Preserving biodiversity is not a matter of altruism

[AuroraGlacialis]

According to a new study on the impact on biodiversity on health

For humans and other species to remain healthy, it will take more than a village -- we need an entire planet, the scientists say, one with its diversity thriving.

We live in a world in which

[g]lobal biodiversity has declined at an unprecedented pace since the 1950s. Current extinction rates are estimated at 100 to 1,000 times higher than in past epochs, and are projected to increase at least a thousand times more in the next 50 years.

The researchers found that
species losses in ecosystems such as forests and fields result in increases in pathogens -- disease-causing organisms

(Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101201134156.htm)

So basically if we kill the living planet, we kill ourselves (duh - could have guessed so) and by hurting and diminishing the natural world, we actually increase the threats to human health. As a conclusion, preserving biodiversity is not merely a nice thing in terms of doing a good deed or enjoying nature, but is critical to the survival of our species as well.

Greetings, Aurora

[CyanRachel]

Thanks for posting this, Aurora! We all need to do our part to save the planet. We have to stop killing our Mother.

[tm20]

although there are humans that understand this, most probably dont' or don't even care. SO, just let us kill ourselves.

[AuroraGlacialis]

That would not be my favourite option, tm20.
In a way the good thing of seeing this realization in science is, that at least people may then act out of selfishness to preserve diversity. That would be a good motivator. Though many people already know that "we are killing the planet and ourselves with it" but still don't act out of their supposed natural survival instinct :(

I yesterday read, that among FOX News viewers, 60% of the viewers actually believe that climate scientists agree that there is no global warming. W T F !?!
http://cultureofinsanity.blogspot.com/2010/12/you-are-what-you-watch-du-bist-was-du.html (http://climateprogress.org/2010/12/17/fox-news-misinformation-policy-issues-climate-science/)

[The Silver Stag]

Part of me agrees with tm20 and part of me disagrees. If we know how not to kill ourselves but do it anyway then natural order says we don't deserve to survive .... but that also means we'll devastate the natural diversity of the planet which I really do not want at all. The fact is that sadly, most people don't care or want to pretend such problems don't exist. They have blind faith that someone somewhere will find cures to their diseases or that somebody will invent some piece of tech to keep us all alive. I prey to Gaia something happens to sort out this mess before it's too late, anybody seen the film 'The Happening' ;)

[Xmal'hautl]

@OP
Quite uncomfortable news indeed :S

[AuroraGlacialis]

"The Happening" has a 5 point rating on IMDB, that is almost B-Movie rating :D I think I'll better skip it ;) Or is it funny enough?

[The Silver Stag]

Lol, it is a very bad film but the plot is what I was thinking about. It is that nature gets rather annoyed with us and all the plants start releasing this neurotoxin which infects humans and makes them commit suicide.

[tm20]

that sounds...... kind of cool :D i know plants release toxins into the soil to kill the surrounding plants which it is competing for resources with (allelopathy). but telling humans to kill themselves? that's called taking initiative XD

[AuroraGlacialis]

Ah there was this one Dr Who episode I remember (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion) with all the people standing on rooftops, that sounds similar. Ok completely Offtopic now

[Neytiri]

I think it is scary and sad that people (in the past, myself included) have to have this pointed out to them... that it is not out of altruism that we must save our environment... we are fighting for our very existence... one in three of us gets cancer over the course of our lifetime.... due to the way we pollute our bodies and our environment with toxic chemicals.... we lose sight of everything most important for the $$$$ signs... like the Cree prophecy said, we will not realize that we cannot eat money until it is too late...