Look, this morning I was walking down my quiet street, deep in thought and mostly oblivious to my surroundings.
I rounded a corner and was immediately stopped in my tracks by the sight of a tiny bird, hopping about in that manic way that tiny birds often seem to do.
On closer inspection I realised that the bird was picking it's way through some recently mowed grass and was in fact feeding on the remnant seeds.
I was mesmerised by this feeding activity, and the fact that while the bird was aware of my presence and indeed was constantly monitoriting it, my stillness allowed this feeding to continue.
Two thoughts came over me.
One: I hadn't seen many small birds in the neighbourhood this year, and
Two: I recalled being dismayed when last year the local council workers cleared all the creekside vegetation (habitat) along the banks of the creek that runs through the middle of town.
It was risk managemet stuff apparently (have a think about how many decisions are made by local and state governments in the name of risk management and how this may impact on your life, and the life of your kids - and other species).
Well I connected the dots immediately, in a very localised and immediate way - loss of habitat equals loss of species.
I know, I should have waited for a scientific study into urban habitats to be conducted, and then debated by many experts, but I didn't.
I have a short attention span.
What has this to do with climate change?
Connect your own dots and maybe you can answer that question for yourself, but once again I will reiterate - without links or studies.
On many levels we tend to be a self interested, destructive species in a state of blissful denial.
