De-extinction in an Anthropogenic World
By Samantha Zwicker and Kristiina Vogt, at Center for Humans and Nature - in response to the Question: How far should we go to bring back lost species?
We live in the Anthropocene, an era characterized by widespread extinction and landscapes that are less habitable for most large mammals. Over 25 percent of terrestrial mammals are now in decline and 66 percent of top carnivores—creatures…
animals | beauty and harmony with all life
Pope Francis’ Unreserved Embrace of Animal Protection
By Wayne Pacelle, from the blog A Humane Nation
This month, the Vatican released Pope Francis’s new encyclical on the environment, and it is truly historic. The encyclical, or letter, from the Pope is full of references to animals and calls on all of us to embrace a more humane path. The encyclical is named “Praised Be” (Laudato Si) after St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun, in which…
The Psychology of Human Bonding | Why Do We Love Our Pets So Much?
By Martin Siegel, DVM, in Veterinarian
Most of us treat our pets like members of the family: we enjoy their company and we do everything we can to ensure their happiness and wellbeing, including providing them with veterinary care and emergency veterinary services when they are sick or injured. But it is not immediately obvious why human beings should bond so closely to members of other species,…
Living in Harmony with Animals
Dear Readers,
This past week it feels we are living the Shift to a more just, free and beautiful world. We are embodying real change: peacebuilding and forgiveness in Charleston; flags of division coming down and rainbow flags going up; a Pope who preaches economic and climate justice, and more. We are slowly healing our relationships with our fellow human beings. This week we ask, what about…
Kosmos Responds to Racist Killings in South Carolina
by Dot Maver
The time is beyond urgent. The question is burning in our hearts. Do ‘we the people’ of the United States of America share any core values? And if we do, are we a living demonstration of those values? How painful to hear about yet another shooting; yet another young person with a gun recklessly killing people; yet another deep wound that is directly related to the institution of…
Two Victories for ‘The Commons’ in Europe
Bologna | a Laboratory for Urban Commoning
Excerpt - By David Bollier | bollier.org
David Bollier
Two weeks ago, the city government celebrated the first anniversary of its Bologna Regulation on public collaboration for urban commons, a system that actively invites ordinary citizens and neighborhoods to invent their own urban commons, with the government’s active assistance. I…
Around the Globe | 7 Hopeful Climate Stories
By Jonah Busch, Center for Global Development
India’s Finance for Forests. India made a big climate move earlier this year when it announced that $6 billion a year in tax revenue will be distributed to states in a way that will encourage forest conservation and restoration. That’s more results-based finance for forest conservation than any other country in the world, including the current…
Costa Rica | Film Preview “A Bold Peace”
By David Swanson, (excerpted from the original)
In 1948 Costa Rica abolished its military, something widely deemed impossible in the United States. The forthcoming film, A Bold Peace: Costa Rica's Path of Demilitarization, documents how that was done and what the results have been. I don't want to give away the ending but let me just say this: there has not been a hostile Muslim takeover of…
Have a Voice in World Affairs
Dear Reader,
There is a growing sense that we are reaching a tipping point and beginning to emerge at last from the fog of denial, despair and fear that has slowed our collective response to planetary crises.
One hopeful signal is the recent announcement by German chancellor Angela Merkel that G7 leading industrial nations have agreed to cut greenhouse gases and phase out the use of fossil…