GOOD CAUSES

COOL HAND FRANK highlights nonprofit organizations driven to make this world a better place.

In the backyard of my house, it’s stunning to see the different animal life roam the grasses and trees — birds, squirrels, chipmunks, turtles and deer, plus the occasional dog or cat exploring beyond its owner’s home. And counting plant life? Heck, my backyard garden alone is full of diverse vegetation from spring through fall. But my backyard represents the tiniest fraction of all life on Earth, and there’s so much life beyond it.

Yet sadly, there is also life on this planet of ours that is endangered or at risk of extinction. The Center for Biological Diversity, a national, nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1989, outright states its mission starkly and simply: “Saving life on Earth.” Through data-based scientific education, persistent legal activism, public and private sector advocacy and negotiations, and media outreach, the Center for Biological Diversity “secured Endangered Species Act protection for more than 760 species and over half a billion acres of critical habitat.”

Even that’s not enough. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “There are over 1,300 endangered or threatened species in the United States today.” Not including the thousands more worldwide. More work needs to be done. You can help. Become a member, participate in urgent online action campaigns, or donate.

Let’s do our best to keep all life abundant.