Human's and Nature in Mutual Symbiosis

[DirtyPete]

Do any of you think that human's and nature will ever coexist in a mutually symbiotic relationship? Meaning, do you think that we will ever live in "harmony" with nature where both the ecosystem and human's benefit equally from their interaction together?

I belive that this should be the goal of all religions. After all, nature is god's greatest gift to us, yet some of the most nutty religious people I've met could give two shits about the environment.

I know it's possible with the technology we have today, yet I'm not optimistic at all that it will ever happen. I have a horrible feeling that we will die out before it's possible due to our degredation of the ecosystem and the consequences of that.

Some of the things that come to my mind to change this are, first and foremost, we need to get off fossil fuels. Sugar Ethanol combined with hybrid technology is probably the best route for transportation. For power plants I think nuclear, wind, solar, and hydroelectric are the way to go. We have these technologies, we just need creative minds to incorporate them into the system.

We need to make our energy consumption much more efficient. I believe that efficiency is one of the real key's, because as of right now our homes, offices, schools, cars, trucks, everything is so inefficient that it's kind of ridiculous. We waste more than we use.

We need to make everything "green", meaning that the materials we use to manufacture goods should have regulations put on them for recycling. I think hemp would be the key to this part of it. If everything we used could be easily recycled then it would greatly reduce our consumption of materials and allow us to eventually stop taking resources from the earth altogether, or at least for the most part.

Recycling now is crazy, between transportation and processing of the materials we're almost doing more harm than good. It's expensive, it creates pollution, and it is miniscule compared to the amount of raw materials we consume.

This last one isn't really for the environment, it's more for the welbeing of human's themselves. We need to stop eating processed foods. We need to eat natural fruits, vegetables, and get meat from local butchers. Unfortunately to do this in today's society is extremely hard, and extremely expensive. Local farms and local butchers need to be encouraged and help to flourish. We need to get off this big corporation bullshit. It would save lots of money on transportation, and it would boost local economies.

I'm no expert in anything, I was just pretty much making this all up off the top of my head, but there has to be a way for us human's to right all of the many many wrongs we've committed and continue to commit. Our society is so blind to the myriad of problems looming directly over our heads it's ridiculous.

Anyone else have any ideas on how to inch closer to a mutual symbiosis with nature?

[phiegnux]

i think its doubtful, and when i look around, on some days, its even laughable.

those tree-huggin hippies that Eric Cartman hates so much started off with the right idea. anyone who has motive and initiative in making a difference in the world, be it saving rainforests or simply reminding people to not litter, knows that its a long hard road.

[-mu]

Originally Posted by DirtyPete

Do any of you think that human's and nature will ever coexist in a mutually symbiotic relationship? Meaning, do you think that we will ever live in "harmony" with nature where both the ecosystem and human's benefit equally from their interaction together?

Coexist, yes. In harmony, yes. Equally benefit. Nah, no way. Man will always benefit from nature infinitely more than the other way around. The best thing we could do would be to leave.

Originally Posted by DirtyPete

I belive that this should be the goal of all religions. After all, nature is god's greatest gift to us, yet some of the most nutty religious people I've met could give two shits about the environment.

In many languages, "God", and "Nature" are the same word.

As for all the technology, we have it and more. Hemp could supply all our fuel, fibres, etc., not to mention food, oils, and much more. But as ever, politics and greed stand in the way.

Originally Posted by DirtyPete

Anyone else have any ideas on how to inch closer to a mutual symbiosis with nature?

Yes. Every person must do it for themselves, ie. as individuals. That's the only way, as I see it, because it's a fundamental shift in thinking that's needed, and we can't expect governments and corporations to do that without our coercion. But most of us don't even do the easy things.

Do you compost your organic waste? Recycle everything that can be recycled? Plastics too? Do you only buy recycled goods, or goods made with recycled materials? Do you boycot companies with unsound environmental policies? And mail them to tell them why? So long as we put money in the pockets of those who would squander our planet's resources and pollute our environment, they will keep on doing it, of course. Same with our votes. But there's hope...

One of the largest carpet manufacturers in the world (an industry that produces a lot of waste) transformed almost overnight into a bio-friendly company, simply because someone left a book on the CEO's desk. It's a word of mouth thing. That's how it works; a knock-on effect. Teachers tell kids, kids tell parents, parents tell their friends, and so on. The next guy you tell could really make a difference to his part of the world/economy/community.

I sent dozens of emails to my national teleco requesting paper-free billing (using a few different names), and I wasn't the only one. After a couple of years, they mailed me out of the blue to inform me that they had a new environmentally friendly scheme.... Dun Dun DUN... paper-free billing. I quietly signed up. Currently I'm working on my electricity and gas suppliers. What are you doing?

Everyone who cares has to do whatever they can, is what I'm saying. Even if it's just starting a thread in a forum. Good work!

-mu

[Digit]

Originally Posted by DirtyPete

Do any of you think that human's and nature will ever coexist in a mutually symbiotic relationship? Meaning, do you think that we will ever live in "harmony" with nature where both the ecosystem and human's benefit equally from their interaction together?

before i even read the rest, (as i suspect i know the angle its about to delve) i'd just like to post a reply and say.


inevitable


edit...


necessity