Protecting nature, communities and the quality of life are all linked

There can be no doubt, protecting the environment, wildlife habitat and nature, is also vital to the well being of communities, local culture and the quality of life experienced by people. There is rarely anything so distressing as witnessing the onslaught of heavy machinery as it rolls over beautiful natural land. Knocking down trees, killing the wildlife that has every right to live there and destroying a natural habitat forever.

We have seen it in all of the Celtic lands and it is happening throughout the world. Behind many of these decisions to destroy the environment lies short term greed, the lobbying power of selfish developers, political corruption, or an inability for politicians at a local and national level to develop sustainable economic policies. Sustainable policies at a local level that could protect the culture and language of local communities, as well as adhering to the concept of local democracy. Where the needs of local people come before the insatiable demands of developers whose greed influences or corrupts some weak and incompetent local politicians. 

This short term and damaging perspective locally is the reflection of what is also happening at a national and indeed international level. Where the mantra is one of continued economic growth rather than the sustainable approach that is now required to save this planet. Not least of which is the need to get to grips with the problem of the worlds over population growth. While at the same time using the planets natural resources to consign world poverty to history; an objective that can only be achieved by sustainable development.

What prompted me to write this today? Well it is something that is never far from my mind. But today it was a message that was delivered by some nesting seagulls and a news item in a local Welsh newspaper the Daily Post. About a local community hospital that had closed down in the coastal town of Prestatyn in the north of Wales. This local hospital was closed despite a local campaign to keep it open. A case where a local resource was closed in order to be knocked down and the land used for development without recourse, of course, to local need. 

Then when all appeared lost, seagulls flew in from the Irish Sea on which the town is located. Circling down from on high they landed on the roof of the building to nest. Now Natural Resources Wales have ruled that the seagulls nesting on the roof cannot be disturbed, and that demolition must be put on hold. I am sure that in the end when the gulls go the developers will get their way. But it is as if the gulls are delivering a message to us that says 'do not give up on nature and we can form an alliance'. It is one that people need to listen to. Protecting nature, communities and the quality of life are all linked. So everyone that cares for nature and this planet needs to keep fighting. To all those engaged in battles to protect the environment at this time throughout the world - good luck! To all those who are distressed by the vandalism on nature being undertaken now - join the fight, because your contribution, no matter how small, is more vital now than it has ever been.