Today’s post is a little different from the last few - I’m going to tell a story, about why I have pledged to raise £1000 for Population Matters, by running the London Marathon.
My short life so far has always revolved around nature. From my earliest memories of being mesmerised by the secret life in rock pools, to avidly lapping up every David Attenborough documentary I could get my hands on, to spending my weekends as a teenager camping on the moors for Ten Tors, to jungle expeditions measuring trees with Operation Wallacea, to studying an MSci in Biodiversity and Conservation at UCL.
Slowly, over these past twenty-three years, I have begun to understand, as wonderful as animals, plants and everything in between are, there is no point in conserving them in isolation from ourselves. Basically, I have come to realise that the overarching reason I am so passionate about conservation and sustainability is a selfish one; it is to help us humans.
The more I learn about ecological communities and the vast array of interactions within and between them, the more I am beginning to understand a few different things.
Firstly, it shows how every living thing is fundamentally interconnected. Energy flows between terrestrial and marine environments - meaning, for example, that if Alaskan beaver populations go up, beluga whale populations go down - and seemingly unconnected species are ultimately reliant on one another, such as termites protecting rainforests from drought.
We are intrinsically part of these connections too. We rely upon the natural world for clean water, air, pollination, nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and the list goes on.
Secondly, the more we find out, the more questions arise. There are so many amazing, overlooked mysteries in our awe-inspiring world.
Whilst exploring these areas, it is impossible not to notice a dark cloud looming over nature. Some days it is impossible to see past the habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, biodiversity loss, extinction and pollution. Some days are spent feeling helpless and small in the face of such huge, widespread and deep-seated destruction of the natural world.
The worst part was it seemed like many were ignoring the true root of these problems – over-population and over-consumption. They’re such difficult topics to broach, as it questions how people are living their lives, and the solution requires fundamental changes to society.
These thoughts were quashing any hope I had left, so I made a plan. Whenever I feel defeated by environmental degradation, I focus on the wonderful things there are left in the world – inspirational people like Dame Jane Goodall and Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai, my family, friends and partner, the blue tits that visit the tree outside my flat, the evening sunshine that ignites my room with orange, the rush of seeing the sunrise during a cold, early morning run.
It gives me hope, and re-empowers me that we really can help our wonderful planet.
That’s where Population Matters comes in. They are a charity that focuses on how to solve over-population and consumption, based on human rights, poverty alleviation and education. I was overjoyed to find a voice that said ‘Yes, we can solve the impossible problems of over-population and over-consumption, and in a way that will make people happier and healthier.’
I have pledged to raise £1000 for Population Matters. This money will be used to "continue spreading awareness of the positive impact having a smaller family can have, as well as help commission research to convince policy-makers and provide guidance on how best to bring population to sustainable levels, ethically and fairly".
It’s an incredibly exciting prospect. There are now 103 days until the big day (28th April 2019), and the campaign begins properly today, so fingers crossed together we can meet that target of £1000, to help spread the word and make this world a happier and healthier place for everyone, particularly for our children and grandchildren.
If you'd like to donate, please click here to reach my fundraising page. Thank you so, so much to everyone who has already donated. On the horizon is a cake sale, a drinks evening and training update posts. Remember no donation is too small, and thank you again for all the support, I cannot express my appreciation enough.
