We Are The Invasive Species

Edward O. Wilson attempted to appeal to the religious right to put aside their differences and get on board with science in the name of saving the environmental world. We, as a people, tend to become fixated on trivial issues and differences and get into religious and political debates rather than focusing on the common issues at hand affecting all of us equally, regardless of faith (or lack thereof). E.O. states that science and religion are the two most powerful social forces on the planet and if they come together and direct their 'followers' toward a common goal we might actually reach enough of the general population to make some change happen. The trouble is most people don't believe global warming is a viable threat, at least not within our lifetime, and in this end of days mentality, preserving the world for future generations no longer seems like something worth fighting for. It is interesting to me that the republican party tends to fancy itself as most appealing to conservative christians and evangelicals, and also seems unmoved by pleas from the environmental community to address the problem of global warming. I felt like in this election season, E.O. could have directed his speech to republicans in general and been just as effective. We need to begin to see this as an issue that affects everyone. If we could make the problem public and educate people, inform people of the severe nature of global warming and the destruction of the rainforests and the weakening of the coral reef systems and the effects that our carelessness regardling these things could have on our world. That is the key, OUR world.

I wish that Mr. Wilson had spent more time explaining the exact problems and concrete solutions for the major problems facing OUR world today. I feel like he ran out of time near the end and didn't have a chance to name specifics, as I sat anxiously awaiting, pen in hand. Aside from donating one out of every thousand dollars, I am no closer now to knowing what I can do or what I can implore others to do in the name of saving the planet. Wilson spoke about how we have already lost many species of plants and animals with new ones being added to the endangered list each day. He spoke aboout invasive species with no natural enemies causing environmental and human damage and I could not help but think of the effect humans have had on this planet, maybe WE are the invasive species. Run amok on this rock with no regard for the wreckage we are leaving behind us. Like the ants (and scarabs) in the Mummy movies, devouring any signs of life in their path within seconds, so are we, in the larger scope of time, devouring this planet, sucking it dry of its resources, 'over-harvesting' as Wilson put it, not allowing enough time or attention to regeneration and renewal. We need to drastically shift our way of thinking and living in this era of convenience and return to, not only the biblical way, but the native american way of being stewards for the earth, and getting into the habit of giving as we take, repairing as we destroy, working With the Earth instead of in direct opposition to it.