Stop Being Stupid in the Name of So-Called Human Well-Being
We have become the spider that is trapped in its own web.
As we get closer to nature, some questions come to mind. How does this particular species benefit humans? How can we make this thing more beneficial for us?
These are some very common questions. The silly idea here is that the world is a mine of vast resources. Our responsibility is to lift the last piece from the mine.
It is an excellent thing to know how things work for people, how people can benefit. They are thinking of the good of the people. But why doesn’t anyone ask the question, what is humans’ role for the welfare of this species? To put it more clearly, what will happen to nature if there is no human?
The straightforward answer is a big Zero. No harm at all. The earth was ok before human beings came. It will be all ok even there is no human. Without human intervention, an exploding nuclear power plant will turn into a green garden in no time.
In the name of human welfare, our situation has become such that if anyone discovers today how to collect protein from ants, tomorrow ants will be on the endangered list.
What kind of human welfare is it? If we accept that the world is one and that millions of species walk here simultaneously, how is it possible to achieve our welfare without them?
People’s ability to live a life they value is what human welfare means. Sustainability is much more important here.
Whenever we make a bold decision, do we think twice? Do we think about the impact? Sometimes it looks great, but soon it turns into a stupid decision ever made. Because some of our policymakers want to show rapid results in the name of human wellbeing. There is nothing called quick results in the world but a fraud. Like you have a birth date, but you aren’t born in one day. It takes about ten months, right?
These rapid results make many homeless, environmental migrants: up to 1 billion by 2050, turning our beautiful forest into a nuclear dustbin. Is that not enough yet? Are we ready for upcoming natural disasters, including the new pandemic? Viruses just waiting in the wings.
The unethical use of science is making the world a more vulnerable place for all forms of life. People are creating engineered species in the name of human wellbeing. There are thousands of positive applications of science, but the control must be in the hands of good people.
Remember: Everything we do against nature, we do to ourselves.
Somebody will oppose this, this world is human-centric, and we are supreme here. Everything on earth is subjective to humans.
Well, maybe you know something like this from your academic books, your religious teachers. But there must be another line; you forgot that, as a supreme creature on earth, we have the duty of maintaining the balance of nature.
Now, there is much debate about this human-centric world. Clearly, we have significant responsibilities here; of course, only human wellbeing is so narrow thinking here. Animals do fight, eat, and sleep. We have many other things besides these animal characteristics. And basically, we have to do these for our sustainability.
It’s the one world, millions of lives; consistency is really an important issue here. If you interfere with someone else’s home, eating habits, it will turn out to be your loss because that’s how the ecosystem works. We are also part of a vast food chain like ten other animals. That’s what science says.
If one group of animals goes extinct due to humans, it will set off a chain reaction of animal extinctions. Animals rely on one another to survive, and if one goes extinct, more will follow. The majority of animals will perish at some point. If a spider makes such a web that he trapped himself in, he is a very stupid spider.
Since the appearance of Covid-19 in the world, recent floods, wildfires, climate change consequences, and other natural disasters have come to the fore as examples of these words.
Lately, a lot of diseases are being transferred from other animals to the human body. It’s called zoonotic disease, just like Covid-19, Ebola. So, why zoonotic diseases are increasing, especially last two decades, we have to find out. This is also the result of our actions.
We are now living in a world; it’s no more human-centric but profit-centric. It’s a race going out there, do whatever it takes, but achieve more profits. Nature has no role in our minds.
Ok, let’s think according to profit and loss. Consider a shocking statistic from Healthy People, which notes that 23% of all deaths (and 26% of deaths among children ages five and younger) result from entirely preventable environmental health problems. Go through this website, and you will see natural disasters that cost over a billion-dollar.
Whereas, making infrastructure more climate-resilient has a benefit-to-cost ratio of around 6 to 1. Six dollars can be saved for every dollar invested. Investing in climate resilience produces employment while also saving money. Besides infrastructure and the health sector, investment in the environment is the best investment for us
Overexploitation, killing and consuming wild animals, interpreting wild habitats, illegal testing, unethical genetic mutations are happening worldwide. No one is talking; it’s an open secret now. Sooner or later, it will be our burden.
Many will say, a lot of our work is in the true sense of human welfare. Maybe honest intention, but in which perspective? From a global perspective? Because every single action matters. Changes come in this way. If you do something with an honest intention that only makes you feel better but wrongly affects someone else’s life, how can we call it a genuine intention?
So, only good intentions are not good enough. The world needs consistency; we have to think globally, as one earth, one family. We have to respect interdependency. It’s not about using others for one’s well-being.
What should we do then?
The answer is so simple. Do your part; that’s enough.
There is a famous story of “Legend of The Little Hummingbird” by Pierre Rabhi. The story goes like this:
“One day, there was a huge forest fire. All the terrified animals helplessly watched the disaster. Only the Hummingbird decided to take action, going to get a few drops of water in its beak to throw them on the fire. After a moment, the armadillo, annoyed by his helpless actions, said to him: “Hummingbird! Are you out of your mind? Do you think it is with these drops of water that you will extinguish the fire?
“I know,” answered the Hummingbird, but I’m doing my part.”
Be like the Hummingbird. Just have a little space in your mind for our mother nature. Can you?
Thank you for reading.
You can also inspire others to experience the beauty of this lovely planet.
Just click the below image and be a writer for The Environment
