Balancing the requirements of nature and those of the human race is made much more difficult than it could be because of the self-centredness of man who demands that his needs are met no matter what the repercussions for others who share his planet. I was reminded of this as I learned last night that a major campaign is under way, again, for the creation of a barrage over the Severn estuary in England. The justification for it is that it will create jobs and will create energy, but the impact on this major wildlife sanctuary is that about 70,000 birds, many rare and endangered, will lose a major feeding and breeding ground, which will be irreplaceable. This fact, shrugged off by advocates of the barrage, seems to be irrelevant to them.
Environmental campaigners opposed to the scheme claim there are ways of harnessing the tidal power of the Severn which will not undermine the wildlife whose home it is, and that an equitable balance can be achieved. I hope their voices are heard and heeded. A bird and a man are equal in God’s eyes, so why should we be different?]]>
