The planet may never recover from the environmental devastation wrought by commercial fishing. Once thought to hold an endless bounty, we are quickly learning that even our oceans are no match for human greed. Many fish species once considered infinitely numerous are in grave danger of being hunted to extinction.

50 years ago, maybe a date wouldn’t have been a date unless the man asked the woman and he paid the way. Today, most people would probably find that idea of a date rather quaint. Not that long ago, most people thought that intelligence was something unique to the human animal.

The Karma Dog Project (TKD) is a desperately needed initiative aimed at helping animals in need in Thirumalaikodi, a small rural village in Tamil Nadu, South India. TKD is the first project to be taken on by Animal Care Thirumalaikodi (ACT), an exciting new non-profit organization founded in April 2011

The biggest tragedy for dogs and cats in America is that 4 million of them, most in perfect health and good temperament, are killed every year in so-called animal “shelters.” They have been picked up as strays, or turned in by owners who can no longer care for them. The cities and counties which run the facilities cannot find enough adoptive homes, and their holding pens are filled beyond capacity.

Rhinoceros are most well known for their horns. Unfortunately, these horns are exactly what have been causing them the biggest problem. Poachers are rhino’s greatest predator and they kill rhinos strictly for their horns. They sell the horns on the black market, which are then used as ornaments or traditional medicine.

For every 1,000 households affected by a disaster, approximately 1500 companion animals will also be affected. Hurricane Katrina opened the nation’s eyes to the vulnerability of pets in disasters. As is now well known, many residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast refused to evacuate because they could not take their pets with them.

The rainforests of Indonesia once covered 84% of the countries 17,508 islands (CIA World Factbook Statistic), providing a safe haven for thousands of different species. At the turn of the 20^th century, 170 million hectares of dense primary rainforest covered the archipelago but in present day, there are less than 98 million hectares remaining.

In America there are millions of them, and in other countries the numbers are even worse: homeless, lost or abandoned dogs and cats. How is it in our modern society where billions of dollars are spent each year on such things as doggie daycare, pet strollers, etc. that there is such an appalling flipside to the same coin?

An astonishing amount of marine life in our oceans is facing extinction. This collapse is in large part due to the impact humans have had thus far on sharks. 100 million sharks are killed each year-by longlines, by “sport” fishermen, or by a barbaric practice known as “shark finning.”

2011 has not been a good year for the Amazon. Recently, deforestation levels in the region have reached a record high after a sequence of years when it seemed to be getting under control. The State of Mato Grosso, famous for its cattle ranching and massive soya plantations that feed cattle abroad, is where 81 per cent of the deforestation has occurred so far.

Legally allowed to work up to 9 hours a day, 7 days a week, the horses return to their stables down traffic-clogged 9th Avenue, mixing with vehicles going to the Lincoln Tunnel, as they breath in exhaust fumes. There are over 200 horses living in four multi-storied warehouse stables.  

Three years ago I spent an hour with about 15 other volunteers lining up ripe tomatoes on the broad square in front of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) building in Washington, D.C. A salmonella food poisoning epidemic linked to tomatoes was splattered all over the news at the time.