Jagged Environment

Can we save the planet?

Mass extinctions
Science
Environmental and social time bombs
Origins
Progenesis - the simple to the complex
The stress of oxygen - antioxidants
Incorporation of organic building blocks into primitive cells
Hydrocarbon oxidation
Evolution of cell membranes
"Eat dirt"
A role for science?
Lifting the lid
Internal clock
Consequences
The influence of the extra-terrestrial
Essentials
Evolution of the individual
Can we save the planet?
Gaia
Predetermination - "fate"

Ideally, we can stop or slow down our level of pollution, of deforestation and decimation of habitat, which is killing off entire species. But, can we save the Planet, and what do we mean by this anyway?

Human lives are enriched in the knowledge of being surrounded by a diversity of other animal species and plant-life, so preserving this seems necessary. This enrichment begs moral questions of us: what right do we have to destroy entire non-human species, or other creeds of humans, by pollution or culling? Moral judgements are the prerogative of those who feel they are somehow in-charge of others.

All our activities matter most to how we feel in our human condition, and operate against the overwhelming and preordained agenda of the Natural Earth. The Natural Earth is coded to operate over billions of years. Over timescales beyond our comprehension, and beyond our comfort. Our concerns are those of short-term, local activity which stand against the backdrop of far longer Natural agenda. This we should not be too arrogant to forget.

Copyright © 2001 Chris James

Last updated 12 March, 2005