The Living Earth (Article 1)
A better understanding of the connections between humans and nature can help to protect the Living Earth including humanity itself.

There is something of wonder at the basis of all life on Earth. The fact that chemicals can arise from the confines of an ancient molecular soup and via the process of evolution over millions of years develop into increasingly more complex lifeforms, lifeforms that somehow cooperate in order to continue to survive in an interconnected and changing world.

 

During the long geochemical history of the earth, microbes, together with fungi and plants, have been essential, and are still essential, to the very composition of the environment in which we humans live. As far as we know all living forms on the planet are locked down within the limits of the Living Earth. That is the shallow layer of earth in which we live, and which has been transformed into a habitable milieu by the aeons-long labour of evolution.

Put simply, it is that the secret of the Living Earth’s success so far is that of aggregating. Several of those aggregations have been game-changers and it is because of all of these changes that we exist at all. It started probably about 4 billion years ago, when hitherto isolated molecules started to assemble spontaneously under the right conditions. Over (a very long) time they aggregated into increasingly stable constructs (nothing mysterious there: those that were less stable would not last as long) and replicated (a precursor to our current DNA). The next momentous change occurred when these molecules accumulated protective layers, and merged with other structures. This eventually became the modern cell.

Some cells then started to aggregate, forming coalitions in a sense. In some cases, these coalitions are temporary. In others, cells remain together: trees, birds and humans are obligate coalitions of cells that have formed identities of their own. The final major transition occurred when individuals themselves coalesced into various groups.  For some species, honey bees for example, being a society is the only way they can survive, and of course the human society is a recent example of the advantage of group living.

 

 

The majority of the world’s species cannot withstand any significant disruption of their habitat by humans. Healthy ecosystems depend to a great extent on old and gnarly places, that might take centuries to develop, and are rich in what ecologists call “spatial heterogeneity”: complex natural architecture. They need, for example, giant trees, whose knotty entrails are rotten. The loss of these ancient habitats is one of the factors driving the global shift from large, slow-growing creatures to the small, short-lived species able to survive our onslaughts. Slow ecology would protect and create our future ancient habitats. At the moment, we’re going in the opposite direction.

World governments need to address, now and not in some future time, the state of our environment so as to avoid a ghastly future for the Living Earth. That is according to leading scientists who have assessed the current state of the Living Earth. They warn the outlook for the living Earth “is more dire and dangerous than is generally understood”.  In relation to the challenge of protecting the Living Earth the problem is compounded by ignorance and short-term self-interest, with the pursuit of wealth and political interests stymying the action that is crucial for continuing our survival.

The world’s leading scientists are warning that the Earth’s life-support systems are fast approaching collapse, and certainly a danger zone for humanity when publishing the results of the most comprehensive study of life on Earth ever undertaken. The recent 1,800-page UN’s research body tells us, as well as wildlife, and future generations, are at risk unless action is taken to reverse the loss of plants, insects and other creatures on which humanity depends.

In relation to the living Earth we could say that the small reflects the large, and the health of the total system requires the flourishing of each part. When this principle of natural ecology is applied to human societies, then we see these societies flourish.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770- 1827) had a profound love of nature  More than 200 hundred years later we remember Beethoven’s wonderful music that inspires us to cherish the natural world, be filled with inspiration, and a determination to safeguard the Living Earth. The Living Earth – It’s beautiful, magical, incredible, natural, inspiring, life giving, yet it is almost unbelievable that we continue to pollute and destroy it. It could be said that contact with the Living Earth is valuable in the sense of it being; health-giving, awe-inspiring as well as helping in calming the mind. 

For some decades now (a very short time in human history) scientists from various disciplines have been warning of human failure to grasp the extent of serious threats to the Living Earth as a result of biodiversity loss and the climate crisis. You could say that there are a number of guiding principles regarding protecting the Living Earth. These principles are not meant to be dogmatic, but rather a starting point for discussion and action regarding ecological matters and the sustainability of the human species.  These include:

 

• Appreciating the life of the natural world,

• Protecting or restoring local ecosystems.

• Consuming less.

• Addressing vital needs rather than wants.

• Attempting to live in harmony with nature.

• Appreciating ethnic and cultural differences.

• Working to improve the standard of living for the world’s poor.

• Working to eliminate injustice to humans and other species.

• Acting non-violently in the world.