| In October 2006, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) | | | | generations" that Roberts talks about) with such |
| released its annual 'Living Planet Report' - detailing the | | | | concern of exactly how harmful human behaviour can |
| global impact on natural resources and the declining | | | | be to the planet. |
| numbers of animal species that are dependent upon | | | | In an attempt to try to educate children, there has, |
| them. It also offered solutions on how to reverse | | | | to date been a variety of efforts made by different |
| the downward trends in these areas. This year's | | | | sources on how best to preserve the environment |
| report also explores the impact of human activity on | | | | for future life. For example, the United Nations |
| the planet and concludes that the world's natural | | | | Environment Program (UNEP) runs a children's |
| ecosystems are being run down at a rate never | | | | educational resource called TUNZA, which aims to |
| seen before in human history. | | | | work in partnership with children across the world in |
| The 'Living Planet Report' makes the terrifying | | | | order to equip them with the tools needed to |
| inference that the world's population of vertebrate | | | | maintain the environment for their own children in |
| species have declined by a third since 1970, thus | | | | turn. |
| confirming the worst of human fears: that humanity | | | | With environmental and wildlife awareness having |
| is using up the planet's resources at a much faster | | | | become so much more prevalent in popular culture |
| rate than which they can be produced. Carter S. | | | | during the last ten years - through sources as wide |
| Roberts, President and CEO of the WWF, | | | | ranging as The Body Shop's 1990s product packaging, |
| commented: | | | | through to Al Gore's recent movie 'An Inconvenient |
| "The bottom line of this report could not be more | | | | Truth' - many larger organisations that are not |
| clear - for twenty years we've lived our lives in a | | | | traditionally associated with education have jumped |
| way that far exceeds the carrying capacity of the | | | | on board. For instance, Doubletree hotels runs a |
| Earth. The choices we make today will shape the | | | | program called 'Teaching Kids to CARE(R)' - a special |
| possibilities for the generations which follow us. The | | | | educational initiative that aims to bring wildlife and |
| fact that we live beyond our means in our use of | | | | environmental awareness to the forefront of the |
| natural resources will surely limit opportunities for | | | | classroom. |
| future generations to follow." | | | | With the continued initiation of this and other, similar |
| In fact, the USA, as the world's foremost consumer | | | | programs both in America and across the world, |
| society, is seen to be at the forefront of what the | | | | there is the possibility that such programs will enable |
| WWF report calls 'resource overshoot' - the use of | | | | a reversal of the downward trend of environmental |
| more resources than is sustainable by the planet. This | | | | damage; perhaps allowing for the WWF's Living |
| makes it all the more important for institutions in the | | | | Planet Report to predict a much more promising |
| USA - including the government, parents and | | | | future for the world in future years. |
| teachers - to teach our children (the "future | | | | |