Tampering With Nature

The Nonsense Papers: Are Humans “Killing” The Planet?

By James W. Astrada

 

The video from ABC Is Tampering with Nature a Good Thing? presented by John Stossel dealt with environmental issues coming into the twenty first century.  Concerning climate change, Stossel displayed a sort of disbelief when presented with the issue.  He also interviewed a panel of scientists who also shared their uncertainty at the time.  Stossel went even further to claim that there was no certain consensus that global warming was harming the planet back in 2001.  17,000 scientists agreed that no major evidence to prove that global warming existed while only 1,600 believed there was an issue and cause for concern.  The panel of scientists concentrated on the funding issue; which was concern considering the lack of capital for investigation or research programs.  Pat Michaels, a research professor at the University of Virginia presented his opinion stating that the senate hearings along with the administrator of NASA could exaggerate for funding to keep the program running.  Now, scientists on the panel changed their idea 10 years later with data that displays humans contributing 99% of the problem for climate change.  So why do many believe that this issue is a marketing ploy or “junk science?”  It is oblivious that the issue is not given full support as it interferes with the leading energy interests. (Coal, Nuclear and Oil)  With politicians in the U.S. usually receive their funding from these corporations, it is unlikely that renewables or alternative energies (i.e. geothermal, photovoltaic, wind) would be considered anytime soon.  Are humans killing the planet?  In the author’s opinion, the Earth has been around for more than 4 billion years.  Within those billion years, the Earth has undergone numerous changes including: meteor strikes, worldwide floods, worldwide fires, the magnetic reversal of the poles,  plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, continental drift, solar flares, sunspots, magnetic storms, bombardment for hundreds of thousands of years by comets and asteroids, sandstorms, erosion, cosmic radiation, and recurring ice ages.  Humans have existed for about 100,000 years (possibly two) and only have engaged in heavy industry for the last 200 years.  Can we really compare the minute amount of time that humans have been “harming the planet” against the billions of years that Earth has existed?  Does it not make us self righteous and arrogant to create this idea of “saving the planet?  It doesn’t seem like environmentalists care about the planet in the abstract.  It seems they only care about their own personal space, a “clean habitat” that might be inconvenienced at a later date (just in case a piece of new technology goes out of our control).  This may sound like the Dominant Western World View (DMV) or Dominance Social Paradigm (DSP), however, how can we not put ourselves into perspective within the realms of how the universe works?

Humans are a very interesting species; usually when a mammal exists within an ecosystem, by instincts, they develop a sort of equilibrium within their natural habitat, coexisting and giving back.  We on the other hand do not operate within our mammalian “contractual agreement” with nature. Instead, we multiple consuming every natural resources until there is nothing left.  When all resources have been extinguished, we move to another area to continue our consumption displacing or utilizing what we consider “necessary“ to survive.  human civilizations have operated this way for over 5,000 years (excluding small agrarian/native tribes).  Along with advancing technology, the efficiency of human consumption has become increasingly easier.  It has always been considered that man’s last conquest of Earth for complete control itself is nature, however, it could be due to our arrogance that we may be against a force that is completely out of our reach.

Nature’s design is not arbitrary, rather able to undergo metamorphosis at whatever cost, affecting and destroying species as if instinctively alerted to do so. This mechanism seems  to work like a balance or scale; just incase things get out of hand.  If we even think about rivaling with nature on this planet, perhaps we should start with something a little more close to home: our humanity.  Maybe things can be easier for our species if we just learned to cooperate with each other rather than out compete each other.  Even though competition is in our own “nature,”  evolution is the obvious route for success if we ever want break our obstacle stopping us from greatness.  Evolution has effected everything from complex nature of the universe, to the complex nature of our average solar system, average star (sol), and our average planet.  Life is a confusing subject prone to many critiques based on human thought processes; however, with all of the situations we face on this planet alone, it is clear we are far from the truth.  We have a capacity for greatness, yet we limit ourselves fighting for ideas/dilemmas/ or fantasies/delusions we have no decision in: the origin of life, the origin of the universe, our childish thoughts on organized religion, and our “purpose.”  It seems the planet is fine as it has been for the last 4 billion years.  Yes humans have increased GHG emissions, utilize an excessive amount of fossil fuels, displace animals from the habitats for economic interests, and engage in DNA/genetic manipulation all in the name of “human progress.”  We are barely scratching the surface on what might happen if we continue advancing like we have in the last 70 years.  Is this something nature understands?  Must all sentient beings undergo a sort of “training” with our competition for life?  If anything, nature is a threat to us simply because we refuse to abide by its law.  Man also seems to tamper as Stossel stated, to accustom our needs to survive.  How long will nature allow one of its rogue creations to continue living as such?  Whatever the case may be, we may have overstepped our boundaries and will pay dearly for it.

References:

Smith, Zachary A. The Environmental Policy Paradox.  Prentice Hall.  Feb 2012.

John Stossel.  “Is Tampering with Nature a Good Thing?“ ABC news.  June 29, 2001.

pubs.usgs.gov/gip/geotime/age.html.

www.nrdc.org/land/wilderness/arctic.asp.

Zeller, Tom Jr.  “Estimates Suggest Spill is Biggest in U.S. History.”  New York Times. May 27, 2010.

Tangley, Laura.  “Bird Habitats Threatened by Oil Spill.”  National Wildlife.  June, 2010.

responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers. 

enn.com/top_stories/article/23719.

©James Astrada 2012.