#deathbyhumans

[melissa-chua-blog]

“Gabon is home to forest elephants and western lowland gorillas and nearly 200 other mammal species, 600 species of birds, and more than 8,000 plant species.” “Gabon has made a political commitment to conservation and sustainable natural resource management by securing 15% of its territory as protected areas.”

“The nation’s road transport network is suffering from a lack of paved roads, inadequate water drainage infrastructure and damage from heavy vehicles.” “The development of road transport infrastructure is one area that can greatly contribute to economic growth in Gabon, mostly by providing access to the interior of the country, where many resources are still unexploited due to poor transport links.”

[melissa-chua-blog]

“Indonesia is a treasure chest of biodiversity; it is home to between 10 and 15 per cent of all known species of plants, mammals and birds. Orangutans, elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses, more than 1,500 species of birds and thousands of plant species are all a part of the country's natural legacy.” 

“At the root of the problem is the practice of forest clearance known as slash and burn, where land is set on fire as a cheaper way to clear it for new planting. Peat soil, which characterizes much of the affected areas, is highly flammable, causing localized fires to spread and making them difficult to stop.” “The human cost [of deforestation] is stark; 19 people have died and an estimated 500,000 cases of respiratory tract infections have been reported since the start of the fires.”

[melissa-chua-blog]

“Legislation, strict enforcement programs, and air quality monitoring have helped to ensure that air quality remains good despite [Singapore’s] dense urban development and large industrial base. As such, Singapore enjoys an air quality better than many cities in Asia and is comparable with the air quality of US and European cities.”

“The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 at 12:00 on Friday (21 June 2013) - the highest in Singapore's history.” “A PSI reading above 300 is defined as "hazardous", while Singapore government guidelines say a PSI reading of above 400 sustained for 24 hours may be life threatening to ill and elderly persons. Healthy people [may also] experience adverse symptoms that affect normal activity.”

[melissa-chua-blog]

“The Arctic fox was impacted tremendously by the fur trade because of its extremely high quality pelt.” It's still hunted now for its fur, particularly by native populations who live in close proximity to them. “The arctic fox is an incredibly hardy animal that can survive frigid Arctic temperatures as low as –58°F (-50°C) in the treeless lands where it makes its home.” “Arctic foxes have beautiful white (sometimes blue-gray) coats that act as very effective winter camouflage.”

“Because fur farmers care only about preserving the quality of the fur, they use slaughter methods that keep the pelts intact but that can result in extreme suffering for the animals. Some animals even wake up while they are being skinned. Animals have clamps attached to or rods forced into their mouths and anuses, and they are painfully electrocuted.”