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Saturday, May 4, 2013

More than meets the eye









Yesterday, my blog featured a little bit of poetry about the loss of tropical rainforests around the world, from the point of view of all the beautiful birds which would lose their homes.

Many people responded to the pictures, to the plight of the adorable birds. And, from the way I had written my blog post, that's what they saw.

Of course, there's much, much more to it than that.
Cutting down the rainforests means more than loss of habitat for cute and not-so-cute critters. It means losing billions of plants and trees which take in carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. That means air to breathe. For me and thee.

Loss of forests, whether evergreen forest on the Canadian coast, or jungles in Madagascar, means, ultimately, loss of oxygen.

And then, we all die.

Simple, isn't it? But I didn't choose to look at the fate of the world when Hannah gave us the topic "tropical rainforest" to write about. I chose the prettiest pictures I could find online, and wrote a "fluff piece" that went against the principles of hardline journalism.
That's probably why I was never a hardline journalist. I couldn't or wouldn't see the ultimate outcome as it would affect the world's total population. I couldn't see the forest for the birds.

And, hey, it's not as if I've never seen a tropical rainforest. I have, in Mexico, in Ecuador, and in Costa Rica. The photos here were taken by my husband in Costa Rica, many of them in the rain.

That's why they're called rainforests, and all of these camera critters are creatures whose plight is up to people to decide. Live or die? Ask the people who cut down the trees.

Posted for
Camera
Critters
hosted by Misty Dawn.
Thanks, Misty!



Photos by Richard Schear, 2007


9 comments:

kaykuala said...

Expounding beautiful words and beautiful pics. Wonderful take Kay!

Hank

eileeninmd said...

Cool critters and photos. Love the cute monkey!

Maude Lynn said...

Hey, "fluff" pieces have their place. I think that introducing people to all the beauty that is being destroyed helps make the whole concept less abstract.

Anonymous said...

Kay, Amen! My take was about a rain forest that was practically in my back yard, in Puerto Rico. But because of photojournalism and dedicated environmentalists, we don't have to walk the rainforest to understand the dangers... all caused by humankind. These pix were breathtaking. Thanks! Amy
(I saw your comment and can tell we are of one mind on this...)

Fran said...

The birds have such beautiful colours. I wholeheartedly agree with you about the rain forests and make a concerted effort to stay away from products that may harm them, such as palm oil. It is only by mass boycotting of such products that we can hit companies in their pockets and getting them to alter their ways xxx

Kay said...

Dick really captured incredible photos, Kay! It is sad to see the destruction of the rainforests. There is so much that haven't been discovered and they're already becoming extinct.

Anonymous said...

I really wish people would take care of the planet!

These are some magical shots.

Jo said...

I liked your "fluff" piece and at the time thought that humans don't' realize not only are the birds and animals being wiped out by deforestation, but we are also at risk. And you say it so well, Dearest Kay. (((hugs))) Jo

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

You are such a good writer and I hope someone reads it and takes it to heart. Someone who doesn't already think like you do!