What if we made decisions about the environment the way a parent makes decisions about their child? Human beings are part of a larger family and its time to attend the reunion.
WILDLIFE GETS THE VOTE
Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” In other words, rule of the people, as the Greeks defined democracy, is far from perfect. Still, it persists because it’s designed to honor the concerns of the majority and is responsive to the ideals of freedom and self-determination. “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” sounds pretty good, but does it go far enough?
If the living world has a common alphabet, it likely consists of about twenty amino acids that all life proteins are made from. Since we are an inseparable part of that world, and depend on it for survival, isn’t it time to recognize an even greater majority that democracies should be concerned about? Environmental degradation, in the form of human induced climate change, the loss of species diversity and ultimately, mass extinction, are the concern of all living things. If that greater majority had a vote, one wonders if human beings would even be on the ballot.
Fortunately for us, we humans are the only ones with a vote, but that hasn’t solved the pressing needs of the biosphere. At a time when political will is ebbing, there’s a growing need for alternative paths to biological solvency. Occasionally, when facing intractable problems, a transcendent approach can be the key to the solution. If the non-human world can’t vote, then we need to vote for it. Instead of tweaking and fine tuning the planet or at least, attempting to do so, we simply need to start caring about it.
One source of that kind of caring is the Wildlife In Need Center near Oconomowoc, WI. Like other wildlife rehabilitation sites, the center depends on a large number of volunteers. Each contributes a relatively small portion of time and energy to patient care and facility upkeep, but the collective effect is truly amazing. The work is selfless and humbling, understandable to anyone who has cared for an enclosure of a dozen or more baby ducklings. Down and dirty takes on a whole new meaning. But, the most remarkable aspect of the enterprise is the spirit that is shared by all of those involved.
Roles and responsibilities are subordinate to whatever needs to be done and, once committed to the well-being of such innocent clients, a long list of environmental issues and priorities quickly falls into line. Apart from the benefit received by each wild creature, there are the lessons of compassion and dedication that are conveyed through educational outreach. The first step in saving the world has mostly to do with how we see that world. Wildlife rehabilitation is another step, in the right direction.