Goodall,Hudson, and Maynard Reflection

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When reading Goodall, Hudson, and Maynard, I could not help but think of how passionate these individuals are about the environment and the animals that are a part of it. I felt a connection with the stories that were featured in the reading. I know that I have mentioned it before but I truly have a passion and love for animals. I guess I can say that it was my mother who instilled this love in me. She has always had a special place in her heart for any animal. She taught my siblings and I what love really means. My personal opinion is that to love an animal that has no voice and cannot speak words like a human, you have to become completely involved with the animal. You can build a type of bond that is very unique. I know it may sound crazy, but it is something I believe that can be much stronger than any bond with a human. I agree that for any change to occur and to help save build up and preserve our environment and the animals is “The link between the human being and the other animals with whom we share Planet Earth, this connection we can establish with another life-form- that for many makes it possible to carry on” (184).

We have to realize that the world was here long before humans were and that animals were also a part of the earth before humans. Just as it was mentioned, “Without plants, animals (including ourselves) cannot survive” (174). It seems that society is mainly concerned with taking action after tons of damage has occurred. This includes but does not limit to, pollution of lakes, forests destroyed by too much logging, and vanishing plant and animal species. I agree that “Through a combination of human determination, scientific know-how, and the resilience of nature, even badly compromised habitats can be restored” (174). I understand that there are people who are working very hard to help our environment but it is not enough. There are more people who just do not care or are not informed well enough to understand. I think that these issues should not be only taught in schools but it needs to really be advertised constantly. Just like smoking commercials. It is something that people probably do not want to see, but it can make a difference.

It is sad to think that individuals are sometimes afraid to show compassion of any kind. I believe that “In our materialistic world, where all that consists is the bottom line, human values of love and compassion are too often suppressed” (183). I do not think that keeping emotions separate makes any kind of work better. I believe that having emotion makes someone more passionate about their work and to perform the job better. I relate this to the career path I have chosen which is nursing. I do not think that if I did not have a caring heart, I would be able to be successful in this career. You have to be able to put yourself in the shoes of someone else to feel their distress, to fully understand. This is what we have to do for the environment and animals. The many species that have come and gone did not have a voice. We need to make them have a voice and do all that we can to preserve our world. We have to have hope, “If we are without hope we fall into apathy, without hope nothing will change” (185). The world is quickly disappearing because of what we have done and continue to do. Change has to come.