I caught an interesting discussion on NPR this morning regarding keystone relative species. If you want to have a listen, here is the link.
It’s a great and important conversation to have in regards to our relationship to other beings that inhabit this Earth, which is of course a subject I care about strongly. In the episode they discuss Bison and Beavers, amongst other species that are labeled engineers, meaning they have significant impact on the environments that they occupy. Humans have displaced many of these other species and this year we mark the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act which was historic legislation designed to protect and help save some of these important flora and fauna.
A concept highlighted in the episode is how we view these others that we share the planet with; recognizing their value and humbly respecting their roles is a necessary paradigm shift.
As often happens with radio, this program followed a separate one that discussed the upcoming 2024 climate summit in Dubai, BP and pollution levels in Kuwait, how the burn off fires from fuel extraction processes still exist despite regulations to eliminate them and how the resulting pollutants are blown over oceans.
What do humans contribute to the Earth? How are we integral to the whole system? Is it a cruel joke? To place all of these wonderfully designed animal species on Earth, and then toss in some humans to ruin it all? Is there a way that we can live in harmony? Become more like our keystone relatives and provide services to the environments we live in? The truth is that we don’t know how it will end. But how do we live while we are here?
I often wonder about these questions, the question of living my best life. What does that look like? Is it ultimately selfish? I want to honor all beings, respect the ground and plants that nourish me; but so much of modern day living seems violating by design. What is the best way to live? I am learning to listen to my intuition more, which requires a certain shedding of the notions that society wields. And I’m sure each individual will have a different response. Is that part of the difficulty?
Humans have developed cures for disease, technology and equipment to travel in space, to fly through the skies, and survive deep down in the oceans, surely we can figure out how to contribute positively to the Earth?