![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Invasive Species
Jun. 2nd, 2008 09:44 pmMark & I watched a PBS special (fairly Oregon specific, so not sure how widespread it was shown) about invasive species like star thistle, and some mussel that is spreading around and causing all kinds of damage, and various other similar things.
The invasive species do so well mostly because they have few natural predators, but also because some people actually like them and help spread them (e.g. English Ivy). One of the points the documentary made was that globalization has made this a much larger problem than it was in years past -- goods are shipped from all over the world, people hop on planes and unwittingly bring along pests (or knowingly bring along something that may turn out to be a problem).
One thing that really struck me after watching the show was that Burger King/MacDonalds/Pizza Hut/Starbucks are basically the same thing -- invasive species that spread around the world. Yep, some people really like them, not caring what they might be doing to the local economy.
From there, it was a small step to consider mankind itself to be an invasive species. If you think about it, mankind does fit many of the parameters of an invasive species.
Many years ago as a way to decide which of the many charities to support, I made the decision to focus on those that directly helped people (medical aid, food, etc.). It was just my way of making it easier to decide which charities got my money, and which ones didn't.
Now, however, thinking of mankind as an invasive species, I'm wondering if I should be re-thinking that strategy, and instead giving my money to organizations which help reduce the impact that mankind has had on the earth.
The invasive species do so well mostly because they have few natural predators, but also because some people actually like them and help spread them (e.g. English Ivy). One of the points the documentary made was that globalization has made this a much larger problem than it was in years past -- goods are shipped from all over the world, people hop on planes and unwittingly bring along pests (or knowingly bring along something that may turn out to be a problem).
One thing that really struck me after watching the show was that Burger King/MacDonalds/Pizza Hut/Starbucks are basically the same thing -- invasive species that spread around the world. Yep, some people really like them, not caring what they might be doing to the local economy.
From there, it was a small step to consider mankind itself to be an invasive species. If you think about it, mankind does fit many of the parameters of an invasive species.
Many years ago as a way to decide which of the many charities to support, I made the decision to focus on those that directly helped people (medical aid, food, etc.). It was just my way of making it easier to decide which charities got my money, and which ones didn't.
Now, however, thinking of mankind as an invasive species, I'm wondering if I should be re-thinking that strategy, and instead giving my money to organizations which help reduce the impact that mankind has had on the earth.