GRASSROOTS INPUT TO ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATES
EIGHT PARADIGMS; FOUR REALITIES… OR IS THERE ONLY ONE…?
- THE EARTH IS FLAT…
- SCURVEY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SEA…
- NATURE WILL RESTORE ITSELF IF WE BACK OFF…
- WE OWN AND CONTROL THE LAND…
- THE WORLD IS ROUND…
- LIME JUICE HELPS PREVENT SCURVEY (NUTRITION RELATED)…
- THE CONCEPT OF BRITTLENESS (WHERE CERTAIN DAMAGED ENVIRONMENTS CAN ONLY BE RESTORED TO HEALTH WITH USE OF MANAGED LARGE HERBIVORES)
- WE CANNOT OWN THE LAND. ( ALL WE DO IS MANAGE IT. IF WE WISH TO CLAIM PRIVILEDGES, THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE SUSTAINABLY WITH MANAGEMENT THAT IS IN TUNE WITH HOW NATURE FUNCTIONS.)
If we look at 1. and 5.: How would an opinion poll or consensus on the issue have looked 500, 400, 300, 200, 100 years ago compared today?
Who were the real stakeholders?
Other than those burned at the stake (oops!) perhaps sailors, boat owners and financiers? But that was only while the old paradigm prevailed… ultimately (a few generations down the track) was not everybody affected by the “new” paradigm? Are we not all stakeholders?
While paradigm 1. and 2. were being heavily debated, whose lives or livelihood was at risk. Was it not only two minorities?
- Sailors and some of those immediately associated with the marine industry?
- Those who felt threatened by the new paradigm? (People who could potentially be out of a job if the “new” paradigm was adopted? People with a vested interest in the past? People measuring the diagonal of the earth? People who had written science books? Their immediate supporters? People applying for funding to devise projects for the Characterization and Assessment of Marine Resources at the edge of the world…
The day-to-day lives of the baker, the tailor, the fishmonger, blacksmith, town clerk, farmer, or shire president were not affected at all until the new paradigm began to gain recognition…
Why should it be any different with paradigm 3?
The only people immediately affected are a minority. (Farm families that are losing or have lost their farm? Those wanting to do something effective for humanity or for the environment? A few high profile people at the latter stage of their career?)
Those involved in Industry do not really hurt, so long as the taxpayer continues to pay for some of the results of bad management. It is merely a question to be in the right business on the land and adopt “best practice” or to diversify.
If we look at paradigm 7: THE NOW CLOSE TO 40 YEAR OLD CONCEPT OF BRITTLENESS (WHERE CERTAIN DAMAGED ENVIRONMENTS CAN ONLY BE RESTORED TO HEALTH WITH THE USE OF MANAGED LARGE HERBIVORES)
If this “new” paradigm proves valid, the lives of the heads of regional departments will change dramatically. So will the whole nature and the focus of their departments need to change… but only if the paradigm shifts.
Mean while have we not created a new rare and endangered species: those living on the land who wish to manage for environmental health as well as afford a dignified life-style?