Among the distinguished panel of sustainability experts at Boston College Leadership for Change event on Sustainability was the colorful and inimitable Joe Starinchak, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Outreach Coordinator.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Joe Starinchak and John Bergdoll compare notes

In all the talk about sustainability and climate change, what’s missing is the biodiversity talk, he explained. Biodiversity consequences are huge. This is the stuff of life. This is what keeps us
alive. It’s also the mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife to enumerate and solve these problems.

Starinchak’s direct approach had full command of the room when he announced that there are increasing signs of global ecological system failures! Everything we do, he explained, creates an ecological impact. Instead of the term, ‘Sustainability’, he said he actually prefers the term ‘Survivability’ or ‘Thrivability.’

One of his programs is to stop aquatic hitchhikers and prevent the transport of invasive species. The best ways to prevent the transport of invasive species is to clean off recreational equipment after each usage. We are grappling with the severity of our situation.

Another serious growing issue is smart disposal of medications and the prevention of using toilets as medical dumpsters. Starinchak said, “We have fresh water muscles on Prozak.” Of course, the crowd laughed, but the seriousness of his comment lingered as people started to understand it’s impact. Starinchak, an impassioned environmentalist, encouraged, “We’ve got to think differently. Behavior change of the individual will need to change. Right now, we view ourselves as a consumer society, not global citizens. Surprisingly, nature only uses five elements from the periodic table, whereas people use all 118 elements.”

Using inspired common sense of visionary leadership, he said, “We don’t have the luxury of blaming anybody. It requires a new way of thinking. This is about us. It requires a personal commitment. Lastly, hold your politicians accountable.”

Joe Starinchak received rousing cheers and a spirited ovation.

I recently came across an apt proverb that seems to fit here, ‘As people lead, leaders will follow.’

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