Saving Our Sacred Planet 2

Here are more of the evils we are talking about:

Pollution – Pollutants can cause diseases, including cancer, lupus, immune diseases, allergies, and asthma. Higher levels of background radiation have led to an increased incidence of cancer and mortality associated with it worldwide. Some illnesses are named for the places where specific pollutants were first formally implicated. One example is Minamata disease, which is caused by mercury compounds. Bad air quality can kill. Ozone pollution can cause sore throats, inflammation, chest pain and congestion. Oil spills can cause skin irritations and rashes. Noise pollution induces hearing loss, high blood pressure, stress and sleep disturbance. Contamination caused by pollution can have damaging effects in the brain and central nervous system. Studies have shown that brain of animals actually shrink from prolonged exposure to contaminants in the environment.

Endangered Species – Plants and animals are important to mankind. They hold medicinal, agricultural, ecological, commercial and aesthetic/recreational value. Endangered species must be protected and saved so that future generations can experience their presence and value. There are many reasons why a particular species may become endangered. Several factors leading to endangerment include habitat destruction, introduction to exotic species, overexploitation, disease, pollution, limited distribution, and more. There are more than 1,000 animal species endangered worldwide, and in the United States, 735 species of plants and 496 species of animals are listed as threatened or endangered. Only 266 of these listed species have recovery plans currently under development.

Violence – Some may disagree, but people are just as important as animals and the environment, and if all life is connected, then to help protect our sacred earth, we must also protect people, and reducing violence in all forms is the first step. Violence in the world has reached epidemic proportions. Today, we are all touched directly or indirectly by violent acts. Violence in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our schools, in the workplace, across the country and in other parts of the world… it not only makes our children, but all us to feel frightened, unsafe and insecure. Violence threatens life, all life. How can we stop hurting animals and the environment, if we don’t stop hurting each other? So one of our goals must be non-violence, and it needs to be more than a goal, it should be a way of life. Non-violence is a set of assumptions about morality, power and conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. Are there times when violence has to be used? That is debatable, but at times there may be… to protect yourself, your loved ones, and others from direct violence, and sometimes, only as an absolute last resort, to fight for what you think you must protect.