Kermit & Friends

The frogs are vanishing. Apparently in large numbers. Entire species of amphibians are being wiped out, and this is having a disturbing impact on the health of the planet. We’ve all heard about honey bees mysteriously disappearing, and lord knows there is a long list of endangered creatures, both animal and plant. Endangered by pollution, urban sprawl, and the impact of multi-billion dollar corporations running roughshod over environmental matters.

A fascinating documentary about these vanishing frogs aired tonight on one of the PBS stations. The position frogs hold at the center of the food chain makes their absence somewhat more noticeable. The creatures which feed upon them are being affected as much as the ones upon which they feed. The burgeoning insect population in some areas is harming the plant life. By now, we all know full well the importance each factor plays in the overall health of an eco-system. Take away any one element, and the whole system is thrown off.

A child may ask why there must be mosquitoes, or poison ivy, or snakes, or spiders. It doesn’t take long to figure out that every being on the planet is somehow connected to the overall design of nature, and that there are creatures who depend on the role being played by even the tiniest participants.

There were three primary reasons for the dying frogs explored in this documentary. One was a mysterious plague which is spreading around the globe. Although very little is known about the origin of this plague, it would not be surprising if it turns out to have been caused in some way by pollution. The second and third reasons can be more directly attributed to mankind.

The medications which many people have come to regard as necessary find their way into the water supply through septic systems. Some of these drugs are synthetic and are affecting the creatures living in the water.

More obvious is the runoff from huge farming industries. Pesticides and chemicals are poured into the streams and rivers surrounding the acres and acres of farmland. These chemicals are causing death and deformity, and are also producing a disproportionate amount of algae in the water. Just one look at any of these unhealthy streams and it is clear that something is not right.

What makes this picture so upsetting is how little it seems can be done about it, other than to insist on buying organic produce. If enough people start demanding fruits and vegetables which are not tainted by the toxic potions conjured up in industrial chemistry labs, perhaps organic farming will be taken more seriously by the mass production machines.

What of the even more profitable pharmaceutical industry? Can they be encouraged to adopt more natural methods? How many people are truly willing to re-examine the drugs they are taking? To find healthier alternatives? How many times must we hear and read about the damage to our planet being done by the monster global corporations, who are only interested in the largest profit possible?

We do hear about smaller companies which are carving out new templates. The success of Whole Foods cannot be disputed, and there are businesses which incorporate Green philosophies as well as practices into their mission statements. Buy a pair of Toms and a kid in an impoverished nation gets a new pair of shoes. Like that.

Green technology does seem to be the wave of the future, which many people have known for some time now. Still, it will take an enormous shift in consciousness for our society to care less about earning a profit at any cost whatsoever, and to care more about the overall health of our planet, evident in the lives of the tiniest creatures. Like frogs.