25 February 2006
Reza Hossain, GFRS volunteer, UK
I wanted to say hello! My name is Reza, and I have been an active Greenpeace supporter for about 5 years now. I am from the small town of Blackburn in England, and I normally work as a family doctor, and also as a skin specialist. The picture you can see of me is from when I was working on the Arctic Sunrise as a medic. I was “sitting in” for the captain, on the ship’s bridge deck.
I was hoping to work on the ship for a long time, but unfortunately I was sea-sick for about 2 months straight while I was onboard. It was rather ironic that I was supposed to be the ship’s medic, but I was only person on the ship who was sick!
We all know that that there are a lot of environmental and social problems in the world, but the reason that I support Greenpeace is because it is a symbol of hope for the future. The Greenpeace campaigns also represent real small steps of progress against the dominating interests of large corporations that want unlimited use of the world’s limited resources for their own profit.
I want to work in the Papua New Guinea rainforest because they contain the greatest biodiversity on the earth, and about two-thirds of all the world’s species. Due to deforestation, many of the fantastic and beautiful species on earth are either being lost or are under threat. Many biologists believe that we are heading towards a “mass-extinction” of species, and the last time that happened was at the time of the dinosaurs, 65 million years ago.
Papua New Guinea is famous in England as the place of the “Paradise Forests” and “Birds of Paradise”. I am really looking forward to going, but my mum had one instruction for me, which was “Make sure you’re not bitten by leeches, because you’re too thin already!”
My favourite quote is from about 100 years ago by a Scottish scientist, John Muir. He was a naturalist and he said, "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." What he means is that everything is connected and everything, and everyone, needs everything else to survive and thrive.
We can’t survive on our own.
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Comments
hey mate, have a wicked time over there in PNG. enjoy the treehouses, and we can compare notes when you get back.
luv, squersh
Posted by: squersh at April 25, 2006 10:30 AM
Hi Reza,
Glad to see you are carrying the message of Blackburn Rovers football to the people of the world. Hope you don't get eaten by too many bizarre insects and that the parasites go elsewhere. Your trip to PNG has def. been a point of interest at PVP surgery.
Posted by: Dylan Kay at April 26, 2006 9:30 AM
Hi Reza,
how's the mission/holiday? Is it as tough as treating unruly patients in Chelmsford? I'm sure you are having a right laugh though. I have bought a new harddrive now, so when you get back we can look at editing something for the DVD.
All the best and look out its behind you!!
The Slave from Shepherds Bush & Finchley Central.
Posted by: Adam at April 30, 2006 9:53 PM
Hey Reza,
I agree with Dylan.. great to see the Rovers shirt (we beat Chelsea 0 - 1 the other day!)
Have you encountered any 'effects' of the Civil war? Hope they're not shooting at you guys!
Pllllleeeaassee make me a copy of the DVDs... I wanna see Papua! ;) Oh! and no getting sea-sick again!
Posted by: Michael Kay at May 6, 2006 10:15 AM
Hello Reza!
I´m so happy to know you there! For sure you are enjoying the amazing nature around you! I give you all my support in the campaign. It also looks like you are part of a very nice team of people and that's great!
I've just arrived in Mallorca after so long and I'm very happy to be finally at home. I´ll be around here for the summer period and let's see what happens afterwards.
Let's keep in contact!
Take a lot of care (specially with the little animals!) and good luck.
A hug from Spain
Maite
Posted by: Maite at May 7, 2006 10:46 PM
Hope you are enjoying your Tropical Interlude. We've recycled all the cardboard in the garden shed at No 16! All residents of 16 are invited to our Midsummer Party on 17 June,and your fancy dress must be GreenPeace themed.....
Best Wishes, Cathy + Clive
Posted by: Cathy + Clive at May 15, 2006 9:24 PM
hello reza
i am researching the effects of deforestation for a potential bbc documentary series and would be keen to speak to someone like yourself who has recently been at the centre of it all.
please email me if you have the chance this week.
thanks
jane
Posted by: jane at June 26, 2006 12:38 PM
