often been hunted for their tusks, which make good weapons or ornaments.
• THE PET/CIRCUS TRADE: some animals are sold to circuses or as pets overseas through illegal markets. These animals are usually sold at very high prices and are not kept in suitable condition once recieved by their new 'owners'. This has put a tremendous strain on cirtain animal populations, who suffer badly for want of new genetic pools.

HOW WE CAN HELP:

This is easier said than done. Most of the damage we've inflicted on the Earth as a species will take a very long time to clean up, and many people. But there are a few things that we can do to help as individuals, including:

• DON'T use your car as often! Instead, consider public transport or better still, a bicycle.
• ONLY use non-chemical products on your garden.
• EAT the meat of farm animals only. Don't be tempted by whale meat, EVER.
• DON'T smoke.
• HELP spread the word about the threats to the Polar Regions and how we can help.
• IF you live near a wild area, keep you pets out of it.
• DON'T keep rare and exotic animals as pets is you are not a trained specialist. If they are rare and exotic it means they should be back home...to try and keep their species from dissapearing alltogether.
• TRY not to throw anything except what Nature sent you to the toilet for down the toilet. Anything that's rubbish should go in a bin, no matter what it is.
• AVOID wearing the furs of animals you know are endangered.
• REFRAIN from wearing synthetic material.