Categories: uncategorized
Date: 08 August 2007 14:29:38
Jeremy Vine did a slot about the extinction of the Yangtze River Dolphin today on his Radio 2 show. I have been known to splutter with unbelief at the things some people say and even to turn the radio off, but this is the only time I have felt the need to contact the show. Read on to see why...
"Subject: River Dolphin
Firstly, I was a little disappointed that this story was at the end of the show so that I was unable to e-mail this comment in time. It is the first time I have ever felt strongly enough about something to actually get in touch.
I have issue with the comment of your expert about being 'more grown-up' about the issue of extinction. If by being grown-up he means that we should be detatched, cynical and complacent, then I think I will stay with my childlike apprecation of the world.
Also, with regard to his comment about man being the only species to protect other species, that is true enough. However, we have also been the only species capable of doing so, and also the only ones capable of wholesale destruction of other species through our own selfish negligence. That surely confers more of a resposibility on us rather than less.
Well done for your choice of experts on this one, by the way. If the intention was to provoke a response then it certainly worked with me. Perhaps next time you could ensure that there is enough time left on the programme for a full debate. I would have been interested to see if any of your listeners agreed with this man. Then again, perhaps my blood pressure would not have stood the strain!
Keep up the good work.
Judith Parry (BSc Zoology)"
Yes, I did put the letters after the name bit on purpose! Sadly, due to online yukkery, I think this e-mail did not actually arrive. This is no bad thing really as it means that I was prompted to post it here. I just had to say something, somewhere. The inference that an emotional response to the degradation of our planet was somehow naive and even contemptible just made my blood boil.
Grrrrrrrrrr!!!