In 2011, U.S. Government-led Wildlife Conservation Will Suffer Largely- Please Help Stop This

The natural welfare of Earth is in dire shape, and the planet needs human intervention  more than ever, instead of the ongoing human mutilation. The under-represented voice of wildlife conservation advocates such as myself must be heard, and the current deplorable ecological preservation is a crucial threat to the prosperity of Earth and we, as human beings, are actively destroying the astounding beauty found within  the natural world.  I implore you to help counteract this tragedy. 

In 2011 Republicans have estimated the party will slash billions in federal funding towards wildlife conservation programs. Please contact your political representatives and urge them to support wildlife conservation; furthermore, encourage your congressional and state representatives to draft powerful legislation that gives incentives to people who and company's that commit to wildlife preservation. As with most pressing issues, the first step is raising awareness. Even something simple such as using the pre-created support letters at wwf.org to take action against the ongoing global horrors will make a difference. If nothing else, forward my letter to your e-mail contacts; create an annoying chain letter. Eventually someone will read it and choose to create a difference. I'm not trying to clog anyone's e-mail inbox; simply attempting to use a digital tool to raise awareness to an issue I find valuable. 

Illegal animal trade, big business interests, and sheer ignorance have plagued this nation, and our planet for far too long. I have attached two hyperlinks below describing different ongoing environment dangers on international and localized levels. The first to a video that illuminates one of the greatest environmental threats to society today, it was created by Photojournalist Patrick Brown; the second link is to a news article written by myself that discusses the need for greater conservation efforts- for although wildlife preservation is actively taking place, an estimated one-fifth of vertebrates are continually heading towards extinction. 

http://www.mediastorm.com/publication/black-market

http://www.statepress.com/2010/11/02/wildlife-diversity-decreases-despite-phoenix-zoo-global-efforts/

I ask of you to please heed my words and take my message to heart. The essence of life, as mankind currently experiences it, is not an eternal value. Why should the often disgraceful self-interest of human beings be achieved at the cost of an animal’s expense?

 As a fellow global citizen, I hope you will help end wildlife genocide.

Thank you for a moment of your valuable time. I earnestly hope you make the correct choice by raising awareness and help create a beautiful future. 

Sincerely,

Travis McKnight

The "I am," an improperly used description of a human life.

How often does someone say "I am" in reference to their occupation, activities and values?
This is a virtually daily phenomenon in which humans describe themselves to others. 
In example, with my case it would be "I am a journalist and a student," however, does that actually represent who I am, or just what I do with my life?  The correct answer is what I, and the rest of us do with our lives, for who we are is far more intricately complex than our environmental surroundings and involvements. If these exercises and values do not describe who we are, but what our lives involve; why does virtually every person I have encountered upon my journey characterize who he or she is by announcing what that person does along their path between life and death? 


The obvious answer is social conditioning, especially here in the United States. The advertising media  and government portrays what a person does with his or her life as who he or she is; the more noble the profession, activity or belief, the nobler and more valued said person is. Yet is it ethical or even wise to allow an advertisement or public figurehead to describe who one is? Granted, I don't believe individuals truly believe that his or her "I am" characterization's truly describe who that person is; however, this occurrence is one to be aware of as words hold unfathomable power- especially during the first encounter with another person, for first impressions matter to a great extent. 


I am guilty of describing myself to strangers as "a journalist, or a rock climber," and so forth; nonetheless, I am attempting to stray away from this path and enlighten the descriptions I give myself to others in hopes that those others will follow and create a different path for themselves. Through this role of characterizing who one is through his or her activities, instead of said individual's life experiences, personality, ethics, and intrinsic desires, it's plausible that one could lose sight of who he or she truly is. Yet if one instills the idea that what he or she does or embodies is only part of their life, it will make a superior impression upon any newcomer in your journey. This is especially crucial in interviews, dates, and introductions as it demonstrates that you're not a simple minded being who doesn't truly know themselves- or the world they live in, but has an in-depth comprehension of what makes them and others "tick." 


 It may sound weird at first to announce, "my occupation is a journalist," to those who ask what I do or who I am, but that's the truth. Who I am is not solely a journalist. I am who I am, and a journalist or hiker are only minute aspects of my being. 


So next time you're describing yourself, take a deep breath in order to pause and think about your answer. Is what you're about to announce truly characterize who you are? Or does it only inform of one aspect in your being? Think about it and tell the truth. For even if you think it doesn't matter, what we say has a magnificent impact upon everyone's life.