We can no longer leave the protection of nature merely in the hands of government agencies and the good work of NGO’s. We are losing species. The responsibility to protect habitats and the material that depends on such places must be the responsibility of all of us.

Fine – and how do we get motivated to even start thinking along those lines?

The great religions of the world could be a wonderful force for good in this. What if they agreed that one day in the year would be a Religious-Nature day? What if on that day, in cathedrals and mosques and synagogues and temples our religious leaders were to talk to their flocks on the connections between the dominant religious movements and the world of nature? What if they talked of the need to protect the great roar of creation? Millions of followers would hear their words. An annual day like this, where focus is brought to bear on the responsibility of all of us to be part of nature conservation, would be a great thing. Encouraging words on how we might conduct our lives in ways that do not damage the habitat of any species would be a great thing. 

Such a simple thing to do. But it would takes good religious men and women to discuss this widely and to press the church elders to embrace the idea. We need religious people who have an affection for nature to now speak out on this.  

Patrick