Lesson 3 We Are All Connected

Lesson 3 We Are All Connected
Our Interconnected World

Turn Off the Lights and Save a Tiger
It would be very sad if there were no more wild
You can protect tigers simply by switching off the tigers. Would it really matter, though? After all, we
lights. This may sound strange, but it is actually true. could still see them in zoos or watch programs
An everyday action that helps us save energy can about them on TV. Shouldn’t we be more worried
also help save an endangered species. How does this about protecting human beings? The fact is, however,
work? Let’s take a look. that we need to protect tigers in order to protect
ourselves. This is because all of Earth’s species are
A Species in Danger interconnected.
Tigers, one of the world’s largest *feline species, have

Think about what would happen if tigers became
long been the kings of Asia’s forests. Despite being
extinct. Existing at the top of the food chain, they
the dominant predators of their habitats, they move
maintain the populations of animals they prey on,
silently and remain unseen most of the time. Imagine
such as deer and boar. Without tigers, these species
how ancient people must have felt when
would rapidly increase in number. As a result, their
encountering tigers in the wild! It is no surprise that
food source, vegetation, would begin to disappear.
tigers have been feared and worshipped by humans
This would cause birds and insects to lose their
for centuries, standing as symbols of power and
homes, and bigger animals that prey on them would
courage. The fact that ancient rock paintings feature
soon run out of food. Eventually, the entire
images of tigers shows how closely tigers have been ecosystem would be affected. Humans are no
related to humans throughout history. exception, as we rely on nature for everything we
need to survive, including air, food, and water. This is
At one time, tigers were found all across Asia, from how the disappearance of a single species can
Korea to Turkey. However, the world’s tiger threaten the whole planet.
population has been shrinking rapidly. Illegal hunting Now imagine what would happen if we made the
and habitat loss are the main reasons behind this effort to save tigers. Tigers are considered an
decrease. At the start of the 20th century, it was “umbrella species.” This is an ecological term
estimated that there were approximately 100,000 wild referring to species that live in a large area
tigers. In recent years, however, three of the nine containing a variety of different ecosystems. If we
choose to protect these species, we must conserve

subspecies of tigers have become extinct.
their habitat. As a result, the other species that share
In fact, it is now estimated that there are fewer than
this habitat, including trees and insects, are protected
4,000 tigers living in the wild. Some experts even
too, as if there were a large umbrella being held
predict that the last of the world’s wild tigers will
over them.
disappear within the next 10 years.
Small Efforts with Big Results Get Involved
Now, it is obvious that we must protect tigers. You There are many other things you can do to protect
may, however, still wonder how switching off the tigers and other endangered species. You could
lights helps. Well, the lights in our homes require volunteer at a nonprofit organization or share
electricity, and more than half of the world’s important information on social networking sites.
electricity is created by burning fossil fuels. When However small your actions may seem, they can help
fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide is released make a big difference. Most importantly, you must
into the air, and this contributes to climate change. remember that we all share the same planet. If a
Climate change has a number of negative effects, single species disappears, every other living creature,
including rising sea levels that threaten many parts including human beings, could be affected.
of the world. One of these places, called the
Sundarbans, is an area on the coast of Bangladesh
inhabited by a large number of tigers. If Earth’s
oceans continue to rise, this area could be wiped out
and its tiger population could be reduced by as
much as 96%. By conserving energy, however, we
can slow climate change, and this will slow the rise
of the oceans. So keep switching off the lights
whenever you’re the last person to leave a room!
You can also protect tigers when shopping. Many
popular products, including chocolate, instant
noodles, and soap, are made with palm oil.
Unfortunately, forests where tigers live are being
destroyed to build more and more palm oil
plantations. Some palm oil, however, is produced in a
more sustainable way. Products that use this
environmentally friendly palm oil usually have a
special mark on the label. Look for it the next time
you go shopping!

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Lesson 3 We Are All Connected

Our Interconnected World

ourselves. This is because all of Earth’s species are

A Species in Danger interconnected.

Tigers, one of the world’s largest *feline species, have

need to survive, including air, food, and water. This is

choose to protect these species, we must conserve

of the world. One of these places, called the

Sundarbans, is an area on the coast of Bangladesh

inhabited by a large number of tigers. If Earth’s

oceans continue to rise, this area could be wiped out

and its tiger population could be reduced by as

much as 96%. By conserving energy, however, we

of the oceans. So keep switching off the lights

whenever you’re the last person to leave a room!

You can also protect tigers when shopping. Many

popular products, including chocolate, instant

noodles, and soap, are made with palm oil.

Unfortunately, forests where tigers live are being

destroyed to build more and more palm oil

plantations. Some palm oil, however, is produced in a

more sustainable way. Products that use this

environmentally friendly palm oil usually have a

special mark on the label. Look for it the next time

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