Human Nature not Modern Culture is Destroying Earth’s Biodiversity
A polluted and deteriorating planet is easily blamed on societal impacts of digitalization, a virtual generation, or a global breakdown of “decent society”. Man’s ego, makes it hard to simply admit that humans are still way too immature. Emotional Development somehow never figures into the destruction equation. That’s a shame, because to fix a worst-case scenario global catastrophe, we first need to accurately assess the source of the problem. In other words, starting from true north will avoid disappointing results caused by a wrong premise. Believing mass human maturity is someday possible, I studied the full body of broadly accepted research about our past, before considering future solutions.
The Ailment
Humans have altered climate, eradicated species and destroyed much of the planet’s natural land. They do so because of a belief, that what’s in the best interest of their short life span, supersedes long-term sanctity of others. Most extraordinary accomplishments come from 2% of the population. The inverse is true when it comes to extinguishing wildlife and natural habitats. Studies show two thirds of people care about the planet but far less act. Most accept diesel truck deliveries, use plastic bags or have children. Childbearing seems silly to point out but since humans reproduce exponentially and transfer their habits, our plant is doomed.
The ailment here is we rationalize our actions to make us feel better about what we do. Mankind has good excuses as to why their wants come first and prove it using limited reasoning. This is often seen in cultural stereotyping. In the 1800’s Italians were unsavory because they cooked with garlic. Native Americans are sacrilegious because they used peyote. Burkas are offensive due to rare instances of genital mutilation. Correct conclusions notwithstanding, most of the equation is left out for easier self-serving rationalization. Thus, being at fault for destroying the planet is easy for many to accept—or should I say rationalize.
Guts to Kill Wooly Mammoths
Selfish bias is not a cultural anomaly but our true nature. Dare I say, we are only human and neophytes in emotional development. What has fooled us into thinking we are so smart, is that utilitarian technology proceeds psychological advancement. “To the moon Alice!” Primitive weapons came long before the wheel, and we were able to dominate in a considerably short period of time on the evolutionary scale. Aggressive technology developed first and rather quickly. Catching up to those advancements emotionally will still take millenniums, because life as a peaceful, cooperative garden of Eden was not the beginning but the idealistic future.
Paleoanthropologists
Confirmed in field studies and my own archaeology experience, primitive culture was intense and lethal. Skeletons from hunter gatherers show patterns of intense warfare among groups that include axes and projectile weapons. Nomadic foraging society was far from carefree. Look back at your own younger days—a piece of cake or so it seemed. Reality is, adolescence is difficult but rationalization helps whitewash the bad memory. So too are notions of hunter gathers serenely roaming the plant.
Nine human species walked the Earth 300,000 years ago and we wiped out the other eight. Our modern ancestors who spread of out of Africa, didn’t cause mass extinctions through negotiation. It was done by annihilation. The men in mankind took what they wanted, including women. Random sexual encounters commonly happened because power was the law. Children were raised by many because there were no institutional delineations—that came 290,000 years later with farming and land ownership.
Yet political systems and religion prefer to paint a past picture of humble creatures that toe the line, when historicity, we were about clubs and guerrilla tactics. In hunter gather days, hunting was not the danger. The leading cause of death among men was violence. Sound familiar? It is hard to accept that our ancestors wiped out their own relatives through genocide.
The Bright Spot
However, take heart, there is a simple solution. It’s called, emotional maturity. Marked by agrarian society, we’ve been civilized for only 10,000 years. A mere 5% of our time as modern Home Sapiens. Rationalizing how and what we believe is normal but instead of finding people to help confirm we are right, like a political party or a single internet proof. We can evolve our emotional conscience with discipline and broaden the perspective. Become cognizant of how the primate brain works and then honor your bipedality, opposable thumbs, and intelligence by striving for a greater purpose. Start in your own backyard and lead others to the next level by being better stewards of the planet where all animal, plant and human must coexist for our survival.
Understanding human weaknesses, can help evolve us emotionally to save the planets biodiversity. As there is toxicity in relationships that should not be accepted, same holds true for mother earth. We need to protect her as we do ourselves by giving up bad habits for new ideas and working together with effort and self-discipline. Historically humans became cooperative hunters and wiped-out predators. Using similar collaboration for a greater good we can save the planet that sustains our species. Using emotional maturity to frame decisions that honor divine uniqueness, makes us truly civilized.
Kevin j Palmer
writer rebel producer poet
On Leadership: “Leadership comes from standards provide by those who have already led under the incidence of battle.” Kevin J Palmer
Palmer Private Equity, is rooted in Kevin’s Behavioral Economic Research that once set standards for Wall Street brokerage firms. It is now run by Kevin & Gretchen both formally trained at NYSE traded corporations. Its Philanthropic entity invests for the public good in the family’s nonprofit “Peace through Prosperity” projects to challenge Injustices through Self-empowerment.
Kevin Palmer writer-rebel-producer-poet http://KevinjPalmerAuthor.com
Kevin Palmer Arizona http://KevinjPalmerAuthor.com
Kevin Palmer www.thequietrich.com
Author Kevin Palmer http://reawakeninganamericandream.com
Kevin Palmer Arizona www.smainstitute.com
Kevin Palmer Phoenix www.kevinpalmerscottsdale.com
Author and Journalist Kevin Palmer strategicmanagementadvisors.com