Miracles of Hope

I was struck by this book, maybe it was because I recently went to the premier of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” which injects a much-needed urgency and reality into the issue of global warming. This book was like the next step to realisation for me, the “Bible” to go with the commercial outreach movie, expanding one’s perspective on the importance of the natural world, as well as providing a deeper understanding of the extent to which we have devastated our planet and its inhabitants, leaving us little time. Nevertheless, this is not a book all about doom and gloom - quite the opposite. It is a book about hope; a hope that is the key to our survival and one that should concern everyone. The third part of the book delves into an optimism that takes its strength from the changes happening all over the world in the minds, hearts and actions of people who believe our future is worth fighting for. We are the ones who keep hope alive and books like this spur us on and guide us to where we all need to be heading. A worthy read and an investment for the future in so many ways.

Verity Willcocks

An Inconvenient Truth

I was so inspired by this documentary as it illustrated the danger facing humankind and the planet in the most visceral way! What a pity that Al Gore was pipped at the US presidency election post. The world would be a very different place today if he had got in as US President. But then perhaps the work he is doing in alerting people around the world to the dangers of climate change and rising global mean temperatures would not have been done …

Glad Day

Friday 20th October was a glad day for me as I spent it at SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) doing my bit for the preservation of the African Penguin chicks that were rescued off Dyer Island. They were born too late in the season, and as their parents had started to moult, they were unable to fish for their chicks. As a first day “appie” I scrubbed out pens, carried boxes of chicks, cleaned feeding equipment and did other lowly but very necessary tasks. The work was physically exhausting but at the end of the shift the aches and pains felt good as I felt I had done my bit for the African Penguin population. It also felt good to get out of the office and a cerebral construct, into the field so to speak! Good on ya to all the other volunteers who have taken the plight of these little furry bundles to their hearts, unselfishly giving of themselves and their time. For myself, I have pledged other days to SANCCOB and will be continuing to do my bit for penguin and country!!

I believe

So much has happened in my life in the past few weeks to confirm my chosen path! and I continue to believe in the importance of the work and my commitment to doing it is as strong as ever!! Perhaps the lesson is to learn to let go because as old avenues close down, more powerful and exciting new ones open up!!!

It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of to-day and the reality of tomorrow.

Robert H. Goddard

Let’s hope that the reality of tomorrow is a more humane and safer world for us all. That is my dearest wish and if I can be in any way instrumental in helping to bring this about then my time here would have been excellently spent!!