We get exposed to the stories revolve around threatened and endangered species every day. It is common to read a piece of newspapers that species go extinct on this day, and on another, we hear that only a few individuals of species are still alive. Being young adults, we acknowledge the importance of biodiversity, how urbanization, poaching, and climate change have caused species decline, and the collective responsibility we have to carry on, but how do we change other people’s minds to create a greater impact on the problem as a whole? There is no other more right answer than “education”.

As education can be conducted on both little kids and our parents or grandparents, it can help us change people's acknowledgment of helping endangered animals more comprehensively. More than just a short-term resolution, the result that education can bring back is a long-run and profound change for us and future generations.

ASEAN Ability

Some ASEAN countries (Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, and Indonesia) have been recorded most vegetarian-friendly in the world, showing that the movement of reducing meat intake is highly possible. Furthermore, based on current vegetable agriculture production, ASEAN region can easily meet the demand of its citizens.

Educate yourself on the environment and endangered species

We are living in an Internet-leading world. News relating to species can be easily found for everyone to equip ourselves with basic knowledge. However, it is also an undoubted bombard to us whenever doing a quick Google search. It will take time to rifle through it and find the right as well as reliable information. Below is our suggestion so that you can start with:

• Youtube videos: “A Beginner’s Guide: How to be more sustainable” is an inspirational video that can help you to always keep in mind to turn your thoughts into actions.
• Documentaries: For those having preferences for realistic footage, Cowspiracy is worth the hype. If you have never thought of enjoying such a documentary, Cowspiracy not only can broaden your horizons but also change your mind about this type of movie due to its amazing storytelling skill as well as picturesque movie scenes.
• Books: Frankly speaking, “Practical Self Sufficiency: The Complete Guide To Sustainable Living” by Dick and James Strawbridge is not student-friendly as you should have your own little garden through which you can sustain your own individual ecosystem. But if you already have or think of having one, it would be a perfect book as it can truly motivate you to take further steps and make real changes, ones which most of us would usually be scared to take in favor of living an easy life.
• News: Finally, don’t forget to check out 10,000 TIMES news, in which we collect the latest and trustworthy news with respect to endangered species that you can easily keep up-to-date with the current environmental issue.

Raising your surroundings’ awareness

There are still many misconceptions regarding our knowledge of endangered wildlife. Last year, the last Java rhinos on the Earth living in Vietnam has passed away as a consequence of illegal poaching. The root cause is people’s belief that rhino’s horn can cure all diseased, even cancer while in fact, it is nothing more than human’s nail.

Therefore, communication is the best means for us to help our friends and family to have a right understanding regarding wildlife animals, helping these animals from being poached or killed unreasonably. Moreover, it is also a chance to help them realize the ordinary things we are still doing can cause such detrimental effects on endangered species in particular and the environment in general.

Government’s Responsibility: Organizing educational programmes

The best thing about education is that it is such a community-belonging activity. People having the same education background can easily create their community with a similar mindset. To leverage the current education activities or even the whole system, as well as to spread out the value of protecting wildlife animals from being extinct, the involvement of the government is essential.

Currently, there is a fund in Africa, The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), that proposes environmental education programs related to the protection of animals facing possible extinction. Its educational programmes can be an example for ASEAN region to apply. With an aim of developing education about environmental preservation among young people, an education centre has been developed for children from local schools to have free activities. For example, there are field trips, in which children can visit an elephant, rhinoceros orphanage and other animals to allow them to observe the preservation of the environment and raise awareness among the children of the various issues facing the biosphere. Along with that, there is an annual environmental competition for students to express their work through an artistic creation. The Fund also organizes a training program for teachers to develop necessary skills and knowledge. The teachers can also share their ideas on problems related to the environment.

Briefly, a similar fund and all of the aforementioned activities can be organized for the ASEAN region and each of the member nations to build up a solid foundation for us to go further on the path of protecting endangered species.