Walks of Life: Health Care
The health care professionals below support the Endangered Species Act.
Linda Brandenberger, Nurse Extern
As stewards of Planet Earth, we must protect all aspects of the natural world down to the smallest creature. The Endangered Species Act is crucial to the balance of all life. Health care professionals are taught to treat in a holistic manner -- seeing the balance for human beings. That balance goes past just human beings. There must be a harmonious unity between all species in order to sustain this delicate ecosystem we call Earth.
John Fogarty MD MPH, Executive Director New Mexico Physicians for Social Responsibility
To maintain healthy communities, we need a wide diversity of species. Much like a body needs specialized organs like the lymph and immune systems, the gastrointestinal tract, and the neuroendocrine system – our world needs the lynx, the grasshopper sparrow, and the leopard frog to maintain balance and health. The Endangered Species Act is critical to protecting those species most in trouble. We would never think about getting rid of ambulances or emergency rooms. It would be similarly disastrous to undermine the Endangered Species Act.
Chip Schofield, Social Worker
The Endangered Species Act is crucial not only for maintaining biodiversity and the subsequent medicines we can supply, but also for maintaining the mental health of people across the planet. Wildlife and wild nature are the foundation of the natural balance on which the world depends on. The ability to partake in and enjoy the natural world contributes immensely to the mental health of our children. If we don't protect our native species and their critical habitat, we will certainly lose biodiversity, but we will also be losing ourselves as well. I support a strong and fully funded Endangered Species Act for myself, the hundreds of children I work with, and the future.