We are Making a Mess of It!

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is getting vociferous. Two stories featured on the BBC website news emanating from the RSPB. Apparently wind farms in Norway are causing great problems for sea eagles in Norway. Although they have amazing eyesight which can spot a fish underwater and home in on a rabbit from high altitude these birds are falling foul (sorry for the pun) of the blades of a wind farm in their territory. Many have been killed and it is seriously affecting the local sea eagle population. Since sea eagles live quite long lives they do not reproduce at a great rate and so the birth rate in this area is now much lower than the death rate and the local population is in danger of not surviving.
The second story coming from RSPB is closer to home. Water companies, especially in South-East England, are extracting water from bore-holes and rivers to such an extent that they are endangering the habitat of local waterfowl. Populations will decrease and may even become locally extinct. Ofwat, the agency which licenses the extraction of water, has the power to stop or limit this usage but would be obliged to pay compensation to the water companies in question. Compensation which would come from us, the taxpayers. This makes them very reluctant to make any curtailment orders. But if they don't take action many species will be seriously affected and may become extinct in some areas.
It's surely up to us - the water and energy consumers. Do we just keep consuming without regard to the effects on the environment or do we try to use our natural resources more responsibly? Renewable energy like wind power is ecologically preferable and making sure that local wildlife is not adversely affected just takes a little research at the planning stage. Educating the public to use less water is more difficult. In this consumer society we are encouraged to consume much more than we really need. When I was a kid a bath once a week was considered quite adequate. My own kids nowadays don't feel clean unless they bath at least once a day. I have talked to them but they consider me to be dirty because I shower once or twice a week and the rest of the time a sinkful of water each day can keep me clean. My kids think nothing of leaving lights on and leaving all their computer peripherals switched on while they are not using them except for downloads - however much I nag them about my electricity bills. It's nothing to them. It's the norm.
I am sure that this is the state in most households. We must wake up and do something to stop it! Otherwise my kids - and their kids - will inherit a wasteland in which no one can live, no one can consume and anarchy and war will be end of civilisation and possibly humankind.
Very deep, Mac.
Nuff said.