Lyrics
A primary aspect of a well crafted lyric is that it expresses themes which are broadly shared. This is why love songs have always enjoyed a wide audience. Everyone at some point in their life has experienced, whether requited or unrequited, that remarkable transcendental emotion. So, to find a subject that is of interest to ourselves and also to a wide range of individuals is optimal. Here are some observations which may lend some insight on some of our lyrics.
First up, the lyrical themes of No More Time, a composition associated with a video of lighthouses, and examine some of the themes that are of significant interest to everyone. It doesn't matter what nationality you are, or what race you are, or what religion you observe, or what political ideology you follow. This subject matter concerns everybody.
The noble lighthouse.
It's function, to offer guidance and aid to mariners.
To warn of imminent danger
To provide help in navigation
To render assistance in times of peril
In writing lyrics for a song about lighthouses, you can take a number of different approaches. In this piece we focus on “the warning of imminent danger” aspect of the lighthouse.
In metaphysics, there is a field of study called epistemology. This is an extremely important subject in modern society, but for a host of reasons, is not known by most people.
Essentially it is the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of that mysterious thing we call knowledge. What are the origins and foundations of knowledge? How valid are these foundations? What are the mechanisms of the transmission and reception of knowledge?
Let’s examine the last two.
The transmission and reception of knowledge is predicated primarily on language. From one perceptual vantage point, language is a wondrously beautiful and complex thing. From another vantage point it has serious and significant flaws.
These are flaws that go mostly unobserved.
One of these flaws is the fact that language is linear. That is to say words and sentences are strung out in a line. For anyone to become any kind of authority on a wide range of subjects, one has to literally read miles and miles of transcripts.
Or listen to months and years of seminars.
What this leads to is an incredible fragmentation of knowledge
.
This "epistemological factor" is critical in facilitating the perpetuation of a lot of dangerous propaganda by unethical and avaricious individuals, whose psychopathological self-interest is imperiling an incredible amount of people and a whole host of other organisms on this planet.
A wide range of matters, from politics and economics, to science and religion, are being cynically manipulated by greedy and self-interested individuals.
There is a wide array of problems with a capital P that are confronting us at this point in history, each one, in and of itself, considerable in scope and very daunting to try and solve.
There is a catch-22 situation here. These significant problems have a disquieting and unpleasant aspect to them, wherein a lot of people do not like having to deal with disquietude and unpleasantness, unless they absolutely have to.
So, too many of us ignore or reject valid research demonstrably showing significant threats to our well being and our very existence.
Now, let’s go back to the warning of imminent danger metaphor of the primary lyrical theme in No More Time.
Here is a compilation of some of the threats that so many of us don’t like to think about that are threatening our civilization, many of them, “unseen”, and presenting an imminent danger.
The Ecology Threat
There is a host of problems in this realm alone that threaten our existence significantly. This constellation of ecological problems has been referred to collectively as environmental degradation. This term can be succinctly and broadly defined as the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil, the destruction of ecosystems and the mass extinction of wildlife, and changes or disturbances to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable.
There has been an incredible battle going on for about a half a century now, between various industrial complexes and scientists about the level of environmental degradation and the causes.
There is a very strong analogy between what the tobacco companies did for decades and what is happening now.
In 1964 the American Medical Association presented sound peer reviewed scientific research linking smoking with cancer.
The tobacco companies responded with a report that stated that the A.M.A. research was erroneous and their own research, which was eventually proven in a court of law to be an insidious lie, indicated that there was no clear link between smoking and cancer.
Hmmmm.
Why would they do that?
It seems if they didn’t fight it, their profits would take a significant hit.
It wasn’t until February 4, 1996 on the news program 60 Minutes, that a whistleblower from Brown and Williamson stated that not only had the tobacco companies lied about their research about the cancer link that cigarette smoking causes, but that they intentionally manipulated the tobacco blend to increase the amount of nicotine and other chemicals in cigarette smoke, thereby increasing the impact to the smoker and increasing the already addictive effects of cigarette smoking significantly.
Big Tobacco’s response to Jeffrey Wigand’s whistleblowing was to try and silence him under mountains of litigation and massive legal fees, smear campaigns, and even death threats. For more information on this read “The Man Who Knew Too Much” by Marie Brenner. Or see the movie “The Insider” with Al Pacino and Russell Crowe portraying the two central characters.
So what we have is the tobacco industrial complex fighting tooth and nail soundly researched scientific evidence showing the link between smoking and a very painful and horrific disease because it will cut into their profits.
This is very important history to know.
The same thing is happening now.
The analogy is sound.
Various industrial complexes, their profit margins being threatened, have taken to propagating propaganda that states that sound peer reviewed scientific research is erroneous and the motivations of the environmental movement are “politically subversive”, attempting to introduce Marxist and socialist systems to undermine our capitalist system.
Hmmm.
Although this is a primary accusation, it is not the only one.
Another predominant theme is to paint environmentalists as “hysterics”.
Another tactic is to simply pronounce and dismiss valid scientific research as a “hoax.”
And their propaganda campaigns are successful because of the epistemological factor.
When presented with two competing “authorities”, one stating that climate change is being caused by human activity, and measures have to be taken, and taken now, as time is starting to run out, and we’re heading towards a critical mass very soon, and then it will be too late.
And the other so-called “authority” is saying no, no, it’s part of a natural climatological cycle.
Then, non-scientists, most humans, will say hell, I’ve got enough to worry about between paying off the mortgage, keeping my job, finding a job, putting my kids through college, putting up with my idiot boss, etc., to worry about saving the world too.
So, hey, I’m going to go with the guy who’s saying it’s just part of a natural climatawhogical thingy.
So called media “pundits”, partisan think tanks, and special interest groups funded by fossil fuel and related industries continue to raise doubts in the minds of the public of the validity of the scientific research in these fields.
It is very sad that they are so successful.
These unfortunate organisms downplay and distort the evidence of climate change. And then they demand policies that allow these industries to continue polluting, as well as attempting to undercut existing anti-pollution legislation.
As of this writing, 98% of the qualified scientists in the world agree with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change position which states: “An increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate. There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.”
No scientific body of national or international standing has maintained a dissenting opinion. The last was the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, which in 2007 updated its 1999 statement rejecting the likelihood of human influence on recent climate with its current non-committal position.
The U.S. Global Change Research Program reported in June, 2009 that:
“Observations show that warming of the climate is unequivocal. The global warming observed over the past 50 years is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat trapping gases, These emissions come mainly from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), with important contributions from the clearing of forests, agricultural practices, and other activities.”
Since 2001, 32 national science academies have come together to issue joint declarations confirming anthropogenic (human caused) global warming, and urging the nations of the world to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The signatories of the statements have been the national science academies of: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, the Caribbean, China, France, Ghana, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, India, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the United States.
As the representative of the world’s scientific and engineering academies, the InterAcademy Council (IAC) issued a report in 2007 titled Lighting the Way: Toward a Sustainable Energy Future.
An insightful quote:
“Current patterns of energy usage are proving detrimental to the long-term welfare of humanity. The integrity of essential natural systems is already at risk from climate change caused by the atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases. Concerted efforts should be mounted for improving energy efficiency and reducing the carbon intensity of the world economy”
In 2007, The International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) issued a Statement on the Environment and Sustainable Growth:
“As reported by the IPCC, most of the observed global warming since the mid-20th century is very likely due to human-produced emission of greenhouse gases and this warming will continue unabated if present anthropogenic emissions continue or, worse, expand without control.
CAETS, therefore, endorses the many recent calls to decrease and control greenhouse gas emissions to an acceptable level as soon as possible.”
As the world’s largest general scientific society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science adopted an official statement on climate change in 2006:
“The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society. The pace of change and the evidence of harm have increased markedly over the last five years. The time to control greenhouse gas emissions is now.”
The American Chemical Society has stated:
“Careful and comprehensive scientific assessments have clearly demonstrated that the Earth’s climate system is changing rapidly in response to growing atmospheric burdens of greenhouse gases and absorbing aerosol particles (IPCC<2007). There is very little room for doubt that observed climate trends are due to human activities. The threats are serious and action is urgently needed to mitigate the risks of climate change.
The reality of global warming, its current serious and potentially disastrous impacts on Earth system properties, and the key role emissions from human activities play in driving these phenomena have been recognized by earlier versions of this ACS policy statement (ACS, 2004), by other major scientific societies, including the American Geophysical Union (AGU, 2004), the American Meteorological Society (AMS, 2007) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, 2007).”
The Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics endorsed the AGU statement on human-induced climate change:
“The Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics has endorsed a position statement on climate change by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Council in December 2003.”
In November 2007, the American Physical Society (APS) adopted an official statement on climate change:
“Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the atmosphere in ways that affect the Earth's climate. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide as well as methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. They are emitted from fossil fuel combustion and a range of industrial and agricultural processes.
The evidence is incontrovertible: global warming is occurring. If no mitigating actions are taken, significant disruptions in the Earth's physical and ecological systems, social systems, security and human health are likely to occur. We must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases beginning now.
Because the complexity of the climate makes accurate prediction difficult, the APS urges an enhanced effort to understand the effects of human activity climate, and to provide the technological options for meeting the climate challenge in the near and longer terms. The APS also urges governments, universities, national laboratories and its membership to support policies and actions that will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.”
In 2005, the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP) issued a science policy document in which they stated:
“The AIP supports the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions that are leading to increased global temperatures, and encourages research that works towards this goal.
Reason: research in Australia and overseas shows that an increase in global temperature will adversely affect the Earth's climate patterns. The melting of the polar ice caps, combined with thermal expansion, will lead to rises in sea levels that may impact adversely on our coastal cities. The impact of these changes on biodiversity will fundamentally change the ecology of Earth.”
In 2007, the European Physical Society issued a position paper regarding energy:
“The emission of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, among which carbon dioxide is the main contributor, has amplified the natural greenhouse effect and leads to global warming. The main contribution stems from burning fossil fuels. A further increase will have decisive effects on life on earth. An energy cycle with the lowest possible CO2 emission is called for wherever possible to combat climate change.”
The European Science Foundation in 2007 issued a position paper on climate change:
“There is now convincing evidence that since the Industrial Revolution, human activities, resulting in increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases have become a major agent of climate change. These greenhouse gases affect the global climate by retaining heat in the troposphere, thus raising the average temperature of the planet and altering global atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns.
While ongoing national and international actions to curtail and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are essential, the levels of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere, and their impact, are likely to persist for several decades. Ongoing and increased efforts to mitigate climate change through reduction in greenhouse gases are therefore crucial.”
In 2008, the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies issued a policy statement on climate change:
“Global climate change is real and measurable. Since the start of the 20th century, the global mean surface temperature of the Earth has increased by more than 0.7°C and the rate of warming has been largest in the last 30 years. Key vulnerabilities arising from climate change include water resources, food supply, health, coastal settlements, biodiversity and some key ecosystems such as coral reefs and Alpine regions. As the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases increases, impacts become more severe and widespread. To reduce the global net economic, environmental and social losses in the face of these impacts, the policy objective must remain squarely focused on returning greenhouse gas concentrations to near preindustrial levels through the reduction of emissions. The spatial and temporal fingerprint of warming can be traced to recent greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, which are a direct result of burning fossil fuels, broad-scale deforestation and other human activity.”
The American Geophysical Union statement, adopted by the society in 2003 and revised in 2007, affirms that rising levels of greenhouse gases have caused and will continue to cause the global surface temperature to be warmer:
“The Earth's climate is now clearly out of balance and is warming. Many components of the climate system, including the temperatures of the atmosphere, land and ocean, the extent of sea ice and mountain glaciers, the sea level, the distribution of precipitation, and the length of seasons-are now changing at rates and in patterns that are not natural and are best explained by the increased atmospheric abundances of greenhouse gases and aerosols generated by human activity during the 20th century. Global average surface temperatures increased on average by about 0.6°C over the period between 1956 and 2006. As of 2006, 11 of the previous 12 years were warmer than any other since 1850. The observed rapid retreat of Arctic sea ice is expected to continue and lead to the disappearance of summertime ice within this century. Evidence from most oceans and all continents except Antarctica shows warming attributable to human activities. Recent changes in many physical and biological systems are linked within this regional climate change. A sustained research effort, involving many AGU members and summarized in the 2007 assessments of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, continue to improve our scientific understanding of the climate.”
In 2008, the European Federation of Geologists issued a position paper Carbon Capture and Geological Storage:
“The EFG recognizes the work of the IPCC and other organizations, and subscribes to the major findings that climate change is happening, is predominantly caused by anthropogenic emissions of CO2, and poses a significant threat to human civilization. It is clear that major efforts are necessary to quickly and strongly reduce CO2 emissions. The EFG strongly advocates renewable and sustainable energy production, including geothermal energy, as well as the need for increasing energy efficiency. CCS (Carbon Capture and Geological Storage) should also be regarded as a bridging technology, facilitating the move towards a carbon free economy.”
In 2005, the Divisions of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences of the European Geosciences Union issued a position statement in support of the joint science academies statement on global response to climate change. The statement refers to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as the “main representative of the global scientific community", and asserts that the “IPCC represents the state of the art of climate science supported by the major science academies around the world and by the vast majority of science researchers and investigators as documented by the peer reviewed scientific literature.”
Additionally, in 2008, the EGU issued a position statement on ocean acidification which states, "Ocean acidification is already occurring today and will continue to intensify, closely tracking atmospheric CO2 increase. Given the potential threat to marine ecosystems and its ensuing impact on human society and economy, especially as it acts in conjunction with anthropogenic global warming, there is an urgent need for immediate action. The statement then advocates for strategies "to limit future release of CO2 to the atmosphere and\or enhance removal of excess CO2 from the atmosphere".
In 2006, the Geological Society of America adopted a position statement on global climate change. It amended this position on April 20, 2010 with more explicit comments on need for CO2 reduction.
“Decades of scientific research have shown that climate can change from both natural and anthropogenic causes. The Geological Society of America (GSA) concurs with the assessments by the national academies of science (2005), the National Research Council (2006), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) that global climate has warmed and that human activities (mainly greenhouse gas emissions) account for most of the warming since the middle 1900s. If current trends continue, the projected increase in global temperature by the end of the 21st century will result in large impacts on humans and other species. Addressing the challenges posed by climate change will require a combination of adaptation to the changes that are likely to occur in global reductions of CO2 emissions from anthropogenic sources.”
In July 2009, the Geological Society of Australia issued a position statement Greenhouse Emissions and Climate Change:
“Human activities have increasing impact on Earth's environments. Of particular concern is the well documented accumulation of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which has been linked unequivocally to burning of fossil fuels, and the corresponding increase in average global temperature. Risks associated with these large-scale perturbations of the Earth fundamental life support systems include rising sea level, harmful shifts in the acid balance of the oceans and long-term changes in local and regional climate and extreme weather events. GSA therefore recommends strong action be taken at all levels, including government, industry, and individuals to substantially reduce the current levels of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the likely social and environmental effects of increasing atmospheric CO2.”
In November 2010, the Geological Society of London issued a position statement Climate change: evidence from the geological record:
“The last century has seen a rapidly growing global population and much more intensive use of resources, leading to greatly increased emissions of gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, from the burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal), and from agriculture, cement production and deforestation. Evidence from the geological record is consistent with the physics that shows that adding large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere warms the world and may lead to: higher sea levels and flooding of low-lying coasts; greatly changed patterns of rainfall; increased acidity of the oceans; and decreased oxygen levels in sea water.
There is now widespread concern that the earths’ climate will warm further, not only because of the lingering effects of the added carbon already in the system, but also because of further additions as human population continues to grow. Life on Earth has survived large climate changes in the past, but extinctions and major redistribution of species have been associated with many of them. When the human population was small and nomadic, a rise in sea level of a few meters would have had very little effect on Homo sapiens. With the current and growing global population, much of which is concentrated in coastal cities, such as a rise in sea level would have a drastic effect on our complex society, especially if the climate were to change as suddenly as it has at times in the past. Equally, it seems likely that as warming continues, some areas may experience less precipitation leading to drought. With both the rising seas and increasing drought, pressure for human migration could result on a large scale.”
In July 2007, the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) adopted a resolution titled “The Urgency of Addressing Climate Change". In the resolution, the IUGG concurs with the "comprehensive and widely accepted and endorsed scientific assessments carried out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and regional and national bodies, which have firmly established, on the basis of scientific evidence, that human activities are the primary cause of recent climate change." They state further that the "continuing reliance on combustion of fossil fuels as the world's primary source of energy will lead to much higher atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, which will, in turn, cause significant increases in surface temperatures, sea level, ocean acidification, and the related consequences to the environment and society."
In July 2009, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) adopted a position statement on climate change in which they assert that "Earth's climate is changing and that present warming trends are largely the result of human activities. NAGT strongly supports and will work to promote education in the science of climate change, the causes and effects of global warming, and the immediate need for policies and actions that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.”
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) statement adopted by the Council in 2003 said:
“There is now clear evidence that the mean annual temperature at the Earth's surface, averaged over the entire globe, has been increasing in the past 200 years. There is also clear evidence that the abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased over the same period. In the past decade, significant progress has been made toward a better understanding of the climate system and toward improved projections of long-term climate change. Human activities have become a major source of environmental change. Of great urgency are the climate consequences of the increasing atmospheric abundance of greenhouse gases. Because greenhouse gases continue to increase, we are, in effect, conducting a global climate experiment, neither planned nor controlled, the results of which may present unprecedented challenges to our wisdom and foresight as well as have significant impacts on our natural and societal systems.”
The Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society has issued a statement on climate change, wherein they conclude:
“Global climate change and global warming are real and observable. It is highly likely that those human activities that have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are largely responsible for the observed warming since 1950. The warming associated with increases in greenhouse gases originating from human activity is called the enhanced greenhouse effect. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by more than 30% since the start of the industrial age and is higher now than at any time in at least the past 650,000 years. This increase is a direct result of burning fossil fuels, broad-scale deforestation and other human activity.”
In November 2005, the Canadian foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) issued a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada stating that:
“We concur with the climate science assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2001. We endorse the conclusions of the IPCC assessment that "there is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities". There is increasingly unambiguous evidence of changing climate in Canada and around the world. There will be increasing impacts of climate change on Canada's natural ecosystems and on our socioeconomic activities. Advances in climate science since the 2001 IPCC Assessment have provided more evidence supporting the need for action and development of the strategy for adaptation to projected changes.”
In November 2009, a letter to the Canadian Parliament by the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society states:
“Rigorous international research, including work carried out and supported by the government of Canada, reveals that greenhouse gases resulting from human activities contribute to the warming of the atmosphere and the oceans and constitute a serious risk to the health and safety of our society, as well as having an impact on all life.”
In February 2007, after the release of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment report, the Royal Meteorological Society issued an endorsement of the report. In addition to referring to the IPCC as "world's best climate scientist", they stated that climate change is happening as "the result of emissions since industrialization and we have already set in motion the next 50 years of global warming-what we do from now on will determine how worse it will get."
In a Statement at the 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U. N. Framework Convention on Climate Change presented on November 15, 2006, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirms the need to "prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system." The WNO concurs that "scientific assessments have increasingly reaffirmed that human activities are indeed changing the composition of the atmosphere, in particular through the burning of fossil fuels for energy production and transportation." The WNO concurs that "the present atmospheric concentration of CO2 was never exceeded over the past 420,000 years" and that the ITCC "assessments provide the most authoritative, up to date scientific advice."
The American Quaternary Association (ANQUA) has stated:
“Few credible scientists now doubt that humans have influenced the documented rise of global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, citing the growing body of evidence that warming of the atmosphere, especially over the past 50 years, is directly impacted by human activity”
The statement on climate change issued by the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) reiterates the conclusions of the ITCC, and urges all nations to take prompt action in line with the UNFCCC principles.
"Human activities are now causing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, tropospheric ozone, and nitrous oxide, to rise well above preindustrial levels. Increases in greenhouse gases are causing temperatures to rise. The scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action. Minimizing the amount of this carbon dioxide reaching the atmosphere since the huge challenge, must be a global priority."
The American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians (AAWV) has issued a position statement regarding "climate change, wildlife diseases, and wildlife health."
"There is widespread scientific agreement that the world's climate is changing and that the weight of evidence demonstrates that anthropogenic factors have and will continue to contribute significantly to global warming and climate change. It is anticipated that continuing changes to the climate will have serious negative impacts on public, animal and ecosystem health due to extreme weather events, changing disease transmission dynamics, emerging and reemerging diseases, and alterations to habitat and ecological systems that are essential to wildlife conservation. Furthermore, there is increasing recognition of the interrelationships of human, domestic animal, wildlife, and ecosystem health as illustrated by the fact the majority of recent emerging diseases of a wildlife origin."
In October 2009, the leaders of 18 US scientific societies and organizations sent an open letter to the United States Senate reaffirming the scientific consensus that climate change is occurring and is primarily caused by human activities. The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) adopted this letter as their official position statement:
"Observations throughout the world make clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research demonstrates that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver."
The letter goes on to mourn the projected impacts on the United States such as sea level rise and increases in extreme weather events, water scarcity, heat waves, wildfires, and the disturbance of biological systems. It then advocates for a dramatic reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases.
In 2003, the American Society for Microbiology issued a public policy report in which they recommend "reducing net anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere" and "minimizing anthropogenic disturbances of atmospheric gases." Also "carbon dioxide concentrations were relatively stable for the past 10,000 years but then began to increase rapidly about 150 years ago as a result of fossil fuel consumption and land-use change. Of course, changes in atmospheric composition are but one component of global change, which also includes disturbances in the physical and chemical conditions of the oceans and land surfaces. Although global change has been a natural process throughout Earth's history, humans are responsible for substantially accelerating present-day changes. These changes may adversely affect human health and the biosphere on which we depend. Outbreaks of a number of diseases, including Lyme’s disease, Hantavirus infections, dengue fever, bubonic plague, and cholera, have been linked to climate change."
In 2006, the Australian Coral Reef Society issued an official communiqué regarding the Great Barrier Reef and the "worldwide decline in coral reefs through processes such as overfishing, runoff of nutrients from the land, coral bleaching, global climate change, ocean acidification, pollution, etc.”
"There is almost total consensus among experts that the Earth's climate is changing as a result of the buildup of greenhouse gases. The IFCC (involving over 3000 of the world's experts) has come out with clear conclusions as to the reality of this phenomenon. One does not have to look further than the collective Academy of scientists worldwide to see the string of statements on this change to the Earth's atmosphere. There is broad scientific consensus that coral reefs are heavily affected by the activities of man and there are significant global influences that can make reefs more vulnerable such as global warming. It is highly likely that coral bleaching has been exacerbated by global warming.”
The UK's Institute of Biology states "there is scientific agreement that the rapid global warming that has occurred in recent years is mostly anthropogenic, i.e. due to human activity." As a consequence of global warming, they warned that a "rising of sea levels due to melting of ice caps is expected to occur. Rises in temperature, while complex and frequently localized in effects on weather, but an overall increase in extreme weather conditions and changes in precipitation patterns are probable, resulting in flooding and drought. The spread of tropical diseases also is expected." Subsequently, the Institute of Biology advocates policies to reduce "greenhouse gas emissions, as we feel that the consequences of climate change are likely to be severe."
In 2008, the Society of American Foresters (SAF) issued position statements pertaining to climate change in which they cite the IPCC and the UNFCCC:
"Forests are shaped by climate. Changes in temperature and precipitation regimes therefore have the potential to dramatically affect forests nationwide. There is growing evidence that our climate is changing. The changes in temperature have been associated with increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and other GHG's in the atmosphere."
The Wildlife Society has issued a position statement titled Global Climate Change and Wildlife.
"Scientists throughout the world have concluded that climate research conducted in the past two decades definitively shows that rapid worldwide climate change occurred in the 20th century, and will likely continue to occur for decades to come. Although climates have varied dramatically since the Earth was formed, few scientists question the role of humans in creating recent climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases. The critical issue is no longer "if" climate change is occurring, but rather how to address effects on wildlife and wildlife habitats."
The statement goes on to assert that "evidence is accumulating that wildlife and wildlife habitats have been and will continue to be significantly affected by ongoing large-scale rapid climate change." The statement concludes with a call for "reduction in anthropogenic (human caused) sources of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global climate change and the conservation of CO2 consuming photo synthesizers (i.e., plants)."
In 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement Global Climate Change and Children's Health:
"There is broad scientific consensus that Earth's climate is warming rapidly and at an accelerating rate. Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, are very likely (more than 90% probability) to be the main cause of this warming. Climate sensitive changes in ecosystems are already being observed, and fundamental, potentially irreversible, ecological changes may occur in the coming decades. Conservative environmental estimates of the impact of climate changes that are already in process indicate that they would result in numerous health effects to children. Anticipated direct health consequences of climate change include injury and death from extreme weather events and natural disasters, increases in climate sensitive infectious diseases, increases in air pollution related illness, and more heat related, potentially fatal illnesses. Within all of these categories, children have increased vulnerability compared with other groups.
In 2006, the American College of Preventive Medicine issued a policy statement on "Abrupt Climate Change and Public Health Implications."
"The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) accept the position that global warming and climate change is occurring, that there is a potential for abrupt climate change, and human practices that increase greenhouse gases exacerbate the problem, and that the public health consequences may be severe."
In 2008, the American Medical Association issued a policy statement on global climate change declaring that they:
"Support the findings of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which states that the Earth is undergoing adverse global climate change and that these changes will negatively affect public health. We support educating the medical community on the potential adverse public health effects of global climate change, including topics such as population displacement, flooding, infectious and vector-borne diseases, and healthy water supplies."
In 2007, the American Public Health Association issued a policy statement titled "Addressing the Urgent Threat of Global Climate Change to Public Health and the Environment."
"The long-term threat of global climate change to global health is extremely serious and the fourth IPCC report and other scientific literature demonstrate convincingly that anthropogenic GHG emissions are primarily responsible for this threat. US policy makers should immediately take necessary steps to reduce US emissions of GHG's, including carbon dioxide, to referred dangers climate change."
In 2004, the Australian Medical Association issued a position statement "Climate Change and Human Health" in which they recommend policies "to mitigate the possible consequential health effects of climate change through improved energy efficiency, clean energy production and other emission reduction steps."
The statement was revised again in 2008:
"The world climate (our life support system) is being altered in ways that are likely to pose significant direct and indirect challenges to health. While climate change can be due to natural forces, there is substantial evidence to indicate that human activity-and specifically increased greenhouse gas emissions-is a key factor in the pace and extent of global temperature increases. Health impacts of climate change include the direct impacts of extreme events such as storms, floods, heat waves and fires and the indirect effects of longer term changes, such as drought, changes to the food and water supplies, resource conflicts and population shifts. Increases in average temperatures mean that alterations in the geographic range and seasonality of certain infections and diseases (including vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Ross River virus and food-borne infections such as Salmonellosis) may be among the first detectable impacts of climate change on human health. Human health is ultimately dependent on the health of the planet and its ecosystem. The AMA believes that measures which mitigate climate change will also benefit public health. Reducing greenhouse gases should therefore be seen as a public health priority.”
In 2001, the World Federation of Public Health Associations issued a policy resolution on global climate change:
"Noting the conclusions of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other climatologists that anthropogenic greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change, has substantially increased in atmospheric concentration beyond natural processes and have increased by 28% since the Industrial Revolution. Realizing that subsequent health effects from such perturbations in the climate system would likely include an increase in heat-related mortality and morbidity, vector-borne infectious diseases, water-borne diseases, and malnutrition from threatened agriculture, the World Federation of Public Health Associations recommends precautionary primary preventive measures to avert climate change, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and preservation through appropriate energy and land use policies, in view of the scale of potential health impacts."
In 2008, the United Nations World Health Organization issued a report Protecting Health from Climate Change:
"There is now widespread agreement that the Earth is warming, due to emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activity. It is also clear that current trends in energy use, development, and population growth will lead to continuing and more severe climate change. The changing climate will inevitably affect the basic requirements for maintaining health: clean air and water, sufficient food and adequate shelter. Each year, about 800,000 people die from causes attributable to urban air pollution. 1.8 million die from diarrhea resulting from lack of access to clean water supply, sanitation, and poor hygiene. 3.5 million die from malnutrition and approximately 60,000 in natural disasters. A warmer and more variable climate threatens to lead to higher levels of some air pollutants, increased transmission of diseases through unclean water and through contaminated food, to compromised agricultural production in some of the least developed countries, and increase the hazards of extreme weather.
The American Astronomical Society has endorsed the EGU statement.
"In endorsing the human impacts on climate statement (issued by the American Geophysical Union) the AAS recognizes the collective expertise of the AGU and scientific subfields central to assessing and understanding global change, and acknowledges the strength of agreement among our AGU colleagues that the global climate is changing and human activities are contributing to that change.
In February 2009, the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) issued a Fact Sheet on climate change:
"The Earth's climate has changed many times in the planet's history because of natural factors, including volcanic eruptions and changes in the Earth's orbit, but never before have we observed the present rapid rise in temperatures and carbon dioxide. Human activities resulting from the Industrial Revolution have changed the, composition of the atmosphere. Deforestation is now the second largest contributor to global warming, after the burning of fossil fuels. These human activities have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As the Earth's climate warms, we are seeing many changes, stronger, more destructive hurricanes, heavier rainfall, or disastrous flooding, more areas of the world experiencing severe drought, and more heat waves."
In October 2001, the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) published an Informatory Note entitled Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect:
"Human activities have increased the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases, and although the changes are relatively small, the equilibrium maintained by the atmosphere is delicate, and so the effect of these changes is significant. The world's most important greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, is a byproduct of the burning of fossil fuels. Since the time of the Industrial Revolution about 200 years ago, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from about 280 ppm to 370 ppm, an increase of around 30%. On the basis of available data, climate scientists are now projecting an average global temperature rise over the century of 2.0 to 4.5°C. This compared with 0.6°C over the previous century, is about a 500% increase. This could lead to changing, and for all emissions scenarios, more unpredictable weather patterns around the world, thus frost days, more extreme events (droughts and storms, or flood disasters), and warmer sea temperatures and melting glaciers causing sea levels to rise. Professional engineers commonly deal with risk. I frequently had to make judgments based on incomplete data. The available evidence suggests strongly that human activities have already begun to make significant changes to the Earth's climate, and that the long-term risk of delaying action is greater than the cost of avoiding\minimizing the risk.”
There is a myriad of other environmental issues, with varying degrees of complexity and danger that also threaten our existence. And because of the focus on climate change issues, these very real dangers remain in the shadows, unseen, growing like a cancer.
Here are some of them.
Various kinds of land degradation such as land pollution, soil contamination, soil erosion, and soil salination.
Various types of water pollution such as acid rain, oil spills, ocean dumping, thermal pollution, algal blooms, coral reef destruction, urban runoff, eutrophication, (the process by which a body of water becomes rich in dissolved nutrients from fertilizers or sewage, thereby encouraging the growth of oxygen-depleting plant life and resulting in harm to other organisms), anoxic waters, ocean deoxygenation, oceanic dead zones, dangerous levels of mercury in growing numbers of marine life, plastics and microplastics, marine pollution, mass fish kills, etc.
Activities associated with marine problems are overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, cyanide fishing, shark finning, blast fishing, bottom trawling, ghost nets, whaling, etc.
Then there are various forms of air pollutants that are quite deleterious to our organisms such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, ethyl acetate, glycol ethers, xylene, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, cadmium, ammonia, radioactive pollutants such as radioactive decay of radon, tropospheric and stratospheric ozone depletion, indoor air quality, perxyacetyl nitrates, etc.
Resource depletion, such as mountaintop removal mining, acid mine drainage, slurry impoundments, aquifer overdrafting, clear cutting, illegal logging, mass deforestation, (deforestation is the clearing of natural forests by logging or burning of trees and plants in a forested area). As a result of deforestation, presently about one half of the forests that once covered the Earth has been destroyed. Deforestation has been cited as a significant contributor to global warming because trees and plants remove carbon dioxide and emit oxygen into the atmosphere. It has been estimated that the destruction of forests contribute about 12% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.
The United States Geological Survey reported in its Materials Flow and Sustainability report that the number of renewable resources is decreasing, while there is an increasing demand for nonrenewable resources.
Then there are various toxins like dioxin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, osmium, polychlorinated biphenyl, barium, thallium, antimony, vanadium, actinium, thorium, polonium, selenium, tellurium, etc.
Various kinds of hazardous waste such as electronic waste, medical waste, marine debris, sludge leftover from electroplating processes, radioactive waste management, paints and solvents, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, computers, televisions, cell phones, aerosols, caustics, improperly maintained and unlicensed landfills, insufficient incineration protocols, the Great Pacific Trash Vortex, characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of plastics, chemical sludge, and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre.
Waste disposal catastrophes, most notably the Love Canal Disaster, the Martin County sludge spill, the Acerinox accident, the Khian Sea waste disposal incident, the Corby toxic waste case, the Goiania accident, the mercury poisoning of Minamata Bay spawning Minamata disease, the Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill, the Saint John, New Brunswick harbor cleanup, the Mobro 4000 garbage barge incident, the Spodden Valley asbestos controversy, the Agriculture Street Landfill incident, the Seveso disaster, the Tui mine incident, radioactive waste dumping by the ‘Ndrangheta, the Munisport incident, the syringe tide of ’87 and’88, Lake Karachay, the mass Atari video game burial, and thousands of other waste disposal “incidents.”
There are a lot of people reading this thinking “What the hell? How did I not know about this?”
Indeed.
It is difficult to explain, but, aside from the epistemological factor, one of the primary factors involved in this state of affairs is the old adage, that goes along the lines of, it is characteristic of the human ego, and by extension, society, to regard that which is unimportant as important, and that which is important, as unimportant.
This explains a lot of things about our culture.
Like television ratings, music sales, box office receipts, and “reality” T.V.
A lot of important scientific research falls into the shadows of obscurity and irrelevancy because of the Epistemology factor.
Scientific research is far too esoteric and abstruse to be of interest, let alone to be comprehensible to most of us.
It’s dull.
It has no WOW factor.
No explosions.
Another looming ecological threat that pretty much nobody knows about is generally referred to as the Holocene Mass Extinction, which refers to the mass extinction of species during the present Holocene epoch (since around 10,000 BC), primarily from the impact of humans.
The large number of extinctions spans numerous families of plants and animals including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and arthropods.
A sizable fraction of these extinctions are occurring in the rainforests. 875 extinctions occurring between 1500 and 2009 have been documented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
However, sadly, most extinctions go undocumented. According to the species area theory and based on upper bound estimating, up to 140,000 species per year may be the present rate of extinction.
Peter Raven, a past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, states in the forward to their publication AAAS Atlas of Population and Environment: "we have driven the rate of biological extinction, the permanent loss of species, several hundred times beyond its historical levels, and are threatened with the loss of a majority of all species by the end of the 21st century."
Some of the human causes of the current extinctions include deforestation, overhunting, pollution, climate change, and the introduction of invasive non-native species.
189 countries which are signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity have committed to preparing a Biodiversity Action Plan, a first step at identifying specific endangered species and habitats, country by country.
Extinctions that are due to human activity (anthropogenic) have also been labeled the Anthropocene Extinction.
Ernst Mayr writes in 2001;
“Background extinction and mass extinction are drastically different in most respects. Biological causes and natural selection are dominant in background extinction, whereas physical factors are dominant in this extinction. Species are involved in background extinction, and entire higher taxa in this extinction. As the cause of today’s mass extinction, we humans are no longer just a biological phenomenon, but are now the physical factor equivalent to an asteroid or continental drift and are radically changing biological diversity. We are not only exterminating the many individual species, but entire higher taxa."
The venerable Professor Edward O. Wilson, who has done considerable work in this field, observes from his book The Future of Life;
“The 20th century was a time of exponential scientific and technical advance, the freeing of the arts by an exuberant modernism, and the spread of democracy and human rights throughout the world. It was also a dark and savage age of world wars, genocide, and totalitarian ideologies that came dangerously close to global domination. While preoccupied with all this tumult, humanity managed collaterally to decimate the natural environment and draw down the nonrenewable resources of the planet with cheerful abandon. We thereby accelerated the erasure of entire ecosystems and the extinction of thousands of million-year-old species. If Earth's ability to support our growth is finite, and it is, we are mostly too busy to notice."
"Typically, multiple forces entrained by human activity reinforce one another and either simultaneously or in sequence, forces the species down.
These factors are summarized by conservation biologists under the acronym HIPPO:
Habitat destruction. Hawaii’s forests, for example, have been three fourths cleared, with the unavoidable decline and extinction of many species.
Invasive species. Ants, pigs, and other aliens displace the native species.
Pollution. Freshwater and marine coastal water of the islands are contaminated, weakening and are endangering more species.
Population. More people mean more of all the other HIPPO effects.
Overharvesting. Some species, especially birds, were hunted to rarity and extinction during the early Polynesian occupation.”
"The prime mover of the incursive forces around the world is the second P in HIPPO - too many people consuming too much of the land and sea space and resources they contain. To date about 205,000 species of plants, animals, and microbes have been recorded as free living in the United States as a whole. Recent studies of the best-known, or "focal," groups, including vertebrates and the flowering plants, have revealed that the forces other than human population growth descend in order of importance in the same sequence as the HIPPO letters, from habitat removal as the most destructive and overharvesting the least.”
“In Paleolithic times, when skilled hunters killed off large mammals and flightless birds, the sequence was roughly the reverse, OPPIH, from overharvesting to a still proportionately small amount of habitat destruction. Pollution was negligible and invasive species probably important only on small islands. With the spread of Neolithic cultures and agriculture, the sequence reversed. The newly configured HIPPO became the monster on the land, and eventually in the sea as well."
"Of all forms of ongoing habitat destruction, the most consequential is the clearing of forests. The maximum extent of the world's forests was reached 6000 to 8000 years ago, at the dawn of civilization and following the retreat of the continental glaciers. Today, due to the universal spread of agriculture, only about half of the original forest cover remains, and that is being cut at an accelerating rate. Over 60% of temperate hardwood and mixed forest has been lost, as well as 30% of conifer forest, 45% of tropical rainforest, and 70% of tropical dry forests. As recently as 1950 Earth's old-growth woodland occupied 50 million square kilometers, or nearly 40% of the ice free surface of the land. Today its cover is only 34 million square kilometers and is shrinking fast. Half of the surviving forests have already disintegrated, much of it severely."
"The loss of forest during the past half century is one of the most profound and rapid environmental changes in the history of the planet. The impact on biodiversity is automatic and severe. To reduce the area of habitat is to lower the number of species that can live sustainably within.”
"How much extinction is occurring today? Researchers generally agree that it is catastrophically high, somewhere between 1000 and 10,000 times the rate before human beings began to exert a significant pressure on the environment."
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because they are few in numbers, or are threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters.
Only a few of the many species at risk of extinction actually make it to the endangered lists and obtain legal protection, such as Panda bears. Many more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, without gaining any public notice.
The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that endangered species falling into oblivion. Many factors are taken into consideration when assessing the conservation status of a particular species. It is not only a question of numbers that remain for a given endangered species, but also the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, known threats, breeding success rates, extent of habitat destruction, and so on.
The various categories to denote the various levels of endangerment to various species are as follows.
At one end of the spectrum is extinction. The most well-known species for this category is the Dodo.
A flightless bird related to the dove family, it stood about 3 foot tall, weighed about 40 pounds, and lived primarily on fruit.
The Dodo has been extinct since the mid-17th century.
It has been widely used as an archetype of an extinct species because its extinction occurred during recorded human history and was directly attributable to human activity.
Other notable extinct species are the dinosaurs, the Wooly Mammoth, the Passenger Pigeon, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow, the Toolache Wallaby, the Golden Toad, and Haast’s Eagle.
The next category we have is extinct in the wild. These are species in which captive individuals survive, but there are none free-living in the wild.
A few examples of this category are the Barbary Lion, the Socorro Dove, the Wyoming Toad, the Caterina Pupfish, the Scimitar Oryx, the Spix’s Macaw, and the Hawaiian Crow.
The next category is critically endangered. These are species that face an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.
Some examples of this category are the Amur Leopard, the Amur Tiger, the Asiatic Cheetah, the Northern White Rhinoceros, The Leatherback Sea Turtle, the Arakan Forest Turtle, the Iberian Lynx, the Mountain Gorilla, the Brown Spider Monkey, the California Condor, the Mediterranean Monk Seal, the Hawaiian Monk Seal, the Chinese Alligator, the Red Wolf, the Ethiopian Wolf, the Javan Rhino, the Axolotl, the Sumatran Orangutan, and the Philippine Eagle.
The next category is endangered. These are species which face a very high risk of extinction in the near future.
Some examples of this category are, the Snow Leopard, the Blue Whale, the Asiatic Lion, the Tasmanian Devil, the Wild Water Buffalo, the Giant Otter, the Asian Elephant, the Japanese Crane, the African Penguin, the Rothschild Giraffe, the Pygmy Hippopotamus, the Siberian Tiger, the Goliath Frog, the Volcano Rabbit, the Hyacinth Macaw, the Giant Panda, the Green Sea Turtle, the Bornean Orangutan, and the Grevy’s Zebra.
The next category is vulnerable. These are species which face a high risk of extinction in the medium-term.
Some examples of this category are, the African Elephant, the Polar Bear, the African Lion, the Indian Rhinoceros, the Komodo Dragon, the African Cheetah, the Mountain Zebra, the Great White Shark, the Sarus Crane, the Galapagos Tortoise, the Clouded Leopard, the Mandrill, the Crowned Crane, and the Golden Hamster.
The next category is near threatened. These are species which may be threatened in the near future.
Some examples of this category are, the Solitary Eagle, the Narwhal, the Magellanic Penguin, the Jaguar, the Tiger Shark, the Southern White Rhinoceros, the Blue Billed Duck, the Maned Wolf, and the Leopard.
In the wonderful world of humans, being listed as an endangered species can actually have a negative effect since it could make a species more desirable for collectors and poachers.
Another problem with the listing of species is its effect of inciting the use of the “shoot, shovel, and shut-up” method of clearing endangered species from an area of land. Some landowners perceive a diminution in value for their land after finding an endangered animal on it.
Lobbying from various industries such as the petroleum industry, the construction industry, and the logging industry has been a major obstacle in establishing endangered species laws for many animals that are on the brink of destruction.
Here is a partial list of endangered species that begin with the letter A.
Abbott’s Duiker
Abbott’s Starling
Abdulali’s Wrinkled Frog
Abe’s Salamander
Aberdare Cisticola
Aberdare Mole Shrew
Abolokapatrika Madagascar Frog
Abor Bug-eyed Frog
Abra Acanacu Marsupial Frog
Abra Malaga Toad
Abronia deppii
Abronia martindelcamoi
Abyssinian Longclaw
Acadian Whitefish
Acancocha Water Frog
Acanthobrama centisquama
Acanthobrama telavivensis
Acanthocyclops hypogeus
Acanthodactylus ahmaddisii
Acanthodactylus mechriguensis
Acanthomyops latipes
Acanthomyops murphyi
Aceh Pheasant
Acha Tugi Long-fingered Frog
Achalas Four-eyed Frog
Achondrostoma arcasii
Achondrostoma occidentale
Acicula norrisi
Acicula palaestinensis
Acilius duvergeri
Ackawaio Stefania Treefrog
Acropora Coral (Acropora abrolhosensis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora aculeus)
Acropora Coral (Acropora acuminata)
Acropora Coral (Acropora anthrocercis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora apressa)
Acropora Coral (Acropora arabensis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora aspera)
Acropora Coral (Acropora austera)
Acropora Coral (Acropora awi)
Acropora Coral (Acropora batunai)
Acropora Coral (Acropora carduus)
Acropora Coral (Acropora caroliniana)
Acropora Coral (Acropora cerviconis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora dendrum)
Acropora Coral (Acropora derawenensis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora desalwii)
Acropora Coral (Acropora digitifera)
Acropora Coral (Acropora divaricata)
Acropora Coral (Acropora donei)
Acropora Coral (Acropora echinata)
Acropora Coral (Acropora elegans)
Acropora Coral (Acropora florida)
Acropora Coral (Acropora formosa)
Acropora Coral (Acropora glauca)
Acropora Coral (Acropora globiceps)
Acropora Coral (Acropora granulosa)
Acropora Coral (Acropora hemprichii)
Acropora Coral (Acropora hoeksemai)
Acropora Coral (Acropora horrida)
Acropora Coral (Acropora humilis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora hyacinthus)
Acropora Coral (Acropora indonesia)
Acropora Coral (Acropora jacquelineae)
Acropora Coral (Acropora kimbeensis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora kirstyae)
Acropora Coral (Acropora kosurini)
Acropora Coral (Acropora listeri)
Acropora Coral (Acropora loisetteae)
Acropora Coral (Acropora lokani)
Acropora Coral (Acropora loripes)
Acropora Coral (Acropora lovelli)
Acropora Coral (Acropora lutkeni)
Acropora Coral (Acropora microclados)
Acropora Coral (Acropora millepora)
Acropora Coral (Acropora monticulosa)
Acropora Coral (Acropora multiacuta)
Acropora Coral (Acropora nana)
Acropora Coral (Acropora nasuta)
Acropora Coral (Acropora palmata)
Acropora Coral (Acropora palmerae)
Acropora Coral (Acropora paniculata)
Acropora Coral (Acropora papillara)
Acropora Coral (Acropora pharaonis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora pichoni)
Acropora Coral (Acropora plumose)
Acropora Coral (Acropora polystoma)
Acropora Coral (Acropora retusa)
Acropora Coral (Acropora roseni)
Acropora Coral (Acropora rudis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora russelli)
Acropora Coral (Acropora secale)
Acropora Coral (Acropora selago)
Acropora Coral (Acropora simplex)
Acropora Coral (Acropora solitaryensis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora speciosa)
Acropora Coral (Acropora spicifera)
Acropora Coral (Acropora striata)
Acropora Coral (Acropora suharsonoi)
Acropora Coral (Acropora tenella)
Acropora Coral (Acropora tenuis)
Acropora Coral (Acropora turaki)
Acropora Coral (Acropora vaughani)
Acropora Coral (Acropora verweyi)
Acropora Coral (Acropora walindii)
Acropora Coral (Acropora willisae)
Actinella anaglyptica
Actinella armitageana
Actinella carinofausta
Actinella effugiens
Actinella giramica
Acultzingo Minute Salamander
Acuminate Snaketail
Acute Elimia
Adam’s Shadowdamsel
Adamson’s Grunter
Addax
Adelaide Pigmy Blue-tongue Skink
Adeleana forcarti
Adelophryne baturitensis
Adelophryne maranguapensis
Adelopoma stolli
Adelos Salamander
Aden Gulf Torpedo
Aders’ Duiker
Adler’s Mottled Treefrog
Admirable False Brook Salamander
Admiralty Cuscus
Adriatic Salmon
Adriatic Sturgeon
Advena Charon
Aegean Minnow
Aellen’s Roundleaf Bat
Aeolian Wall Lizard
Aeshna yemenensis
Afghan Tortoise
Afghani Mountain Salamander
Africalla cuneistigma
African Black Oystercatcher
African Blind Barb Fish
African Butter Catfish
African Egg Frog
African Elephant
African Golden Cat
African Gray Parrot
African Green Broadbill
African Lion
African Painted Frog
African Penguin
African Skimmer
African Slender-snouted Crocodile
African Spurred Tortoise
African True Toad
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides asperginis)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides cryptus)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides laticeps)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides minutus)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides paulae)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides poyntoni)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides pseudotornieri)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides tornieri)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides vestergaardi)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides vivparus)
African Viviparous Toad (Nectophrynoides wendyae)
African Wedgefish
African White-bellied Pangolin
African Wild Ass
African Wild Dog
Afrixalus clarkei
Afrixalus lacteus
Afrogyrus rodriguenzensis
Afrogyrus starmuehlneri
Agabus clypealis
Agabus Discicollis
Agabus hozgargatae
Agassiz’s Coral
Agile Gibbon
Agkistrodon bilineatus
Aglaodiaptomus kingsburyae
Aglaodiaptomus marshianus
Agra Bubble-nest Frog
Agrinocnemis palaeforma
Agua Rica Leaf Frog
Agulhas Long-billed Lark
Ahl’s Reed Frog
Ahuitzotl Salamander
Ailao Spiny Toad
Airsac Catfish
Akekee
Akepa
Akiapola’au
Akikiki
Ala Balik
Ala Shan Redstart
Alabama Cave Shrimp
Alabama Cavefish
Alabama Heelsplitter
Alabama Lampmussel
Alabama Moccasinshell
Alabama Pearl Shell
Alabama Red-belly Turtle
Alabama Shad
Alabama Sturgeon
Alabama Waterdog
Alabama Well Amphipod
Alaena margaritacea
Alagoas Antwren
Alagoas Curassow
Alagoas Foliage-gleaner
Alagoas Tyrannulet
Alajuela Knobtail
Alamosa Springsnail
Alaotra Grebe
Alaotran Gentle Lemur
Alban Cochran Frog
Albanian Water Frog
Alberca Silverside
Albert Lates
Albert’s lyrebird
Albertine Owlet
Alburnus belvica
Alburnus orontis
Alburnus qalilus
Alcatrazes Lancehead
Alcorn’s Pocket Gopher
Aldabra Drongo
Aldabra Flying-fox
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
Alexteroon jynx
Algerian Clubtail
Algerian Nuthatch
Algerian Ribbed Newt
Alicia’s Wrinkled Frog
Allcanthos pittieri
Allan’s Lerista
Allegheny Woodrat
Allen’s Cotton Rat
Allen’s River Frog
Allen’s Slippery Frog
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Allobates chalcopis
Allobates humilis
Allobates juanii
Allobates kingsburyi
Allobates mandelorum
Allobates mcdiarmidi
Allobates olfersioides
Allobates ranoides
Allobates subfolionidificans
Allobates wayuu
Allocharopa erskinensis
Allodiaptomus satanas
Allpohuayo Antbird
Allyn Smith’s Branded Snail
Almirante Trail Toad
Aloeides caledoni
Aloeides carolynnae
Aloeides dentatis
Aloeides egerides
Aloeides kaplani
Aloeides lutescens
Aloeides merces
Aloeides nollothi
Aloeides nubilus
Aloeides pringlei
Aloeides rossouwi
Alona hercegovinae
Alona sketi
Alona smirnovi
Alosa vistonica
Asian Toad
Alpine Shrew
Alpine Stream Salamander
Alpine Wallaby
Alpine Wooly Rat
Alsodes barrioi
Alsodes montanus
Alsodes nodosus
Alsodes tumultuosus
Alsodes vanzolinii
Alta Verapaz Spikethumb Frog
Altai Weasel
Altamaha Arcmussel
Altamaha Pocketbook
Altamaha Spinymussel
Altamira Yellowthroat
Alto de Buey Poison Frog
Alvarado’s Salamander
Alvarez del Toro’s Salamander
Alveopora allingi
Alveopora catalai
Alveopora daedalea
Alveopora excels
Alveopora fenestrate
Alveopora gigas
Alveopora japonica
Alveopora marionensis
Alveopora minuta
Alveopora spongiosa
Alveopora verrilliana
Alveopora viridis
Alvord Chub
Alzoniella hartwigschuetti
Amami Jay
Amami Spiny Rat
Amami Takachiho Snake
Amami Tip-nosed Frog
Amani Flatwig
Amani Forest Frog
Amani Sunbird
Amargosa Toad
Amargosa Vole
Amarkantak Bubble-nest Frog
Amastrid Land Snail (Amastra cylindrica)
Amastrid Land Snail (Amastra micans)
Amastrid Land Snail (Amastra rubens)
Amastrid Land Snail (Amastra spirizona)
Amatola Malachite
Amatola Toad
Amazon Climbing Salamander
Amazon Giant Glass Frog
Amazonian Manatee
Amazonian Parrotlet
Amber Darter
Amber Mountain Rock-thrush
Amber-coloured Salamander
Ambohimitobo Bright-eyed Frog
Ambohitantely Stump-toed Frog
Ambon Yellow White-eye
Ambrosi’s Cave Salamander
Ambystoma altamirani
Ambystoma bombypellum
Ambystoma mexicanum
Ameerega ingeri
American Bison
American Burying Beetle
American Cinchona Plantation Treefrog
American Crocodile
Amicorum Tree Toad
Amiet’s Long-fingered Frog
Amietophrynus djohongensis
Amietophrynus villiersi
Amji Oriental Salamander
Ammersee Kilch
Ampelita fulgurata
Ampelita julii
Ampelita soulaiana
Amphicyclotulus liratus
Amphicyclotulus perplexus
Amphorella iridescens
Amphorella melampoides
Amphorella producta
Amplirhagada astuta
Amplirhagada questroana
Amsterdam Albatross
Amur Sturgeon
Anaecypris hispanica
Anaimalai Flying Frog
Analabe Giant Treefrog
Anamallais Indian Frog
Anambra Waxbill
Anatipes Robber Frog
Anatolia Lycian Salamander
Ancash Water Frog
Anceya terebriformis
Ancient Antwren
Ancient Greenling
Ancylus ashangiensis
Andalgala Water Frog
Andaman Crake
Andaman Crow
Andaman Cuckoo-dove
Andaman Drongo
Andaman Hawk-owl
Andaman Horshoe Bat
Andaman Rat
Andaman Scops-owl
Andaman Serpent-eagle
Andaman Spiny Shrew
Andaman Treepie
Andaman White-toothed Shrew
Andaman Wood-pigeon
Andaman Woodpecker
Andean Bear
Andean Caenolestid
Andean Cat
Andean Catfish
Andean Condor
Andean Flamingo
Andean Hairy Armadillo
Andean Night Monkey
Andean Poison Frog
Andean Titi Monkey
Anderson’s Crocodile Newt
Anderson’s Salamander
Anderson’s Squirrel
Andes Marsupial Frog
Andes Stubfoot Toad
Andoany Stump-toed Frog
Andrew’s Robber Frog
Andringitra Madagascar Frog
Anegada Ground Iguana
Angel Island Mouse
Angel Shark
Angel’s Madagascar Frog
Angled Tiger
Angola Cave-chat
Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat
Angrobia anodonta
Angrobia dyeriana
Angrobia grampianensis
Angrobia petterdi
Anguilla Ciega
Angular Angelshark
Angular Dwarf Crayfish
Angular Pebblesnail
Angular Rough Shark
Angulated Tortoise
Anhui Musk Deer
Anianiau
Anisogomphus solitaris
Anita’s False Brook Salamander
Anjouan Island Sparrowhawk
Anjouan Scops Owl
Ankarana Sportive Lemur
Ankober Serin
Annam Flying Frog
Annam Leaf Turtle
Annam Spadefoot Toad
Annandale’s Paa Frog
Annobon White-eye
Annual Tropical Killifish
Anomaloglossus beebei
Anomaloglossus breweri
Anamaloglossus murisipanensis
Anoplolepis nuptialis
Ansell’s Shrew
Ansonia guibei
Ansonia latidisca
Antado Stubfoot Toad
Antifia Sportive Lemur
Anthias regalis
Anthias salmopunctatus
Anthony’s Riversnail
Antichthonidris bidentatus
Antiguan Racer
Antioquia Bristle-tyrant
Antioquia Giant Glass Frog
Antioquia Marsupial Frog
Antipodean Albatross
Antipodes Green Parakeet
Antiponemertes allisonae
Antrisocopia prehensilis
Antrobia breweri
Antrobia culeri
Antsingy Leaf Chameleon
Apache Trout
Apalachicola Cave Crayfish
Apaporis River Caiman
Apeco Oldfield Mouse
Apennine Chamois
Aphaenogaster bidentatus
Aphanius almiriensis
Aphanius baeticus
Aphanius burduricus
Aphanius iberus
Aphanius richardsoni
Aphanius sirhani
Aphanius splendens
Aphanius transgrediens
Api Dwarf Toad
Aplastodiscus eugenioi
Apo Myna
Apo Sunbird
Apolinar’s Marsh-wren
Apollo Butterfly
Apostates Robber Frog
Appalachian Cottontail
Appalachian Elktoe
Appalachian Monkeyface Pearlymussel
Appalachian Snaketail
Appert’s Tetraka
Aprada Stefania Treefrog
Apron Ray
Apurimac Spinetail
Aquadulcaris pheronyx
Aquatic Box Turtle
Aquatic False Brook Salamander
Aquatic Rat
Aquatic Tenrec
Aquatic Treefrog
Aquatic Warbler
Arabian Gazelle
Arabian Grosbeak
Arabian Oryx
Arabian Tahr
Arabian Woodpecker
Arachnothelphusa melanippe
Aragua Glass Frog
Arakan Forest Turtle
Aran Rock Lizard
Araripe Manakin
Aratathomas’s Yellow Shouldered Bat
Araucaria Tit-spinetail
Arawacus aethesa
Arboreal Minute Salamander
Arboreal Splayfoot Salamander
Arcane Spikethumb Frog
Archachatina bicarinata
Archbold’s Bowerbird
Archer’s Lark
Archey’s Frog
Arctodiaptomus burduricus
Arctodiaptomus euacanthus
Arctodiaptomus kamtschaticus
Arctodiaptomus michaeli
Arend’s Golden Mole
Arfak Rainbowfish
Arfak Ringtail
Argali
Arganeilla exilis
Argentine Angel Shark
Argentine Tortoise
Argentine Tuco-tuco
Argentine Water Frog
Ariakehimeshirauo
Arico Water Frog
Arinia biplicata
Arinia boreoborneenisis
Arinia dentifera
Arinia oviformis
Arinia simplex
Arubua streptaxformis
Arisan Oriental Salamander
Aristochromis Deep
Arius bonillai
Arius festinus
Arius uncinatus
Arizona Cave Amphipod
Arizona Giant Sand Treader Cricket
Arizona Striped Whiptail
Arkansas Fatmucket
Arlequinus krebsi
Armadillo Girdled Lizard
Armenian Birch Mouse
Armenian Myotis
Armigerous River Snail
Armoured Snail
Armoured Frog
Armisia petasus
Arnhem Land Rock Rat
Arnhem Leaf-nosed Bat
Arno Goby
Arnold’s Paa Frog
Arntully Robber Frog
Arodi Bubble-nest Frog
Aromabates alboguttatus
Romobates duranti
Aromobates haydeeae
Aromobates leopardalis
Aromobates mayorgai
Aromobates meridensis
Aromobates molinarii
Aromobates nocturnus
Aromobates orostoma
Aromobates saltuensis
Aromobates serranus
Arrogant Shrew
Arroyo Southwestern Toad
Arthroleptis francei
Arthur River Freshwater Snail
Arthur’s Stubfoot Toad
Arthurs Paragalaxias
Aru Flying Fox
Aruba Island Rattlesnake
Arubolana imula
Arum Reed Frog
Arunachal Macaque
Ascension Frigatebird
Ash Meadows Pebblesnail
Ash’s Lark
Ash-breasted Tit- tyrant
Ash-throated Antwren
Ashaninka Oldfield Mouse
Ashy Antwren
Ashy Darter
Ashy Storm-petrel
Ashy Thrush
Ashy-breasted Flycatcher
Ashy-headed Laughingthrush
Asia Minor Ground Squirrel
Asiagomphus yayeyamensis
Asian Bonytongue
Asian Dowitcher
Asian Elephant
Asian Giant Softshell Turtle
Asian Giant Tortoise
Asian Golden Cat
Asian Golden Weaver
Asian Green Broadbill
Asian Leopard Cat
Asian Small-clawed Otter
Asian Tapir
Asian Wild Ass
Asiatic Black Bear
Asiatic Lion
Asiatic Short-tailed Shrew
Asiatic Softshell Turtle
Aslauga australis
Asoka Barb
Aspatharia divaricate
Aspatharia subreniformis
Asprete
Assam Macaque
Assam Roofed Turtle
Astacoides crosnieri
Astacoides petiti
Astreopora cucullata
Astreopora expansa
Astreopora incrustas
Astreopora macrostoma
Astreopora moretonensis
Astylosternus fallax
Astylostrnus nganhanus
Astylosternus ranoides
Astylosternus schioetzi
Atacama Myotis
Atelognathus jeinimenensis
Atelognathus nitoi
Atelognathus patagonicus
Atelognathus praebasalticus
Atelgnathus reverberii
Atelognathus salai
Atelognathus solitaries
Atelopus angelito
Atelopus arsyecue
Atelopus chrysocorallus
Atelopus dimorphus
Atelopus epikeisthos
Atelopus exiguus
Atelopus famelicus
Atelopus laetissimus
Atelopus lozanoi
Atelopus mandingues
Atelopus minutulus
Atelopus nanay
Atelopus onorei
Atelopus petersi
Atelopus petriruizi
Atelopus pictivetris
Atelopus pyrodactylus
Atekopus quimbaya
Atelopus reticulatus
Atelopus sernai
Atelopus simulatus
Atelopus subornatus
Atherton Antechinus
Atif’s Lycian Salamander
Atitlan Grebe
Atiu Swiftlet
Atlantasellus cavernicolus
Atlantic Cod
Atlantic Halibut
Atlantic Humpbacked Dolphin
Atlantic Petrel
Atlantic Pigtoe
Atlantic Royal Flycatcher
Atlantic Salmon
Atlantic Sawtail Catshark
Atlantic Titi
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
Atlas Day Gecko
Atlas Dwarf Lizard
Atlas Dwarf Viper
Atlas Goldenring
Atlas Pebblesnail
Atoll Fruit-dove
Atoll Starling
Atopophryus syntomopus
Atoyac Minute Salamander
Atrophaneura atropos
Atrophaneura jophon
Atrophaneura luchti
Atrophaneura schadenbergi
Atyid Shrimp
Auckland Island Rail
Audkland Islands Shag
Auckland Islands Teal
Audouin’s Gull
Aulonocara aquilonium
Aulonocara auditor
Aulonocara ethelwynnae
Aulonocara hansbaenschi
Aulonocara hueseri
Aulonocara kandeense
Aulonocara korneliae
Aulonocara maylandi
Aulonocara nyassae
Aulonocara steneni
Aurelio’s Rock Lizard
Austen’s Brown Hornbill
Austin Blind Salamander
Austin’s Shadowdamsel
Austral Rail
Australasian Bittern
Australian Ant
Australian Bustard
Australian Freshwater Limper
Australian Grayling
Australian Lace-lid
Australian Sea-lion
Australian Snubfin Dolphin
Australogyra zelli
Australomussa rowleyensis
Austroassiminea letha
Austrolebias cinereus
Austrosaga spinifer
Austrothelphusa tigrina
Austrothelphusa valentula
Austrothelphusa wasslli
Avahi
Avalon Hairstreak
Avotrichodactylus oaxensis
Awash Multimammate Mouse
Ayampe Poison Frog
Ayanganna Stefania Treefrog
Aye-aye
Aylacostoma chloroticum
Aylacostoma guaraniticum
Aylacostoma stigmaticum
Ayres Black Uakari
Ayumodoki
Azara’s Tuco-tuco
Azorean Bat
Axores Bullfinch
Azores Wood Pigeon
Azuay Stubfoot Toad
Azulita Salamander
Azure Jay
Azure-breasted Pitta
Azure-rumped Tanager
Azure-shouldered Tanager
And we shouldn’t forget our friends the plants, who help us in so many ways.
Here is a partial list of endangered plants which start with the letter A.
A Jack-bean
Abarema abbottii
Abarema bigemina
Abarema callejasii
Abarema centiflora
Abarema cochliacarpos
Abarema filamentosa
Abarema ganymedea
Abarema josephi
Abarema killipii
Abarema lehannii
Abarema obovata
Abarema oxyphyllida
Abarema racmiflora
Abarema turbinate
Abdulmajidia chaniana
Abdulmajidia maxwelliana
Abies fanjingshanenesis
Abids yuanbaoshanesis
Abies ziyuanesis
Abutilon sachatianum
Acacia albicorticata
Acacia anegadenesis
Acacia belairioides
Acacia bucheri
Acacia campbelli
Acacia crassicarpa
Acacia daemon
Acacia densispina
Acacia etilis
Acacia ferruginea
Acacia flagellaris
Acacia koaia
Acacia manubensis
Acacia mathuataensis
Acacia pennivenia
Acacia prasinta
Acacia pseudonigrenscens
Acacia purpurea
Acacia roigii
Acacia veosa
Acacia villosa
Acacia zapatensis
Acalypha andina
Acalypha dictyoneura
Acalypha ecuadorica
Acalypha eggersii
Acalypha hontauyuensis
Acalypha lepinei
Acalypha raivavensis
Acalypha schimpffii
Acalypa suirenbiesis
Acalypha tunguraguae
Acathephippiu sinense
Acanthopale decepedalis
Acanthosyris annonagustata
Acantrosyris asipapote
Acca lanuginose
Acer duplicatoserratum
Acer hainanense
Acer leipoense
Acer miaotaiense
Achyranthes talbotii
Achyrocline glandulosa
Achyrocline hallii
Achyrocline mollis
Acidocroton gentry
Acicocroton verrucosus
Acioa cinerea
Acioa dichotoma
Acioa edetensis
Aciotis aristellata
Aciotis asplundii
Acmella leucantha
Acmopyle sahniana
Acriton nephophilus
Acropogon aoupiniensis
Acropogon bullatus
Acropogon domatifer
Acropogon fatsioides
Acropogon megaphyllus
Acropogon veillonii
Acrorumorha hasseltii
Acrosorium papenfussii
Acsn\mithia vitiense
Actinidia chrysantha
Actinidia laevissima
Actinidia pilosula
Actinidia rudis
Actinidia stellatopilosa
Actinidia suberifolia
Actinidia ulmifolia
Actinidia vitifolia
Actinodaphne albifrons
Actinodaphne bourneae
Actinodaphne cuspidate
Actinodaphne ellipticbacca
Actinodaphne fragilis
Actinodaphne johorensis
Actinodaphne lanata
Actinodaphne lawsonii
Actinodaphne salicina
Adelobotrys panamensis
Adenanthera bicolor
Adenanthera intermedia
Adenopodia rotundifolia
Adenostemma harlingii
Adenostemma zakii
Adiantum fegianum
Adiantum sinicum
Adiantum vivesii
Adinandra corneriana
Adinandra griffithii
Aechmea aculeatosepala
Aechmea biflora
Aechmea kentia
Aechea lugoi
Aechea manzanaresiana
Aechmea napoensis
Aechmea patriciae
Aechmea roeseliae
Aechmea tayoensis
Aechmea wuelfinghoffii
Aegiphila fasciculate
Aegiphila ferruginea
Aeginphila glomerata
Aegiphila lopez-palacii
Aegiphila monstrosa
Aegiphila monticola
Aegiphila panamensis
Aegphila purpurascens
Aegphila rimbachii
Aegiphila schimpffii
Aegiphila skutchii
Aequatorium asterotrichum
Aequatorium jamesonii
Aequatorium lepidotum
Aequatorium limonense
Aequatorium repandifore
Aequatorium rimachianu
Aerides lawrenciae
Aerides leeanum
Aerisilvaea sylvenstris
Aetheolaena cuencana
Aetheolaena decipiens
Aetheolaena hypoleuca
Aetheolaena ledifolia
Aetheolaena lingulata
Aetheolaena mochensis
Aetheolaena mojandensis
Aetheolaena pichinchensis
Aetheolaena rosana
Aetheolaena subinvolucrata
African Mahogany (Khaya anthotheca)
African Mahogany (Khaya grandifoliola)
African Mahogany (Khaya ivorensis)
AfricanMahogany (Khaya madagascariensis)
African Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis)
African Pearwood
African Pine
African Teak
African Walnut
Afrocarpus dawei
Afrocarpus mannii
Afrocarpus usambarensis
Afrofittonia silvestris
Afrostyras lepidophyllus
Afrothismia pachyantha
Afrothismia winkleri
Afzelia
Afzelia rhomboidea
Afzelia xylocarpa
Agathis Gunung
Agathis lenticular
Agathis philippinensis
Agathis silbae
Ageratina cuencana
Ageratina dendroides
Ageratina rhypodes
Ageratum iltisii
Agalaia aherniana
Aglaia aplexicaulis
Agalaia angustifolia
Aglaia apiocarpa
Aglaia archiboldiana
Aglaia australiensis
Aglaia barbanthera
Aglaia basiphylla
Aglaia bourdillonii
Aglaia brassii
Aglaia brownie
Aglaia ceramic
Aglaia chittagonga
Aglaia cinnamomea
Aglaia coriacea
Aglaia costata
Aglaia cremea
Aglaia cumingiana
Aglaia cuspidate
Aglaia densisquama
Aglaia densitricha
Aglaia evansensis
Aglaia flavescens
Aglaia fragilis
Aglaia gracilis
Aglaia heterotricha
Agglaia integrifolia
Aglaia laxiflora
Aglaia lepiorrhachis
Aglaia leucoclada
Aglaia mackiana
Aglaia macrostigma
Aglaia malabarica
Aglaia mariannensis
Aglaia membranifolia
Aglaia parksii
Aglaia penningtoniana
Aglaia perviridia
Aglaia pleuropteris
Aglaia polyneura
Aglaia puberulantrera
Aglaoa pyriformis
Aglaia ramotricha
Aglaia rivularis
Aglaia rubrivenia
Aglaia saltatorum
Aglaia scortechinii
Aglaia smithii
Aglaia speciosa
Aglaia subsesilis
Aglaia tenuicaulis
Aglaia unifolia
Aglaia veriisquama
Aglaia yzermannii
Agonandra loranthoides
Agonandra macrocarpa
Agrostistachys coriacea
Agrostistachys hookeri
Ahinahina
Aiea (Nothocetrum breviflorum)
Aiea (Nothocestrum latifolium)
Aiea (Nothocestrum peltatum)
Aiouea angulata
Aiouea bracteata
Aiouea macedoana
Aiouea obscura
Aiphanes chiribogensis
Aiphanes duquei
Aiphanes grandis
Aiphaes leiostachys
Aiphanes lindeniana
Aiphanes verrucosa
Aitchinsoniella himalayensis
Akamas Centaury
Alabama Canebrake Pitcher-plant
Alabama Leather Flower
Alangium circulare
Alangiu havilandii
Alangium longiflorum
Albizia berteriana
Albizia buntingii
Albizia burkartiana
Albizia carrii
Albizia edwarllii
Albizia ferruginea
Albizia guillainii
Albizia leonardii
Albizia obbiadensis
Albizia plurijuga
Albizia suluensis
Albizia vaughaii
Alchornea leptogyna
Alchornea sodiroi
Alectron ramiflorus
Alectryon repandodentatus
Aleuritopteris squamosal
Aliutian Shield Fern
Alfalfa Arborea
Alfaroa hondurensis
Alforoa mexicana
Algarrobillo Espinoso
Algerian Silver Fir
Allanblackia gabonensis
Allanblackia stuhlmanii
Allanblackia ulugurensis
Alleizettella rubra
Allenanthus hondurensis
Allexis cauliflora
Allexis obanensis
Allium rouyi
Allomarkgrafia ecuatoriana
Alloneuron dorrii
Alloneuron ecuadorense
Allophylus agbala
Allophylus aldabricus
Allophylus bullatus
Allophylus shirindensis
Allophylus dodsonii
Allophylus hispidus
Allphphylus hispidus
Allophylus pachyphyllus
Allophylus roigii
Allophylus zylanicus
Allophylus zimmermannianus
Alloplectus martinianus
Allopectus penduliflorus
Alloschidia glabrata
Alloxylon brachycarpum
Almug
Alocasia atropurpurea
Alocasia Quilted Dreams
Aloe ballii
Aloe lallyi
Alo erinacea
Aloe helenae
Aloe jawiyon
Aloe peglerae
Aloe perryi
Aloe pillansii
Aloe squarrosa
Aloe suzannae
Aloysia dodsoniorum
Alphitonia erubescens
Alphonsea hainanesis
Alphonsea kingie
Alphonsea lucida
Alphonsea monogyna
Alphonsea tsangyuanensis
Alpine False Ohelo
Alpine Sandmat
Alseis lugonis
Alseodaphne hainanensis
Alseodaphne micrantha
Alseodaphne paludosa
Alseodaphne rugosa
Alseodaphne schumannii
Alsophila esmeraldensis
Alstonia annamensis
Alstonia beatricis
Alstonia breviloba
Alstonia henryi
Alstonia penangiana
Alstonia rubiginosa
Alternanthera areschougii
Alternanthera corymbiformis
Alternanthera flavicoma
Alternanthera galapagensis
Alternanthera grandis
Alternanthera helleri
Alternanthera nesiotes
Alternanthera snodgrassii
Alvaradoa jamaicensis
Alyxia menglungensis
Alyxia anomala
Amanoa bracteosa
Amanoa strobilacea
Amargosa Niterwort
Amarillo Guayaquil
Amboyna Wood
Amburana acreana
Amburana cearensis
Amentotaxus argotaenia
Amentotaxus assamica
Amentotaxus formosana
Amentotaxus hatuyenensis
Amentotaxus poilanei
Amentotaxus yunnanensis
American Chaffseed
American Mahogany
Amesiella monticola
Amesiella philippensis
Amitostigma bifoliatum
Amitostigma capitatum
Amitostigma hemipilioides
Amitostigma simplex
Amitostigma tetralobum
Amitostigma yuanum
Amoora dasyclada
Amorphophallus preussii
Ampelocera longissima
AmAmphiblemma amoenum
Amphitecna isthmica
Amphitecna molinae
Amphitecna Seccilifolius
Amhitecna spathicalyx
Amsinckia marginata
Amygdalus bucharica
Amygdalus korshinskyi
Amygdalus ledebouriana
Amyris polymorpha
Anacolosa densiflora
Anaxagorea phaeocarpa
Ancistrocladus letestui
Andean Wax Palm (Ceroxylon alpinum)
Andean wax Palm (Ceroxylon amazonicum)
Andean Wax Palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense)
Andean Wax Palm (Ceroxylon sasaimae)
Andira galeottiana
Andrachne schweinfurthii
Andrewsianthus ferrugineus
Andropogon benthamianus
Andropogon lanuginosus
Andropogon scabriglumis
Aneilema silvaticum
Anemone jamesonii
Angkalanthus oligophylla
Angostura alipes
Angraecopsis cryptantha
Angraecopsis tridens
Angraecum pyriforme
Angraecum sanfordii
Angular-Fruited Neraudia
Angylocalyx braunii
Angylocalyx talbotii
Aniba ferrea
Aniba ferruginea
Aniba intermedia
Aniba novo-granatensis
Aniba pedicellata
Aniba percoriacea
Aniba pilosa
Aniba rosaeodora
Aniba santalodora
Aniba vaupesiana
Aniba vulcanicola
Anini
Anisophyllea apetala
Anisophyllea apetala
Anisophyllea cabole
Anisophyllea chartacea
Anisophyllea cinnamomoides
Anisophyllea curtisii
Anisophyllea ferruginea
Anisophyllea globosa
Anisophyllea grandis
Anisophyllea ipressinervia
Anisophyllea nitida
Anisophyllea reticulate
Anisophyllea rhomboidea
Anisoptera costata
Anisoptera curtisii
Anisoptera grossivenia
Anisoptera laevis
Anisoptera marginata
Anisoptera megistocarpa
Anisoptera reticula
Annickia kummeriae
Annona asplundiana
Annona atabapensis
Annona conica
Annona cristalensis
Annona deceptrix
Annona deinuta
Annona dolichophylla
Annona ecuadorensis
Annona ekmanii
Annona hystricoides
Annona manabiensis
Annona oligocarpa
Annona praetermissa
Annona spraguei
Anodendron rhinosporum
Anoectochilus zhejiangensis
Anogeissus bentii
Anogeissus dhofarica
Anopyxis klaineana
Anarctic Cudweed
Anthoceros neesii
Athocleista microphylla
Anthocleista scandens
Anthodiscus chocoensis
Anthodiscus montanus
Anthonotha lebrunii
Anthonotha leptorrhachis
Anthonotha nigerica
Anthonotha obanensis
Anthonotha vignei
Atidesa obliquinervium
Antidesa pyrifolium
Antidesma subolivaceum
Antimima eenodornensis
Atioch Dunes Evening-primose
Antirhea aromatic
Antirhea portoricensis
Antirhea radiate
Antirhea sintenisii
Antirhea tomentosa
Antirrhinum subbaeticum
Antocaryon
Anunu
Aoranthe penduliflora
Apa
Apalachicola Rosemary
Aphanactis antisanensis
Aphanactis barclayae
Apharamixis cumingiana
Aphanes cotopaxiensis
Aphelandra albinotata
Aphelandra anderssonii
Aphelandra attenuate
Aphelandra azuayensis
Aphelandra chrysantha
Aphelandra cinnabarina
Aphelandra dodsonii
Aphelandra galba
Aphelandra guayasii
Aphelandra gunnari
Aphelandra harlingii
Aphelandra loxensis
Aphelandra phaina
Aphelandra sulphurea
Aphelandra zamorensis
Apid den Bermejo
Aporusa bourdillonii
Aporusa cardiosperma
Aporusa elliptifolia
Aporusa fusiformis
Aporusa lanceolata
Applegate’s Milk-vetch
Apterosperma oblate
Aquilaria banaensae
Aquilaria beccariana
Aquilaria crassna
Aquilaria cumingiana
Aquilaria hirta
Aquilaria malaccensis
Aquilaria microcarpa
Aquilaria sinensis
Arachniodes squamulosa
Arachnothyz chimboracensis
Arachothyx fosbergii
Aralia chinesis
Aralia debils\is
Aralia javanica
Aralia malabarica
Aralia tibetana
Arapatiella psilophylla
Arara Nut Tree
Araucaria angustifolia
Araucaria araucana
Araucaria heterophylla
Araucaria luxurians
Araucaria nemorosa
Araucaria rulei
Araucaria schmidii
Araucaria scopulorlum
Arbutus pavarii
Archidendron forbesii
Archidendron oblongum
Archidendropsis glandulosa
Archidendropsis lentiscifolia
Archidendropsis paivana
Archidium Moss
Areca concinna
Areca ipot
Areca parens
Areca whitfardii
Ariocarpus bravoanus
Aristeguietia arborea
Aristeguietia cacalioides
Aristeguieta chimborazensis
Aristida guayllabambensis
Aristogeitonia monophylla
Aristolochia cucrbitifolia
Aristolochia cucurbitoides
Aristolochia delavayi
Aristolochia hainanensis
Aristolochia oblique
Aristoochia scytophylla
Aristolochia thwaitesii
Aristolochia tuerosa
Aristolochia utriformis
Aristolochia westlandii
Aristolochia yunnanensis
Arizona Cliff-rose
Arizona Hedgehog Cactus
Arrojadoa bahiensis
Arrojadoa dinae
Arthrocereus glaziovii
Arthrocereus melanurus
Arthrocereus rondonianus
Arthrophyllum proliferm
Arthrophyllum pulgarense
Artichoke Cactus
Artocarpus bancoi
Artocarpus hypargyreus
Artocarpus nobilis
Artocarpus rubrovenus
Artocarpus treculianus
Arytera nekorensis
Asarum crispulatum
Ascoglossum calopterum
Ashoka Tree
Ashy Dogweed
Aspidosperma curranii
Aspidosperma darienense
Aspidosperma polyneuron
Aspleniu ascensionis
Aspleniu ecuadorense
Asplenium ecuadorense
Asplenium fragile var. insulare
Aspleniu schweinfurthii
Asplenium virens
Asplundia cayapensis
Asplundia clementinae
Asplundia cuspidate
Asplundia domingensis
Asplundia fagerlindii
Asplundia lilacina
Aspundia lutea
Asplundia meraensis
Asplundia nonoensis
Asplundia pastazana
Asplundia quinidensis
Asplundia sparrai
Aspludia truncate
Aster quitensis
Asterogyne spicata
Asterogyne yaracuyense
Asteropeia amblyocarpa
Asteropeia densiflora
Asteropeia labatii
Asteropeia matrambody
Asteropeia mcphersonii
Asteropeia micraster
Asteropeia rhopaloides
Asterophorum mennagai
Astragalus bidentatus
Astragalus cavanillesii
Astragalus spruce
Astrocaryum triandrum
Astronidium degeneri
Astronidium floribundum
Astronidiu inflatum
Astronidium kasiense
Astronidium lepidotum
Astronidium pallidiflorum
Astribudium saulae
Asystasia glandulifera
Ateleia gummifera
Ateleia salicifolia
Athrotaxis laxifolia
Athyana weinmannifolia
Atkinsia cubensis
Atriplex plebeja
Atuna cordata
Atuna elliptica
Atuna indica
Atuna penangiana
Atua travancorica
Aubregrinia taiensis
Auerodendron jamaicense
Aulonemia longiaristata
Aupaka (Isodendrion hosakae)
Aupaka (Isodendrion laurifolium)
Austrobuxus cracens
Austrofolium equattorianum
Austromyrtus horizontalis
Austromyrtus lotoides
Autranella congolensis
Autum Buttercup
Avicennia lanata
Awalua Ridle Tetramolopium
Awiwi
Axinaea pauciflora
Axinaea quitensis
Axinaea sclerophylla
Axinaea sessilifoia
Axinaea sodiroi
Axinandra zeylanica
Ayapana ecuadorensis
Ayapanopsis luteynii
Azobe
The latest update of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with over 10,000 contributing scientists, shows that “17,291 species out of the 47,677 assessed species are threatened with extinction.”
Jane Smart, Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group observes,
“The scientific evidence of a serious extinction crisis is mounting. It’s time for governments to start getting serious about saving species and make sure it’s high on their agendas for next year, as we’re rapidly running out of time."
Of the 12,151 plants on the IUCN Red List, 8,500 are threatened with extinction, with 114 already Extinct or Extinct in the Wild.
HUMAN OVERPOPULATION
One of the primary engines driving environmental degradation is human overpopulation.
It has been estimated that over the roughly 200,000 years since modern humans first appeared, with a few steep declines here and there due to climatic changes, we numbered roughly around a couple million or so.
Around 10,000 years ago, following the retreat of the glaciers of the last ice age, and with the advent of agriculture, we hit our first population jump.
Between10,000 B.C.and 5,000 B.C., we jumped from around a million of us to around 5 million.
Between 5,000 B.C. and 2,000 B.C., we rose from around 5 million to around 25 million.
Between 2,000 B.C. and 1,000 B.C., we rose from around 25 million to around 50 million.
Between 1,000 B.C. and 1 A.D, we rose from around 50 million to around 200 million.
Between 1 A.D. and 500 A.D., we rose from around 200 million to around 300 million.
Between 500 A.D. and 1000 A.D., we rose from around 300 million to around 400 million.
Between 1000 A.D. and 1500 A.D., we rose from around 400 million to around 500 million.
Between 1500 A.D. and 1650 A.D. we rose from around 500 million to around 600 million.
Between 1650 A.D. and 1750 A.D., we rose from around 600 million to around 750 million.
Between 1750 A.D. and 1800 A.D., we rose from around 750 million to our first billion.
So it took around 200,000 years to reach our first billion.
It took us only 127 years to reach the two billion mark in 1927.
It took us 33 years to reach the 3 billion mark in 1960.
It took 14 years to reach the 4 billion mark in 1974.
It took 13 years to reach the 5 billion mark in 1987.
It took 12 years to reach the 6 billion mark in 1999.
It has been estimated that we reached the 7 billion mark in 2012.
Laid out this way it shows a disconcerting trend.
We are going forth and multiplying at a rather alarming, disquieting rate.
Up to the modern era, the human population was kept in check by high death rates, which were due to the combined effects of disease, famine, predation, unsanitary living conditions, and general poverty.
Improvements in food production and general nutrition, housing, water cleanliness, personal hygiene, public sanitation, and medical technologies has fueled our explosive growth.
You can utilize a strong metaphor that describes the Earth as like a ship, sailing on a cosmic ocean. Like the iconic “unsinkable ship” Titanic, it seems inconceivable that this ship can sink. But like the Titanic, this metaphorical ship is most definitely sinking. And hardly anybody knows it.
It is sinking in the sense that we are rapidly destroying the delicate life sustaining systems which allow us to live.
The scientists of the world are saying we are in real trouble.
And to many of us are ignorant of this state of affairs.
Along with the aforementioned ecology problems we have sociological problems like war and genocide.
Interestingly, considering the degree of subjectivity in the art of compiling historical data, (you know, the old adage about how the victors write the history, that goes along the lines of, we were great and noble and our enemies were a bunch of unprincipled and immoral sub-humans), one finds significant agreement among many different historians and historical records about how many years of peace there has been over the past 5000 years.From over two dozen different sources the figure ranges between 30 and 300 years of world peace over the past 5000 years.
That is a really lousy batting average.
And all the wonderful improvements we’ve made to the instruments of war over the years.
The humble beginnings of sticks and stones.
Then spears, bows and arrows, lances and pikes, swords and scimitars, catapults and trebuchets, guns and cannons, tanks and armed aircraft..
Chemical weapons such as mustard gas, phosgene oximine, lewisite, yperite, sarin, tabun, soman cyclosarin, VX, cyanogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, chloropicrin, phosgene, diphosgene, chlorine, to name a few.
Biological weapons such as Anthrax, brucellosis, cholera, diphtheria, dysentery, listeriosis, melioidosis, plague, tularemia, typhus, small pox, yellow fever, ricin, saxitoxin, staphylococcal enterotoxin, tetrodotoxin, trichothene myotoxins, bacillus globigii, bacillus thursidius, aspergillus fumigatus, mutant C-2, etc.
Thermonuclear weapons
And that is a partial list.
Also, a key indicator of the severe imbalance we have created, which is hard data, and is absolutely staggering, is that around 30,000 people starve to death daily. This is not a reference to a specific famine in a specific geographical region, over a specific time period of weeks or months. This has been happening for many years. Eighty five per cent are children under the age of five. This comes to about 15 million children dying every year from starvation, needlessly.
For the price of one intercontinental ballistic missile, a thousand children could be fed for 5 years. Every 3.6 seconds someone starves to death. Over the past ten years about 150 million children have starved to death. These 150 million deaths could have been prevented by the price of ten stealth bombers, or what world governments spend on military weaponry in two days.
Hmmm.
So, although the lighthouse’s original functions have been rendered pretty much obsolete by modern technology, it can still be seen as an example of the better nature of our species, unfortunately not seen enough through our history. And also as a reminder of the multiple and significant dangers that confront us at this point in our development.
We can continue to sink to the level of continuing these irrational and unintelligent deadly games and experience the inevitable slide to destruction.
Or, we can perhaps rise to the occasion by seeing through the sheer stupidity of war and ideological conflict and get beyond excessive grotesque greed.
And this concludes, for the moment, our analysis of the lyrics of Beacon Reflections 4.
Dynamic Abstractions
The compositions titled Measureless, Achetype, Absolutely, Beyond, Modulations, and Expedition are associated with an intriguing form of CGI.
The computer generated imagery in this particular batch of dynamic abstractions is essentially variations of iterations of quadratic, cubic, quintic, and heptic polynomial equations mapped out on a virtual complex plane in cyberspace.
The lyrics are varying perceptual vantage points of the Absolute.
Avian Notes
Aviarius
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also known as the Sea Hawk, is a large raptor, averaging 2 feet in length, and 6 feet in diameter, with an average weight of about 4 pounds.
The Osprey was a figure in the birth of the modern environmental movement. Although concerns about humans negatively impacting the environment goes back centuries, the modern environmental movement is generally thought to have evolved out of the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson in 1962.
The book contended that uncontrolled and unexamined pesticide use was harming and killing many species of animals and birds. The book was widely read, especially after its selection by the Book-of-the Month Club, and inspired widespread public concern about pesticides and pollution of the environment.
The Osprey, among other species of birds, was hit very hard by these chemicals, particularly the organochloride insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.
Throughout the 1950’s and 60’s Osprey populations declined catastrophically in many areas.
The pesticide interfered with the bird’s calcium metabolism which resulted in thin-shelled, easily broken or infertile eggs.
Because of the banning of this pesticide in many countries in the early 1970’s, the Osprey has recovered to an estimated population of around 450,000.
This noble, majestic creature was pushed to the edge of oblivion by humans. It was also saved by humans. Scientists, conservationists, and concerned citizens worked together to rescue this beautiful avian.
The lyrics in this song reflect upon various aspects of the Ultimate Ground of Being.
Transcension
The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a seabird that breeds in North and South America. It averages around 20 inches in length and 4 feet in diameter and has an average weight of about 12 ounces. The basil half of its bill is red, the rest primarily black, with the lower mandible significantly elongated. The eye has a dark brown iris and catlike vertical pupils, unique for a bird.
Adults in breeding plumage have a black crown, nape and upper body. The forehead and underparts are white. The upper wings are black with white on the rear edge, and the tail and rump are dark grey with white edges. The underwing colour varies from white to dusky grey depending on region
Skimmers have a light graceful flight, with steady beats of their long wings. They feed flying low over the water surface with the lower mandible skimming the water for small fish, insects, crustaceans and mollusks.
They spend much time hanging out gregariously on sandbars in rivers, coasts and lagoons.
Lyrical content reflects on different perceptual vantage points of the Undifferentiated Aesthetic Continuum.
When this project was first undertaken, the music was all instrumental. About halfway in, we came across statistical data that was both insightful and disheartening.The statistics in question were music sales which were grouped by musical genres.
Of course, popular music, in all its various forms, dominated the market at a 92% share. The other 8% was comprised of classical, jazz, avant-garde and assorted esoterica.
We knew popular music dominated the market, but we did not realize the extent of that domination. When asking ourselves after the realization of these statistics what we thought the numbers actually were regarding the market share of pop music, our estimates ranged from around 60% to 70% of the market.
Popular music, shooting for the lowest common denominator to maximize sales and profit margins, observes narrow and strict compositional parameters, which over time, narrows considerably the spectrum of possible musical forms which can be understood and appreciated by most people.
The reason for the aforementioned disheartening aspect of this data is the fact that much of popular music today is not very good.
The lyrical content runs primarily from insipid banality, to hedonistic solipsism, to the exaltation of ignorance and imbecility.
Although a myriad of factors influence how and why an individual responds to music, there can be observed three dominant factors which can be termed “The Necessary Triad”, which must be present for the 92% of popular music aficionados to understand and respond to any given composition.
Let’s analyze the individual components of the
Necessary Triad.
1.) “ The Percussive Rhythmic Factor,” primarily an acoustic drum kit, or an electronic drum machine, creating rhythmic patterns which in turn set up configurations of neurological epistemic correlations, which in turn release endorphins and a whole host of other bio-chemicals, which in turn makes one feel good.
This is all well and good, but, when this is all one gets to hear, and a quiet, ethereal, non- percussive rhythmless song comes along, the popular music aficionado rejects it at the molecular level, because it doesn’t have that percussive rhythm to latch onto. This beautiful song thus languishes in the shadow of obscurity and irrelevancy. Because they’ve been so conditioned to have that rhythmic pulse, they find it very difficult to listen to any ethereal rhythmless composition.
2.) “The Human Voice Factor,” having someone singing away about something or other, or, if not, what is the song about?
We recently had an insightful conversation with a popular music aficionado, and she made what we thought was a remarkable observation.
When discussing the subject of instrumentals, she observed, “I don’t understand instrumentals. I mean, what are they about?”
In musicology, there are two overarching primary classifications of music, program music and absolute music. Program music is music with lyrics that are singing about “something or other”, while absolute music is music which is essentially about patterns of energy.
A glorious dance of energy
An expression of the fundamental ecstatic
energy of the
Universe
3.) “The Pythagorean Ratios.”
This requires a bit of mathematics, but we’ll keep it easy and short.
Music can be expressed very precisely with mathematics.
An open A string on a guitar, when struck, vibrates precisely at 440 times per second.
As one comes up through the octave to the A note in the next register, that note is vibrating precisely 880 times per second.
Here you can see what is called a 2:1 ratio. It is essentially a doubling of the frequency wavelength. All harmonic intervals can be expressed in mathematical ratios. The perfect fifth is a 3:2 ratio. The major third is a 5:4 ratio, and so forth.
These ratios have varying degrees of complexity. Popular music is composed primarily of simplistic ratios.
Most people can perform basic arithmetic functions. As you move into the higher and more difficult realms of algebra, geometry and calculus, more and more people have greater difficulty in understanding and performing these higher functions. There is an analogy to be drawn between this mathematical phenomenon and the relationship between popular music and so called serious music. Popular music has basic and simple arithmetical relationships.
Classical, jazz, and avant-garde music have more complexity in their relationships.
Simplicity , in and of itself, is not a bad thing, but sacrificing complexity to attain the lowest common denominator to maximize profit margins harms music.
The full aesthetic experience is the contrast between the simple and the complex, tension and resolution, light and shadow.
Now, in learning these statistics, and realizing that our instrumentals were not addressing the Necessary Triad, and would, thus, languish in the shadows, steps were taken to rectify the situation.
First, compositional adjustments to address a simplification of Pythagorean ratios were undertaken.
Secondly, percussive elements were added.
Thirdly, lyrics and vocals were written and performed.
Hopefully we may be forgiven for incorporating elements of serious subject matter as source material for some of our lyrics. We feel we need to mention this in consideration of the fact that contemporary popular music has been decidedly unserious in the majority of lyrical themes written in recent years, with inane banality at one end of the spectrum and the celebration of ignorance and exaltation of stupidity at the other end. It would help if our lyrical efforts could be perceived as an effort to produce a counterweight to the imbalance of the consequential to trivial lyrical text ratio. It has been shown that a balance of the negative and positive forces in any given system, whether it be the structure of a galaxy, or the elements of an ecosystem, or the physiology of an organism is essential to optimal fitness.
It should be pointed out that most of the lyrics before the 20th century were rather serious in nature, with variations of themes on the Undifferentiated Aesthetic Continuum being a predominant subject, the nature of the variations contingent on the cultural heritage associated with the society it emerged from. It took Mr. Edison's remarkable invention, the gramophone, to bring music from urban concert halls to the great unwashed masses and thus to allow the current imbalance to manifest.