Blog Action Day: Life in Numbers
Today, 15th October 2007, I'm joining thousands of bloggers and millions of readers to talk about one subject - the environment. Numbers are important here; they break through all the rambling discourse and smack you in the face with all the subtlety of a wet haddock.
Posted 15 Oct 2007, terribly early in the morning.
Tagged with blog action day, climate change, environment, nature, science.
2 million
The approximate number of known species living on this planet. It has been suggested that the real figure could be nearer 100 million.
40%
The percentage of species that are currently at risk of extinction, partly due to changes in habitat and environment, according to The World Conservation Union.
1
The number of species that have the ability to actively do something about the changing environment. Humans are at the same time the most creative and destructive animals on the planet. They are primarily responsible for the damage being caused to the planet and they are the only ones who can do something about it; indeed, they are the only animals that realise there is a problem at all!
6.6 billion
The number of people that make Earth their home. This figure is expected to increase to 9.2 billion by 2050. 100% of these people need to take responsibility for caring for their planet.
90-95%
The percentage of climate change that is thought to have been caused by humans, according to the IPCC.
3
The estimated number of planets that would be needed to support life if everyone in the world lived like people in the UK.
1
The number of planets we actually have to call home. This is also the number of chances we have to save it.
15,000
The number of blogs registered to take part in this year's Blog Action Day. That's a combined audience of around 12 million readers!
The 'when' is now, the 'where' is here and the 'who' is the face that stares back at you from the bathroom mirror; it's up to you. If you have learned anything from this post or from the words of the thousands of other bloggers who have united this day, be sure to share this knowledge; tell everyone you meet and encourage them to do the same. Let's all work the problem individually, together.
To conclude, I will borrow a quote from Carl Sagan in which he talks about
our Pale Blue Dot:
Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity -- in all this vastness -- there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. It is up to us. It's been said that astronomy is a humbling, and I might add, a character-building experience. To my mind, there is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish this pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.
Be sure to check out the other participants for more information.
