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Published on Visualizing Ecology (http://www2.evergreen.edu/visecowinter)

Cody Cohan

"In an ecological system like this everything's connected to everything else, so you can't just change one thing without changing ten other things" (Page 213)

            When Joel is describing the relationship between industrial and biological agriculture, this is the quote he used. I couldn’t help but be reminded of another ecologist we studied earlier in the quarter who talked in great detail about the importance of a balanced ecosystem. The biological ecosystem is one the nature has naturally evolved itself into that is quite balanced and beneficial for every species living there. An industrial view of agriculture is the polar opposite of what I just described. To domesticate any species to provide for our comfortable lifestyle is just full of problems. How can an act so full of selfishness and neglect reap any benefits? I am not saying that all ecosystems should never change because change is what keeps our earth spinning. Without variation and natural selection, who knows when any virus or shortage of resource would send an entire population to extinction? The reason why I am making such a show of pointing out the differences between the two is simply that I find one to be unacceptable. Why does humanity feel that we can change the world to suit our needs whenever the thought arises? Our earth already bears many scars from the countless years of torture that we have unwittingly unleashed upon her. It is time to stop making excuses and start making solutions. Perhaps this is nothing more then a hyped up movement but I feel we are running out of options, resources, and time. What do we really have to lose from eating a more balanced diet or encouraging compassion for every organism? I just don’t see a reason not to try. I suppose that no one can truly every be right or wrong when it comes to morals or ethics but that surely doesn’t stop us from making excuse for our actions.


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http://www2.evergreen.edu/visecowinter/visecowinter/cody-cohan-4