A study released last week by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, one of the worldâÄôs oldest and largest environmental networks, has found that one in four of the worldâÄôs species are going extinct while one in two are in a decline. The report argues that within our lifetimes, hundreds of different species of animals could be lost due to human disruption to ecosystems around the world. The survey, which overall includes 44,838 species, has stated that 19,928 are threatened, and now is the time for our political candidates to assure us that they will take the necessary steps to save our diminishing environment. In the first political debate, the word âÄúenvironmentâÄù was used once by both politicians, and that was in reference to an arms race in the middle-east. Phrases such as âÄúnuclear-powerâÄù and âÄúclean energyâÄù were used very sparingly throughout the debate, with most of the discussion being dominated by the economy and Iraq. In the second debate, they were asked directly if they could move as fast as they did with the financial bailout package to save the environment. The answers came with a variety of political clichés that gave little evidence of a hard-lined solution to this goliath problem. As we continue down the path we are on now, our ignorance will continue to prove to be disastrous for the environment. Besides a nuclear power initiative from John McCain, both presidential candidates are offering little to the environmental argument. Although it is true that in history, animals have come and gone in natural cycles, this report proves that humans have acted as an agent of acceleration for the natural process. The age of reckless environmental practices needs to end, and someone needs to give the world a fine lined answer to help solve the mess it is now in.