MONSTROUS CREATURE FROM OUTER SPACE

 

Survival requires strategy, too.

Possessing a large, complex brain endowed with the ability to look further - project ahead - into the future; anticipate the likely and possible consequences of actions thus, survival strategy of our species – Homo sapiens.

Because of this foresight, making choices makes our species unique.

Our species can recognize options, weighing not only their hazards but also benefits, and deliberately choosing an action that will maximize the potential for benefits while minimizing risks.

This evolutionary approach has been incredibly successful for Homo sapiens and has given us a characteristic of unparalleled supremacy on Earth.

I find it ironic that in this such a time of huge amplification of our brainpower through scientists, engineers, computers and telecommunication, we - humans - no longer seem capable of doing what our forefathers did routinely: assessing the hazards confronting us and choosing the best option suitable for long-term survival.

Humankind as biological creatures endowed with special organs to apprise us about the condition and state of our surroundings, we are very good at reacting when there is an immediate emergency - crisis hits. A car accident, earthquake, storm, fire, or flood leaves us with no choice but to do our best to survive and recover.

It is far better and sound wisdom to anticipate possible difficulties as well as hazards and act to reduce the probability of their prevalence.

 

A section, beach, of Lake Malawi. PHOTO COURTESY:  T.G

Let us Imagine

Imagine planet Earth discovers a foreign creature like an alien – fallen or arrived from another galaxy or outer space. Each of its two toes is about the size of the smallest island in the world. About an acre in area.

This single alien is taking one step each and every second running and one step every minute walking, while crushing the entirety below each step.

This creature from outer space has an insatiable appetite, drains lakes and rivers to [slake] its thirst, catches large quantities of fish in the oceans, rips mountains open for minerals, spews huge clouds of poisonous fumes from its mouth into the atmosphere, and fouling the soil, land and water with poisons excreted from its other end.

Faced with such a monster, the entire world would unite in declaring a global emergency and launching a massive response. Everything would be done to stop the creature from its detrimental rampage.

 

The Puzzle

The collective impact of anthropogenic human activity is akin to that of the foreign monster. Our appropriate response is still a puzzle.

Instead, we are deterred by objections that the destruction isn’t really that bad, or that the costs of stopping the storm are unacceptable, so we give up on continuing the monstrous activity.

Not any more do we use our foreknowledge to wend our own way cautiously into the future.

I believe, one of the many reasons why we seem unable or reluctant to respond to threats of anthropogenic human activity is, we no longer recognize ourselves as part and parcel of nature – the natural world.

As a species, we have been able to survive in diverse environments such as high alpine regions, Arctic, deserts, grasslands, forests, and wetlands.

Our survival under such different and strange circumstances, requires a profound, active and working knowledge of and from our surrounding - environment

But more and more people live in the man-made environment of cities, where it is easy to accept the illusion that we no longer need nature because trade enables us to exist unconstrained by the limited productivity around us and a strong economy enables us. To include all aspects of modern life including a clean environment.

 

The Collective Impact

When a species like ours becomes so numerous and demanding through technology, consumption, and economics, the implications for the rest of life on earth are enormous.

Our transformation into a major force affecting the biological, physical and chemical characteristics of the planet has been so sudden that most of us have not yet recognized that for the first time in history, we must be aware and concerned about the collective impact of the planet and that of our entire species.

Prints of shoes in a sandy ground. PHOTO COURTESY: File Photo 


The Call Out

The challenge of our time is to see humanity as that rampaging alien, have the insight and awareness to take preventive measures, and to show how we would respond in the event of an invasion from space.


Quote of the Week

"The miracle is not to fly in the air or to walk on water, but to walk on the earth." - Chinese Proverb




FREE E-BOOK DOWNLOAD

You can download our short stories e-book "The Pandemic & Other Stories".

Click here or this and enjoy short stories from Eastern and Southern Africa. 

THANKS!  

Popular posts from this blog

ENERGY OF THE FUTURE: RENEWABLE ENERGY

Image
Investing in renewables is something that should be given an extra weight across the globe for development that safeguards Mother Nature. Fossil fuels, which has been the primary source of energy, should be brought to a halt. It has affected the global economy and proved detrimental to the wellbeing of the environment – heating up the planet earth. Africa, my home continent, is associated with low development and under investment. I believe the continent can rapidly accelerate its infrastructure development and advancement by going green. Most African countries have been unable to deliver regularly occurring power access. The economic model inherited from the colonizers has failed many years after independence. My one trusted friend from Nigeria confirms to me that despite his country extracting oil reserves in enormous volumes, they still grapple with energy challenges. Another one from South Africa, informs me that his country relies on coal-fired power plants, they still...
Read more

INNOVATION OF NEW MODELS IS NECESSARY IN CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE

Image
  Zebras grazing on grass in a National Park. PHOTO: David P. Kioko Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) as the key sector stakeholders in conservation, were challenged to rethink conservation approaches. Preservation of Kenya’s flora and fauna resources needs innovation of new models. This was a challenge by the President Uhuru Kenyatta on December 16, 2021 during celebrations to mark the 75 th Anniversary of Nairobi National Park. The sector stakeholders must ensure factors including climate change and increase in human population which consequently leads to change of socioeconomic desires are balanced with the new approaches as matters of conservation are concerned.   “We need to really think imaginatively how we will do it and how we will ensure that future generations are able to live side by side with nature and with our wildlife as we have done,” said the Head of State. The President also emphasized the need for a robust sustai...
Read more

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

Image
I had just delivered my presentation at a local event, then one youthful comrade caught up with me at the exit. We exchanged some pleasantries before he looked straight into my eyelid and asked: “Sir, what is the most pressing environmental issue we face?” The most urgent environmental hassle confronting us! I thought to myself reframing the question. Not all of us know the major environmental issues confronting us, except for environmentalists and those who care to know and do follow discussions on environmental topics. But all of us know we are in the 21 st  Century. Correct! For those who need to be reminded, I will; those with no idea but are willing to know, let me share that climate change, toxic pollution, species extinction, and desertification are the major issues that are confronting us. Replying to the above question, I gave an honest answer that the above are serious ecological issues that are confronting humankind and no one has any idea on one that can trigg...
Read more