by Christyl Rivers

Created on: August 10, 2010   Last Updated: August 10, 2011

This title reflects the core of the problem. The end of the world suggests no more planet.  But most of us assume it to mean no more human society on earth. In our language to say "The world," we only mean the human world, not the rest of creation, which clearly takes second billing in "our " productions.

Our assumptions, usually incorrect, tell us we are in charge. We forget we are one tiny blue marble among billions. Nature is influenced by us, but her defenses when thrown off balance, reflect our doing, not hers. Even if we scrape our little mark upon all of earth and sky, we will go with our destructive scraping, but earth will rebuild. Earth repeatedly survives many extinctions.

Every species goes extinct eventually.  For our own species the only difference is that it is self inflicted.  It will most likely come in the form of environmental degradation that creates pandemics.  This is not to say that the resource wars, fires, floods, and extinctions which create and spread sweeping disease will not contribute to the chaos, as they do today in Somalia, and elsewhere.

Global warming is gradual, and we do not notice that which is gradual.  Food shortages, clean water, and shortages of arable land are already occurring.  Species have become less diverse, both of animals and plants.  Wars over resources have always occurred. Profits have always resulted for some.  Yet, for most, just trying to survive, keeps them too busy to attend, or notice the slow degradation.

The end of the earth is certain. Many mass extinctions have come and gone. Yet doomsday due to Global warming is another story altogether.  We influence the earth with our trash,  so we can likely influence the earth by what we choose to protect, as well.

Should we save planet earth?  NO!  To assume that “we can save planet earth” reflects the same kind of arrogance that got us into this mess.  We may be able to save some species, we may be able to save ourselves, but only Earth can save Planet Earth. Gaia, to use her ancient name, has brought back life and re-invented herself more times than Madonna.  Distant stars go Nova. Glaciers freeze the world. Meteors strike. Methane explodes. Diseases ravage.  It would be better to ask whether Earth should save us.

From the Mad Maex theory, (Methane Accumulation Disaster and Marine Accelerated Extinctions) to the flooding in Pakistan, from Hurricane Katrina to the earthquake

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