Doomsday Theories of the Fallen Birds
In recent memory, incidents of mass bird deaths have been escalating at alarming rates in the developed world. Incidents reported in Sweden, Italy, US and Australia are causing immense concern worldwide.
Also reported are mass fish deaths in Brazil, and New Zealand. In England 40000 dead crabs washed up on shore, 150 tons of red tilapia were found dead in Vietnam, 2 million fish died in Maryland US and 100000 ducks died in Canada. Explanations offered have ranged from doomsday theories to government conspiracy theories.
Now US officials have suggested fireworks are responsible for many of the bird deaths and that unusually cold weather could be to blame for the strange mass deaths of fish and crabs. A more careful study of these trends suggests something less sinister but perhaps of far greater concern. The seemingly random and unrelated events happen around festive seasons, so the fireworks theory sounds reasonable. So far, all of the reasons put forward suggest these were accidents – some were described as random accidents of nature (cold snaps, for instance) and of course, the fireworks theory while precipitated by irresponsible acts, can still qualify as accidents. One less popular explanation is that farmers are poisoning or otherwise systematically killing off birds to protect their crops.
All told however, doomsday theorists might be on to something. Whatever the reasons for the mass deaths of marine and bird life, there is ongoing and ever-increasing evidence of the mass extinction of thousands of species due to human activity. Whether accidental or calculated as collateral damage, a lack of consideration for the long-term consequences of human excesses is affecting the balance of nature and interfering with the natural cycle of life, thus preventing the earth from successfully healing itself from the effects of our wanton consumption. The consume-and-conquer-at-all-cost culture of the world’s developed nations is hurting the earth, leading to the destruction of the earth’s biosphere, which supports all life. A healthy respect and delicate treatment of the earth and its natural resources is the key to human sustainability or we are all indeed doomed to living and dying in a world bereft of the original wealth of resources that once enriched us collectively.
A significant proportion of the earth’s natural resources have been destroyed by industrial activity. Environmental impact assessments do not give much thought to setting aside enough resources to maintain the delicate balance of nature and wildlife. We continue to urbanize, removing flora and fauna thus affecting the earth’s whole ecosystem. For instance, Rain Forests are the natural habitat of up to 75% of all species in the world. It is estimated that many millions of species of plants, insects, and microorganisms are still undiscovered in what is remaining of the earth’s rainforests. Tropical rainforests, in particular, have been called the “jewels of the Earth”, and the “world’s largest pharmacy”, because over one-quarter of natural medicines have been discovered there. Yet, much of these jewels have been trampled upon by the swine of humanity, thus directly robing earthlings of the resources to deal with the diseases and sicknesses that industrial activity is creating.
A few years ago, a UN team visited a third-world country on a poverty-eradication fact-finding mission. The team of experts found their mission was hampered by the natives, who did not understand the concept of poverty. When the members of the team tried to illustrate the concept of not having enough with the size of their homes and means of transportation, the natives replied: ‘We do not need bigger houses, because the sizes we have are adequate and we love to paddle our canoes because it allows us to meditate on the beauty of nature’. Needless to say, they returned to New York humbled by the exchange with the natives.
This year, make it part of your to-do list to cultivate a lawn with native plants and you will find that you are creating a home and refuge for the plants, birds, butterflies and honeybees in your community. You will motivate others in your neighbourhood and soon the entire community will be motivated to preserve the natural habitat. The concept of ‘bigger is more’ is one which we all need to re-think. We all need a new understanding that a high-quality life cannot be measured by wanton and unbridled consumption but by respect and concern for the environment, which ultimately sustains the earth’s citizens, extending health and inner wealth to us all. Happy New Year!
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