Identifying the underlying principles upon which we act!

What made me think about this concept more in depth was a boat ride to one of the island off the coast of Sabah.

A profound sadness welled up as the boat passed loads of plastic trash floating on the ocean’s surface. Not just floating but trash being washed up ashore almost everywhere. I wanted to understand why the sight of pollution caused such sadness.

I began to think about the usual slogans we constantly make use of and always push as an argument for stopping pollution.

“We are harming nature!” or “We are destroying the planet!”

When we look at these statements it is necessary to consider whether we are actually capable of the things we claim to be a good reason not to pollute the environment.

Are we harming nature? Are we destroying the planet?

Let’s dive into the idea of mankind harming nature and destroying the planet!

I believe it is of the highest importance to dwell into such enormous ideas because they often need to be put into perspective. Only from the proper perspective can we actually derive an honest motive.

“Planet” and “nature” are these words that are surrounded by a vast cloud of adjacent meanings to the individual.

Let’s start out with the destruction of the planet.

The first clarification I want to make here is that the destruction of the planet is NOT synonymous whit the annihilation of life! The planet had been spinning well without any form of life for at least 800 Million years as recent research suggests.

What events or circumstances are necessary to destroy planet earth and I mean the planet! Two scenarios that come to mind are the collision with a celestial body of adequate size and a black hole? There maybe more but these events should clearly give you an idea about the magnitude of the event that is needed to in fact destroy the planet.

So I guess we do not have the power to actually destroy the planet!

And please any scenario that would involve people drilling to the earth's core and trying to blow it up from the inside, would just illustrate plain stupidity by destroying the very place we inhabit.

What about harming Nature?

When we leisurely speak about harming nature we thoroughly have to consider what nature is and how it can even be harmed. It is sure not today’s eco-system.

I would define nature as a system or entity that can give rise to any form of live.

Again some perspective is needed. The earth has been spinning for 4,6 Billion years and mankind has been around for about 2 Million years (homo habilis). Throughout these 4,6 billion years many different forms of life had roamed the earth under very different circumstances.

We only know about most past forms of life that have inhabited our planet and of most present forms of life.

Looking at the sheer variety of past species we should not claim that only the present circumstances are the best or the only under which existing or future forms of life can or cannot develop or thrive.

Nature is not our eco-system.

We almost always refer to nature synonymously as our current eco-system. I would state that our eco-system is nothing but the momentary expression of nature.

Like the dinosaurs were an expression of nature at their time.

Surely we are heavily influencing today’s eco-system by our acts of pollution but we are not harming nature, as a system that can give rise to any from of life.

Nature’s ability to give rise to forms of life under the most hostile of circumstances is evident throughout the history of the planet and even today.

We find life in the abysses of the world’s oceans, even in acidic pools and hot springs we find nature has manifested itself.

When we look into Chernobyl we see that even our current eco system is capable of adapting to circumstances believed to be detrimental to life. In the still highly radiated area that poses a threat to people other forms of life are thriving.

What events and circumstances can harm or destroy nature? I believe that only the actual destruction of the planet is how nature will go extinct. The other more mystical scenario would be nature itself (as an entity) leaving the planet – which would cause any form of life to end.

After I came to these conclusions I needed to accept the fact that the destruction of the planet and an eradication of nature are two scenarios which I can never oppose.

So why should we then care or stop polluting our eco-system? First and foremost, because we are a part of this eco-system. That very system in its current state is incredibly suitable for us humans to thrive in. We have no idea how well or if even we can adapt to changes we are inducing so recklessly.

One thing to me seems for sure: Nature will easily adapt to what ever damage we inflict, enough time given.

Let’s face it in these cosmic timeframes human history is nothing but a blink. 100.000 years from now all that exists today will be perished.

To me finally nothing but deep respect for all other creatures and species is the reason and cause not to be reckless, not to dump trash, to care and to pick up some plastic bottles on a beach.

That is as honest as it gets. This is the underlying principle I can always carry and act upon. I cannot safe the planet, but I sure can show my respect to Nature.

How arrogant have we become to think that we could surpass Nature?

• The delusion of grandeur is the hoax by which we fall ­-