Generational transition in conservation efforts with purpose driving the way

A Message for the #genz from an #xgen about Purpose for #conservation , #sustainability and the #planetaryhealth

From my recent trip to South Africa my new friends asked me to write this and despite my apprehensions, here it is.

I work more with Professionals in Gen Z and the #millennials age group as opposed to Gen Xers, Even my friends mostly fall into the first 2 gen groups so I’m kind of the “crazy” X guy. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.

We Xers were taught by #babyboomers . We started using the Internet with our 1st Commodore 64 Basic Computers and we played D&D. Mobiles did not exist.

Yes Stranger Things was our world without the Russian Malls and the Multiverse but we had Kate Bush on our Walkmans and Conservation work was something done far far away in Africa.

When I was 10 years old I moved to?#kenya ?, my parents took me on?#safaris ?and I fell in love with?#africanwildlife , so much so that I even?#volunteered ?with the Nairobi National Park Animal Orphanage, Africa's 1st Animal Rehabilitation Centre, clearing poop from the Sick Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino, Giraffe, Buffalo and Deer enclosures and cages. Wheelbarrowing Elephant Poop was a tough job. But I loved being close to these animals and loved it even more when they were released back into the wild

Back then in the late 1970s there were;

~155K?#giraffe ?'s?

~1.3M?#elephants ?,?

~60K?#rhinos ?,?

~76K?#lions ?and?

~1M?#Buffalo ?in Africa and last but not least?

~3.5Bn?#sharks ?globally estimated based on a 71% decline (more on this later*).?

I wanted to become a #Zoologist back then.

We never thought of #purpose as for us life just took over; Access to education, freedom of movement, career, family and desire for Material things and meeting expectations.?

Now 40 over years later I'm listening to GenZers and Millenials and they are not so different from when we Xers where the same age. We all have aspirational ideas and dreams and we were all brimming with purpose. But we lived in a different world back then and we consumed differently and we had different crisis before us.?

GenXers do listen, despite what you might think and hell, we can change and as for me, I've returned to what I loved as a child with a purpose. Using my decades long experience and deploying it for great causes.

Sadly after 40 years there are only?

~111K Giraffes,?

~497K Elephants,?

~27K Rhinos,?

~23K Lions?

~400K Buffalos left in Africa and

~1Bn Sharks worldwide Today.(*100M sharks are killed annually so in 10 years there will be 0 left)

That’s a poor report card, don’t believe it, just google it. I do believe that without conservation efforts over the last 40 years those numbers would be 0 today.?

For sharks time is running out, as they are still not protected, except for a few species like Great Whites and Whale Sharks.

Yet now I still see there is hope as we are finally recognizing the crisis we are in. I guess after 40 years the Sandman is back in a good way. We have the power to reverse the decline as our crisis becomes more acute.

Xers are working hard to replace the Baby Boomers and while they fought for our civil liberties they neglected the planet for the most part. It was just not an issue for them as in their world the planet’s supply was limitless.

In another 20 years the world will be so much different as we will be in positions to implement change that addresses the humanitarian and planetary crisis we are in today.

Purpose is here and taking actions with Purpose is so much easier now, through education, careers and freedom of movement and opportunity. So our ability to reverse the damage is in our hands.

Now I focus on enabling anyone to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with a primary focus on Biodiversity Restoration and Shark Protection. Why, Biodiversity Restoration? A healthy planet benefits us all. Healthy Shark populations equals a #healthyocean .

GenXers are living with Purpose, no matter who they are, not all because life will throw you curve balls but it’s never too late to change. Time is an illusion, it’s what you do with your time that is real and valuable.

The positives you experience in your youth will come back to you later in life. Have no fear or regret.

Best of luck to all Gen Zers and Millenials as you will be the generation that will change the world for the better and hopefully with a little help from us.