Animals

Animal matters Kim Aranha

Every week I sit in front of a blank piece of paper, or rather a blank “Word” screen on my desktop computer and I think about what I can write about that will please you, my readers. I think about articles I have read, newscasts I have seen, stories that I have heard that could make for interesting “copy” (newspaper jargon!), there are times that the choices are overwhelming and others where, figuratively speaking, the cupboard is bare. I must take this opportunity to thank some people, very dear to me, who send articles that they have seen from all over the world to help inspire me. You know who you are, and I am eternally grateful.

There are occasions when nothing of substance has occurred, it is at that time that I know I can always write about one of the thousands of living creatures on this wonderful planet of ours. There is always an article about an insect, bird, marine life, jungle inhabitant, or the sweet world comprised of our furry friends who share our lives with us.

Thanks to the internet I have readers all over the world - Sydney, London, Paris, Rome, Padova, Geneva, New York, and so many more places; way too many to mention. It is knowing that you enjoy these articles and look forward to new ones that makes it so much fun to write them.

There are days when I sit down and suddenly the entire article pops into my head, ready and waiting to be written so it can be shared. Those are the easy days, others require a little more discipline and thought, but they always provide me with a great feeling of accomplishment when I have finished the writing and push send to submit, knowing that I have a few more days of research and inspiration before starting the next one.

The last few days our newly elected Prime Minister has certainly given me food for thought and I am beyond excited to hear his position on climate change. So many people refuse to acknowledge that climate change is a real issue, and they brush it away as if it were an annoying mosquito.

Too many very qualified scientists have brought reality into our living rooms for us to refuse to accept what

PET OF THE WEEK

BABYLYNN THE KITTEN (PHOTO/LINDA GILL-ARANHA)

A chance to win big by supporting the BHS

By The Bahamas Humane Society

“Well, I’m not quite ready to be adopted yet! I’m here at the Bahamas Humane Society with my mother Brenda, and once we’re spayed we’ll be good to go. I’m really here today to ask you to please support the BHS after their recent break-in by buying a raffle ticket or two or a whole book! Tickets are $5, or a book of 21 for $100 (that’s one free ticket!). The grand prize is $10,000 in groceries from Super Value, with some other amazing prizes as well. Tickets can be bought at the BHS, at Fox Hill Nursery or from any Board member. I wish you good luck with your ticket and hope you’ll consider filling out an adoption form at the same time. I’m young and playful and just itching to find out about your place. Won’t you please consider adopting me when the time comes? You can call 323-5138 for more information. I look forward to seeing you soon.”

is happening all around the world.

There is much to do in the Bahamas environmentally and I am happy that Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis is aware of the seriousness of the global situation. I welcome the fact that his speeches have been well received in Europe and around the world, and I hope that this little country can put it’s best foot forward in all things environmental over the next few years.

Yes, there is much to be done, many wrongs to be righted, and it will take time. Rome most certainly was not built in a day, and nor can we be impatient and expect miracles to occur overnight. As a nation, I assume, there must be a sort of “wish list”, and COVID must reign supremely at the top of that list. As a people we can protect ourselves through vaccines and following the prescribed protocols. By doing that, we will assist our country to return to normal. The sooner we return to some sort of normal, the more emphasis can be put on other essential matters.

The Bahamas is one of the most beautiful places in the world, with the clearest water and some of the cleanest air. We must all strive to keep it that way for our children’s children. It is so easy to say what is wrong and what is not being done. To complain comes very easily, the heroes are those who step up and actually do something to improve the situation, no matter how small. If we all did something to improve the world environmentally, collectively it would make a huge difference.

It makes me rejoice how a fiveminute speech beautifully delivered at the COP26 in Glasgow has put the Bahamas in the limelight and attracted so much interest in our country of islands. It is essential that this new wave of interest remain active and constant.

To continue to implement change is a challenge because people are set in their ways. People don’t even like being told they need to be vaccinated, tested, or masked. Just imagine the reaction when there are rules and protocols in place to protect our fragile surroundings.

Life is full of changes. We must be fluid and adapt to change, we must learn and educate ourselves.

The futures of nature, flora and fauna of the Bahamas remains in our hands and the hands of the world. May we all step up and do the right thing today, tomorrow and forever.