According to Wikipedia, the term “biodiversity” came into popular usage in 1985 as the 1986 National Forum on Biological Diversity was being planned. A decade earlier in scientific studies, the term “natural diversity” was the expression used to describe the variety of different types of life found on earth, and “species diversity”, “species richness”, and “natural heritage” are even older terms. The same Wikipedia article goes on to describe how biodiversity benefits humanity. This is where I want to jump off the Wiki-wagon. I have a diminishing tolerance for anthropocentric thinking. Diversity isn’t important because it’s good for us. Diversity is important because it IS.
Where diversity exists, you know the carrying capacity of the environment is at a high level. This means that there are enough resources to support a large community of biota. There is abundance and health….for everything. There are food sources, water sources, shelters, places to meet others of your species, safe habitats in which to reproduce and raise young, and plenty of predators, large and microscopic, to keep the population in balance. Where diversity is threatened, you see widespread extinction, the development of large mono-cultures, and the altering of climate and landscape. (For a fascinating example of this, see this story on how the re-introduction of wolves into Yellowstone Park changed the course of a river. How Wolves Change Rivers on youtube.com.)
Diversity and abundance or extinction and scarcity. These are snapshots on either end of the spectrum of possible futures for our planet…or for any small subset of it. My question isn’t about how diversity benefits humanity. My question is about how diversity feels. Not only to you, or to us, but to the Universe. As Eckhart Tolle would say, think beyond the Egoic Mind. What is diversity to the Power and Source of Life? It is essential; it is essence poured out on reality. You might say that the Divine is manifest in diversity. What is diversity to the Ego? It is a threat. It is Other and Dangerous. I’m sure you can see how this plays out across different parts of history in different parts of the world. Where mono-cultures restrict diversity in the human community, what is the effect? Take a moment here to think of all you’ve ever read or heard, seen or felt about genocide, extinction, ‘ethnic cleansing’, segregation, persecution, and intolerance. The human Ego fighting the reality of diversity is a war that makes no sense to me. There is no possible victory in it anywhere, for anyone.
My final questions are these: what is diversity to the Person you want to be, in the world where you will live? How is your carrying capacity, your caring capacity, today?
© 2015, essay and photographs, Priscilla Galasso, All rights reserved
The BeZine 
This is a lovely piece, Priscilla, not just for the photographs but for the ideals and passion. Thank you!
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Thank you, Jamie, for your insightful cover page. I like the sound of keyboards tapping and bare feet marching, the organic growth and broadening of thought. Thanks for bringing this together!
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Couldn’t do it without you.
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I have seen that video, scilla, and I loved it. “You might say that the Divine is manifest in diversity.” <— This. So much this. Until more people realize how interconnected *everything* is, the individual ego will still be calling all the shots. People ARE becoming more aware and "waking up", so to speak, but we still have a long way to go. Unfortunately, at this point in history, money tends to speak more loudly than those of us trying to protect diversity. The good news, though, is that more and more monied people (celebrities, high-profile scientists) are helping us speak out. Thanks for such a well thought out and spot-on post!
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I loved the youtube about the wolves changing the course of the river. An excellent thoughtful piece that makes many connections. I enjoyed all the photos, especially that last one.
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