Barn Owl in flight - Standing Up for Nature

There are days when I simply do not have much to say out loud and on those days I often have a river of tumultuous thoughts flowing through my mind. Today is one of those days.

I can’t help but think of how blessed I have been in my lifetime to love the natural world, to be in it, part of it and to record it with my camera. To have lived in the 70’s when people awakened enough to fight for the water, the land, the birds, the animals and for our future. To have seen and recognized the environmental impact we have on nature and the planet and actually do something about it.

People who are environmentally conscious and whom respect and love nature already know this, they are my sisters and brothers at arms. They know that when we stand up for nature we are fighting for our lives. And not just human lives but every living being.

Then I wonder how we can reach, teach and educate those who are not aware or simply do not care about how our actions affect this planet when science is scorned and disregarded, when intelligent, compassionate people who care about the future of our world are called tree huggers or environmental terrorists, when profit is placed before our health and the health of the world we live in. When facts are called hoaxes and the truth is ignored.

Maybe we will never reach those with closed minds and are wasting our efforts and valuable energy with them and should focus instead on teaching our children and young adults the value of taking care of our home, our planet. They are the ones who will be here when we are gone and what happens today will have the most effect on them and their lives.

I know what I want, I want the world to be as good if not better for my grandchildren and their children than it was for me in my lifetime and for every child everywhere. I want them to have clean water and air, wild places and to see animals and birds outside of zoos and aviaries.

I want them to be able to smell the earthy aroma of a forest, dip their toes in a cold, clean stream, climb a mountain, watch the desert awaken at sunrise, be dazzled by the stars on a velvety dark night and hear the sounds of a vibrant, healthy world with their own ears. They deserve it and so much more.

Mia