Rude Awakening of the Day

"One in three amphibians, one in four mammals, one in eight birds and 70% of plants so far assessed are believed to be at risk of extinction, with human alteration of their habitat the single biggest cause."

Shame on us. This isn't really a surprise, but more of the same and it doesn't exactly make the six o'clock news because, well, you know...we've got more important things to worry about like who this year's Oscar host will be, Led Zeppelin's reunion gig, and whatever dumb thing one or another of our would-be future dumb presidents had to say today.

The quote comes from a BBC News article, which also makes the following interesting and worthwhile points:

"Many in the environmental movement argue that too much money and attention has gone on climate change, with other issues such as biodiversity, clean water and desertification ignored at the political level.

"The World Conservation Union's assessment is that climate change is important for many Red List species; but it is not the only threat, and not the most important threat.

There are conflicts between addressing the various issues, with biofuels perhaps being the obvious example. Useful they may turn out to be in reducing greenhouse gas emissions; but many conservationists are seriously concerned that the vast swathes of monoculture they will bring spell dire consequences for creatures such as the orangutan."

Yes, we've dug multiple environmental holes that we'd better start digging ourselves back out of—and fast. While we're at it, let's not kid ourselves: the aforementioned "vast swathes of monoculture" will bring equally dire consequences for the orangutan's sister-species, us. Danger, Will Robinson! Earth to humans!