It doesn’t seem like the news is getting much better. What gives you hope for the future?
This was one of the questions, Jennifer Wu asked during our conversation on The Founder Spirit podcast.
🌳 A summary of my response:
I see progress in many areas—education, poverty reduction, and health outcomes have improved. People are living longer, and there’s more compassion for other species now compared to 100 years ago. In conservation, there are species and ecosystems that have made significant recoveries. Humans can play a role in these positive changes.
On a micro level, there’s a lot of inspiration from people on the front lines—those defending traditional territories or creating innovative solutions. The overall trend may seem negative, but there are many positive developments.
Transformation can also happen quickly. Look at how fast EV adoption has accelerated in some places or how the shift to solar energy has outpaced even the most optimistic predictions.
So, there are real reasons for hope. It’s not just blind optimism; there’s evidence that if the right opportunities align and people’s interests are in the right place, real change can happen.
❓Wu:
What would you like the audience to take away from your story?
🌳 Me:
Individuals can make a difference. Start small and see where it leads. I was just a person who loved frogs and became interested in rainforests. I started a website, built on that, and ended up making an impact while creating opportunities for others to contribute. Whether it’s starting a community garden or fundraising for a local conservation group, most people listening to this podcast have the ability to do something meaningful. It can start small, but small efforts can grow into something much bigger.
❓Wu:
I think we’ve lost the understanding that we share the planet with other species as we’ve become more human-centric.
🌳 Me:
As societies have shifted from rural to urban living, we’ve lost a lot of that connection. We forget about our relationships with other species and the ability to recognize them as fellow beings. Growing up, I had encounters with various creatures in our yard, like an alligator lizard on our doorstep. This was its territory, and if you messed with it, you’d get bitten.
In our backyard, salamanders lived under the pots, but over time, they were replaced by other species. I didn’t know why then—probably due to changes in rainfall and other conditions—but I noticed and appreciated those shifts. We need to get back to recognizing that we share the world with other species.
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