Dear Readers,
play is important for children, and young animals e.g mammals
and fun for adults too provided its respectful and non infringing.
Over seriousness can be deadly, the cold trajectory of the intellect.
We know play time is very important for children it enhances well being on all levels and
helps with both verbal and non- verbal communication.
Play helps understanding the feelings and cues of peers, caring and sharing.
Those cues don’t have to be verbal and it seems sad that a small child 5 or
under would have to ask at kindergarten
permission to hug another child a pal if they felt to in their heart
and sensed a cue to do so.
For thousands of years fortunate children have been allowed to play
without spontaneous expressions of love and joy being suppressed.
We are not talking about bullying or abuse we are talking about play, fun.
Learning boundaries through perception and caring adult supervision.
Its interesting how Stuart Wilde said Gaia would reclaim the Earth
for the animals and the children.
Children can teach us many things, they are like flowers
in a garden to be nurtured and cared for, not stamped into arid conformity.
Social models change throughout the ages.
Loving kindness, respect, joy spontaneity are the birthright of us all.
Animals play and its a sign of their well being. Mammals for example practise
agility and survival skills in a safe environment..
Light heartedness and harmless fun is good for us all.
Badgers belong to the family Mustelidae ,they remind one of little bears .
Its wonderful to see them play.
A symbol of nature and wildlife these fascinating creatures suffer from the
encroachment of humanity like many other animal species.
Badgers do have legislative protection in the UK from e.g snaring and dog baiting , however it
does go on and badgers suffer.
Badgers are viewed by some to be responsible for the spread of bovine
tuberculosis a disease of cattle.
The opposing view is that badgers are innocent of the allegation.
This means that a vaccination program instead of culls would be an unnecessary
and potentially harmful infringement upon the wild life from this view.
Culling,vaccinating or leaving alone and modifying farm practices
are the spectrum of views a complex interplay of factors.
The Badger Trust and for example the North East Essex Badger
Group are doing their best to educate
people about badgers.
http://www.badger.org.uk/#!can-the-cull/ywdjj
Though now free of predators, wolves for example are extinct in Britain,
the badger population is limited by availability of food and habitat.. its all about balance.
Humans by their sheer numbers, activities and presence are those which affect ecological balance.
Being overly serious and sanctimonious about things does not help.
Lets remember and preserve good things, laughter , empathy, kindness,
respect, play time.
There is much we can learn from the animals as well as from
one another and our impact on the natural world.
Thank you to all of those who help bring respect ,awareness and understanding
about the natural world .
Written by Wendy Datta
Posted 14th August 2016
Photograph reproduced by
kind permission of the Badgers Trust
Video filmed by JD Video
Copyright Wendy Datta
All rights reserved.
