Bela Mondo

What are We?

Taking the perspective that the planet we are on is Gaia (self-actuating organism), is our interaction with it parasitic, or symbiotic? To answer that question it might be useful to revisit the meaning of the two words. For the purpose of this post, we could use simpler definitions.

So a symbiotic relationship is one that benefits both of the organisms mutually. An example are the fungi in the soil that convert substances in the earth to ones that is essential to the plant. The plant then uptakes these through its roots. Meanwhile by photosynthesis, the plant produces exudates (nutrients) for itself to metabolise. But it produces more than it needs and the excess is diverted out of its roots; available to the helpful fungi for its use. An example is the fashionable mycorrhizal fungi.

The parasite however, exploits resources provided by another organism, the host, to the detriment of the latter. Sometimes the parasite will move on after draining everything from the host, leaving its excreta (which is usually toxic). In this case, the host may be killed by the interaction with the abusing organism. Again taking the plant as an example, there are parasitic fungi that infects and kills the host plant. After which it could possibly continue its life cycle by living off the decomposing tissues of its host or move on to another.

We are one of many species that live on Gaia and many organisms live harmoniously on it. For example many trees and plants are part of the big cycle of life that includes large organisms such as mammals, through to the smallest single cell amoeba and eventually to the non-cellular virus. How do we as human beings interact with the planet though? So far, we seem to be parasitic to the planet Earth, using up land and other resources on a massive scale and chucking out our rubbish onto the lands and oceans to the detriment of other species.

The Numbers Game

As a species, our population is increasing to the stage where our use of the planet’s resources is starting to tell (fossil fuels, land usages, etc.) and our waste production (pollution) is doing the same. These are starting to impinge on the other organisms we share the Earth with causing their suffering or extinction. As the planet needs biodiversity to run healthily, we are moving towards becoming a parasitic monoculture, a form of pathogen for other life on Earth.

Nature also abhors monoculture, and species that have low genetic variation are more susceptible to diseases and in danger of naturally dying out. Take the banana plant as an example. Here we have bred out genetic diversity and experts fear that the TR4 disease (Tropical Race 4) could wipe it out. Similarly our genetic diversity is very low, even lower than our nearest evolutionary relative, the chimpanzee. So Gaia’s immune system has an easy job to target our numbers. If it needs to.

Like any living organism, the planet will respond by trying to get rid of the parasite. Maybe one way is for it to introduce viruses that attack the parasite (sounds familiar?). So we humans could be wiped out by Gaia’s immune system(s) if we continue to act as a parasite, mindlessly abusing our environment. On the other hand, if we manage to overcome the planet’s natural defences and continue with our parasitic behaviour, we could kill our host, planet Earth. That is not a useful outcome either.

Moving Towards Symbiosis

Perhaps we are not yet out and out parasites to our planet. There are many projects worldwide that are working towards reintroducing biodiversity. Examples of ways we are reducing the damage to the ecosystem includes regenerative farming, green energy production, phasing out using coal, introduction of electric vehicles. The question is whether these outweigh the damage we are continuing doing or have already done.

What will we need to do to get a larger and more significant move towards a symbiotic relationship? We will need a complete change of human systems and mindset. Our economic system has to remove wealth and money as the most important metric of success. Success has to be measured by how symbiotic is our relationship with all of Gaia including other organisms that live on it. New economic models like “Collaborative Economy” and many others are already starting to take over the old systems. By abandoning single minded obsession for greater and greater profit, they are vastly more inclusive of community and environment.

Perhaps the biggest accelerator to the goal of symbiosis is when governments of countries support it. Signs are that this is already starting on its “baby steps”. More “democratic” style governments have to win elections, and hence votes. If more and more of us voters start to want fully symbiotic relationships with the planet, those chasing the votes have to start taking notice.