It’s better to light one candle than curse the darkness. There’s so many people that sit back and say we’re screwed. But you know what? With that one candle – maybe someone else with a candle will find you. And I think that’s where movements are started.

// SHAWN HEINRICHS \\

On Monday night, I went with other Rose Scholars to see the film “Racing Extinction.” As an IARD major, this is the kind of thing we discuss in all of my classes yet seeing movies like these makes my heart hurt no less every time.

As a Christian, I believe God placed humans on the Earth to be stewards of His creation. The way it was designed was for us to be in perfect unity with nature and with Him. By taking care of the Earth, we would be glorifying Him, and by glorifying Him, we would be taking care of the Earth.

So what are we doing. Moving further and further away from what were meant to be. No wonder we struggle to find purpose in life. No wonder many feel as if what they do has no meaning at the end. We’re straying farther and farther away from the perfect joy we were meant to have. It is all connected. All of it. And this movie helped me remember that.

The movie does not just talk about all going wrong and all the animals that have recently been going extinct, but it provides tangible goals we can set to make a difference.

Here are a few that I have taken from their website http://racingextinction.com/startwith1thing/

1. Skip meat for one meal a day! (I have been doing this myself)
2. Take public transportation when possible.
3. If you are going to eat seafood, make smart choices (as in, don’t eat animals in danger) –> there is a seafood watch app.
4. Consider an electric vehicle IF you need to buy a car.
5. Stop animal suffering by not buying Wild.

And there are many more!