Judges, Senior Project Panel

First Colonial High School

1272 Mill Dam Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Dear Judges:

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to all of you for taking the time
to evaluate my senior project. Secondly, I would like to take this instance to include a brief
disclaimer. I am very passionate about my topic, it is not only the culmination of all my efforts in
the Legal Studies Academy, but also a subject that has extended into all areas of my life.
Learning about my topic began as a simple investigation of an interesting topic, to a subject that I
have grown so passionate about that it influences aspects of my personal choices/life philosophy.

I seek to raise awareness about my issue, the endangered species trade, as it is paramount that
society takes immediate action to remedy the various detrimental impacts that people have upon
the environment and the organisms depended upon it. As an individual who is deeply concerned
about the state of the environment, I take every opportunity to speak about my topic to attempt to
combat the general apathy that is generally felt by most in regard to the environment. However,
there are many difficulties in advocating on behalf of change for environmental issues. One issue
being that many fail to view environmental concerns for the true magnitude of risk that they
pose, due to the lack of an immediate threat from these issues or an anthropogenic mindset that
convinces many that people are secular from environmental concerns. Another issue being that
most people advocating for improved relations with the environment are often viewed as
alarmist, attempting to incite a sense of panic regarding an issue that does not pose a true risk. I
would like to state for the record that I am not an alarmist, and the extent of harmful impacts
from not addressing failing environmental conditions is real. If people continue to allow the
poaching of these vulnerable species, it will only increase the vulnerability of environmental
systems. Which would be negative as it would lead to impacts felt by all organisms and
exacerbate a mentality in which human view all other organisms as means to an end, solely
available for the benefit of humans. Which is a harmful mentality as it only exacerbates and
justifies the slaughtering of these species for monetary gains.

Through the efforts of my senior project, I sought to create an event which would help to educate
people on my topic, as there are many who are unaware of the existence/impacts of the
endangered species trade. In addition to informing people of affordable and
environmental/animal friendly choices that can serve as alternatives to various aspects of daily
life.

Thank you again for evaluating my project, as it is paramount that society as a whole
understands the impacts upon which humans have upon the environment and depended species
in order to elicit a long lasting change for a better future.

Sincerely,
Zoe Mollner
Zoe Mollner