Reasons to be angry... 1,2,3

A little over two and a half years ago, my life changed dramatically and irreversibly.  I became a father.
 
What had been rather worthy but abstract discussions about the world that future generations will inherit, took on a whole new meaning.
 
Working for the RSPB, I'm lucky that I can play some small part in lots of things that I feel are helping the natural world.  With the support of over a million members, we're able to save threatened species, protect special places and help improve the quality of our environment.
 
But there are times when whatever clout we can exert feels inadequate.  Especially when faced with global issues funded by faraway governments and faceless corporations.
 
This week three such issues have been in the news and have left me feeling angry.
 
1) Overfishing. Monday saw the launch of 'The End of the Line', a new documentary film based on a book by   environment journalist, Charles Clover.  I haven't seen the film, nor have I read the book.  But when someone like Charles says we may be the last generation able to eat fish, I know we're facing a crisis.
 
2) Climate change.  It's impossible to avoid the media's daily dose of doom and gloom about the threat of global warming.  So much so, it's tempting to simply tune out.  Yesterday I got a jolt when I read an account from my colleague, Ruth Davis, who's at the climate talks in Bonn.  The shameless and selfish pronouncements  of the Japanese government are an alarming reminder of the huge mountain we have to climb.
 
3) Deforestation.  The Times reports that Asia Pulp and Paper has acquired another massive logging concession in Sumatra. Vast swathes of rainforest will be destroyed and Sumatran orang utans, elephants and tigers will be pushed ever closer to extinction.  All so we can continue to shove cheap paper into our photocopiers and printers. The RSPB, in partnership with Burung Indonesia and BirdLife International, is doing its bit to save Sumatra's rainforest through the Harapan project. But there's only so much we can do.
 
Of course there's still a chance that we can stop these issues from becoming irreversible disasters.  But it's a slim one and it needs massive, concerted effort.  Knowing that I'm not alone in being angry gives me some hope, because anger can be a powerful catalyst for positive action.  
 
But the thing that makes me angriest of all is this - it won't be long before Daniel is old enough to ask me how we allowed the world to get into this mess.  I don't know what I'm going to tell him.
 
 
The End of the Line.
Ruth Davis's virtual postcard from Bonn.
Save Sumatra's rainforest.