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These all occurred for a variety of reasons but are each characterised by their amazing swiftness. With chilling certainty biologists warn we are now in the
midst of another such extinction and the implications are clear: That we cannot guarantee that the human race will not follow the thousands of other species that are now hurtling headlong towards oblivion! In plain
language our very existence is now in jeopardy and the supreme irony is that it is we ourselves who are principally to blame for this disaster.
Millions already dying.
If anyone doubts the predicament we are in they should consider the following points: Within a very short time a quarter of all animal species will be extinct.
In addition at least a quarter of all natural habitats will soon be lost, and a staggering 80% of the worlds forests have now been felled. Meanwhile global warming is already leading to a melting north polar ice
cap, altered weather patterns, flooding, and mass outbreaks of disease and famine. Air pollution is already killing millions world-wide, and by the year 2026 at least 70% of the worlds population will be without an
adequate water supply.
Real dangers.
We must also remember that by the middle of this century the worlds population will have more than doubled and even at the best of times this would present
massive problems. In these circumstances threats of our own extinction are not hard to perceive. These are very real dangers and the most frightening thing of all is the extreme rapidity with which these
events are now gathering pace.
Alarming reality.
The alarming reality is that when mass extinctions take place there is very little chance of reversing the trend once it has begun to make itself apparent.
Essentially it means we are now reduced to the status of anxious onlookers in the face of circumstances that we have little power to control. Even the National Geographic magazine was recently forced to ask the
question: “How can we make it through the next 50 years?”
Others interpret the future as a predicament where our only hope of survival lies either in the arms of providence or Divine protection.
Perhaps the real question is: Do we really deserve to be saved?
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