We're Doomed.

Wouldn't it be nice if, instead of fighting a desperate holding action to preserve the Enlightenment against power-hungry Christianists, we could be working to save ourselves and the future of life on the planet?

An unprecedented four-year study initiated by the United Nations has concluded the majority of the planet's ecosystems are being degraded in an unsustainable fashion.

At the first of nine news conferences being held in various cities around the world Wednesday, some of the 1,300 experts involved in the study warned of the damage that growing demand for resources is having on the Earth's life support systems.

The researchers, from 95 countries, concluded that 15 of 24 ecosystems are being damaged by such problems as human population growth, global warming and over-logging.

In the conclusions released Wednesday, the scientists warn the problems could get worse in the next 50 years if dramatic steps are not taken.

I'm told that there are days when reading this blog is too depressing for some readers. (Sometimes it's too depressing for the writer.) One glimmer of hope:

The report includes an optimistic note amid the gloomy forecasts. The assessment's co-chairman, Malaysian biologist A.H. Zakri, says much of the damage can be reversed if practices are changed.

"I would hope that individual governments would take action to take notice of the analysis and try to incorporate them into better policy formulation and management of ecosystems," said Mr. Zakri.

Mr. Zakri calls on people to speak up about imperiled ecosystems in their areas, to push policy makers to take concrete action.

Sadly, I don't think Mr. Zakri was talking about things like appointing a former lobbyist for an extreme trophy-hunting group to be Acting Director of US Fish and Wildlife.

The Arizona-based SCI has made a name for itself as one of the most extreme and elite trophy hunting organizations, representing some 40,000 wealthy trophy collectors, fostering and promoting competitive trophy hunting of exotic animals on five continents. SCI members shoot prescribed lists of animals to win so-called Grand Slam and Inner Circle titles. There's the Africa Big Five (leopard, elephant, lion, rhino, and buffalo), the North American Twenty Nine (all species of bear, bison, sheep, moose, caribou, and deer), Big Cats of the World, Antlered Game of the Americas, and many other contests.

So, the guy who used to work for that group is now in charge of the agency that enforces our laws on trophy hunting. Great. Just great. (Will the Bizarro never end?)