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A TOUCH OF NATURE
July 1, 2002 Issue
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This newsletter is sponsored by The Herbs Place.com.

Read previous issues

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DONNA'S COMMENTS
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HEADING FOR EXTINCTION

Nearly 25 percent of the world's mammals -- more than 1,000 species in total -- are in danger of going extinct within 30 years, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme on the state of the global environment. In total, the report identifies more than 11,000 endangered species, including one in eight bird species and more than 5,000 kinds of plants. The report blames the introduction of invasive species, human encroachment on wilderness areas, rainforest and wetlands destruction, and the impact of industry for the precarious position of so many species. It further notes that all of the factors that contribute to extinctions are intensifying -- although many of them could be mitigated or eliminated if international governments implemented the full range of treaties and conventions passed since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio.

Read the rest of the article here:
www.gristmagazine.com/forward.pl?forward_id=1&storeid=121

What's already extinct? What is endangered? Find out here:
www.extinctionmemorial.org

To make a difference in your lifetime and generations after you, join The Nature Conservancy today:

PLASTIC BAGS - THE NATIONAL FLOWER OF SOUTH AFRICA?

Polyethylene-based bags are hazardous in the making and, once discarded, can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. The bags are all but omnipresent. Consumers in the U.K. go through 8 billion per year; 4 out of 5 shoppers in the U.S. choose plastic over paper or cloth; and the bags are so commonly seen tangled in trees and fence posts in South Africa that they've been called the national flower.

Some countries, however, have drawn the line. In March, Bangladesh banned polyethylene bags after they were shown to have blocked drainage systems and contributed to severe flooding in 1988 and 1998. Taiwan hopes to prohibit free distribution of plastic bags, Singapore is launching an awareness campaign, and the Irish have slapped a hefty tax on their use. The latter was so effective that plastic bag distribution at one of the nation's biggest chains has fallen by 97.5%.

If you'd like to read the entire story, here it is:
http://www.gristmagazine.com/forward.pl?forward_id=74

Stay cool! Take a walk in the forest!
Donna

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CRITTER FACTS
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JAGUARS

Question: In what habitat do most jaguars live?

Answer: Jaguars are found mainly in the thick forests or swamps of Central and South America, but some continue to survive in Mexico.

BIRDS IN SERVICE

When the call comes, both hawks and doves go into service. For as long as humans have debated the need for warfare, birds have been cooperative and useful partners in our various battles.

In the Middle Ages, birds were captured on an enemy's thatched roof then turned into weapons by having flaming twigs attached to them and being released to fly back to their homes, thus starting fires calculated to drive the enemy into the open.

During World War II, thousands of homing pigeons were used in a less abusive and more strategic way to transport information across hundred of miles (and enemy lines) saving lives and military operations.

In "modern" warfare, it would seem technology would usurp the place of birds, but last year in the ongoing war between India and Pakistan, a hawk carrying a microcamera and a transmitter was captured by the Indian Border Security Force. According to the local press, trained hawks were being used by Pakistani military forces to gather intelligence and to monitor enemy troop movement in a remote area.

In a different kind of battle, The US Air Force has hired raptors (and their handlers) to keep runways free of gulls and geese that present a hazard to takeoffs and landings.

In present-day Plymouth, England, there is a hospital that uses pigeons to transport blood samples to its laboratory across town. Their efforts save time, money, and lives - and they don't have to worry about traffic jams.

HERBAL HEARTWORM PROGRAM
Prevention and Treatment

There is a natural way that's worked for others! Learn more about it and share with pet owners you know. It could save a dog's life. It did for Bandit! Get answers and support via email. Read more about it.

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CHARACTER QUALITIES IN NATURE
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COURAGE: Wood Duck

It was time for the ducklings to leave the nest, so the female wood duck sat at the opening to the rotted hollow oak and looked carefully around the area to determine if there were any predators like mink, raccoon, hawks, owls, bullfrogs, or large turtles.

Satisfied that the area was free from immediate danger, she fluttered to the ground and looked up to the opening 40 feet above and quickly gave her signal. There was an immediate response as the ducklings jumped up and scrambled to the opening above them using the claws on their feet and the hooks at the end of their bills. When they reached the opening, they took their first glimpse of a new world with the mother waiting far below.

They could not yet fly, but their mother urged them to jump. This would be a huge leap - the equivalent of a man jumping about 400 feet, but it had to be done and it would determine whether the ducklings would live or die. The first duckling pushed its body out from the perch and leaped. Its webbed feet and downy wings helped break the impact of the fall. Seconds later it safely bounced on the soft grass at the base of the tree. Then it wobbled awkwardly to its mother and waited for the rest of the ducks to follow. One after another reached the opening and jumped, as the mother increased the tempo of her call.

Five of the six were now huddled close to their mother, as she continued urging and calling to the last duckling in the tree. Finally, when she felt she could no longer expose the vulnerable ducklings to danger, she gave one last call and then walked away with her young to the safety of the nearby brood pond.

The five that obeyed the difficult instruction had a good chance of survival, but death would come to the one who would not jump. Courage is sometimes necessary to be obedient.

Source: Character Sketches, Vol. I, Institute in Basic Life Principles
http://www.iblp.com/resources/books/b002-cs.html

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GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE- Restoring the Balance
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PLANT SWAPPING FOR A "FREE" GARDEN.

Do a quick search & you will see lots of websites that post listings for free plants & seeds. Lots of times you can get wonderful expensive plants FREE!

There are many, but some of the larger ones are:

www.gardenweb.com
www.hergardenweb.com
www.blossomswap.com
www.seedman.com

Be sure you have a list of native plants and things your birds and critters will love before you begin. Native plants rarely need water and provide the most food choices for wildlife.

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SIMPLER LIVING, COMPASSIONATE LIFE

In a rare collection of voices, Henri Nouwen, Cecile Andrews, Richard Foster and others examine how voluntary simplicity can enrich your path to wholeness and abundance. Contemplative readings blend with practical suggestions to encourage you on the journey. It's a great book for discussion, so it includes a study guide, in the back of the book, for a life-changing four-, six- or eight-week course for groups or individuals.

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"GREEN" INFO- Making It a Way of Life!
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ECO-FRIENDLY TIPS FOR SMOKERS

Let's Talk Facts....

1. Cigarette butts are consistantly in the top five debris items found during Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps.

2. Cigarette filters are made from non-biodegradable materials, and therefore remain on our beaches indefinitely.

3. Untold numbers of cigarette butts are discarded into streets, where they travel through storm drain systems and eventually end up in our waterways and on our beaches.

4. Cigarette butts are deadly to wildlife, which eat the filters mistaking them for food.

5. Cigarette filters also absorb hazardous compounds such as cadmium, arsenic, and lead that are filtered out during the smoking process. Animals not only eat the filter, but ingest any materials contained within.

What You Can Do....

1. Don't leave cigarette filters on the beach.

2. Never flick cigarette butts out the window of cars, or on the sidewalk, or anywhere out side.

3. Empty the tobacco and put the filter in your pocket.

4. Put 'em where they belong. Businesses that do not permit smoking should have a con venient ash tray right outside their entrance.

5. Help spread the word... Always use your ashtray.

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MUSINGS: POETRY & PROSE
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"After the clouds, the sunshine,
after the winter, the spring,
After the shower, the rainbow,
for life is a changeable thing."
Helen Steiner Rice

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GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR PLANET
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RIVER SEAL SAVES OLD DOG
(Reuters) June 20, 2002

A seal saved an elderly dog from a watery grave after it was swept away by fierce currents in a fast-flowing river in northern England. Eyewitnesses said the dog, who appeared to be injured before hitting the water, scampered into the River Tees and tried to swim to the opposite bank -- but the current got the better of him.

Suddenly, a seal appeared from the depths and gently pushed the dog, a German Shepherd, into mudflats on the bank.

"I've never seen anything like it and I don't think I ever will," eyewitness Chris Hinds told Reuters Wednesday. "This seal just came out of nowhere. It was like the guardian angel came up.

Hinds took care of the dog until emergency services arrived after Tuesday's rescue. No owner was immediately tracked down and the dog was being looked after by the RSPCA animal charity. The charity named the dog "Seamo" after David Seaman, the goalkeeper of England's World Cup soccer team "because it was a great save."

Seals are not known for friendliness to dogs, but the RSPCA said they were naturally inquisitive creatures and it could have been just playing.

DISCLAIMER:
The content, suggestions, and web links in this newsletter are for informational purposes only and not necessarily endorsed our sponsor "The Herbs Place.com" This is a personal publication by Donna Watkins. The ideas and information expressed in it have not been approved or authorized by anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall Donna Watkins or "The Herbs Place.com" be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or defamation.

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