Peace and  Security of Habitat

What exactly is a habitat and what does it have to do with peace?  A habitat is a physical environment that is necessary for an animal or plant to survive. Not all plants and animals can survive in all environments.  The security of various habitats plays an important role in biodiversity on our planet, and it is biodiversity that creates a healthy balance and peace on our planet.

Global warming, urban sprawl, mining, trawling, and increased demands on natural resources, have resulted in the endangerment or destruction of many fragile habitats. According to the World Watch Institute, the polar ice caps are melting at record rates. A rise in global temperature is endangering the habitat for Polar bears and penguins, and causing changes to other environments dependent on the fresh water from melting ice.

Oil drilling on Alaska’s North Shore has destroyed the natural landscape. The damage done from 9,000 acres of oilfield roads and gravel pads will remain for centuries. The National Academy of Sciences states that it is unlikely that the habitat will ever be restored.

But there is hope. Olaus and Mardy Murie were instrumental in working to preserve an area of Alaska in the Brooks Range and Sheenjek River, which is now known as the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.  Mardy also had an important role in the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which helped protect Alaska’s fragile environment from oil exploration and drilling.

You can help protect our fragile environment by supporting organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Center for Biological Diversity.

For more information on peaceful solutions, please visit www.peacefulblueplanet.org

 To hear PSA on this topic, click here:  PSA on Security of Habitat