Reading is a nap ritual. This morning we read Baby Beluga, a book illustrated by Ashley Wolff set to the lyrics of Raffi's famous song. While flipping back-and-forth between pages reading the lyrics in non-linear fashion we saw pictures of fur seals, narwahls, tuna, walrus, gull, puffin, dolphin, arctic fox, polar bear, and of course, beluga whale swimming and loving their arctic habitat.
I got really sad. When I was a child, seeing pictures of these animals, I didn't know if they were real or not but I liked to think they were out there living peacefully in the wilderness of their home. But I know now this is not true. Many have died. Last week, the polar bears were finally listed on the endangered species list. I know if they are listed, much to the chagrin of many corporate interests, then they must really be in trouble. Will there still be polar bears in 30 years, when Eliot is an adult?
As the story goes, Baby Beluga and all the other animals of the arcitc celebrate the fact that they are connected by the ties of a common habitat. But that habitat has changed due to the effects of human behaviors. We humans must realize today that we actually can have a vast impact upon places near our home as well as places as seemingly distant and wild as the arctic.
If you are reading this, please take a moment to think about how your behaviors effect the environment (both near and distant). Then tell your friends, family, and peers about your thoughts. There is much that we can control - there are many choices we can make - I only hope that when we choose, we choose wisely.
Thanks for reading.