An Interconnected Relationship

"We know that organisms not only live within ecosystems; they are each ecosystems themselves, containing myriad smaller organisms. If nature is a complex net of energy connections that concentrate in places to form organisms, the distinction between individual and community is merely a question of scale. Move beyond the local scale, and it's all the same flow" (Robertson, 2014, p. 35)

As I found myself reading through these assigned pages, a little voice in the back of my head kept saying "there is an interconnected relationship everywhere we look" in an incredulous tone. This has been something I have been aware of, but it's not until I am presented with these words further explaining this interconnection that I become taken aback .. One specific quote that was stated in the very beginning intensified this feeling for me. The quote was this: "We are made of star material, and every atom of matter on Earth originated in the core of a star" (Robertson, 2014, p. 24). How breathtaking is it to think that this is true. To think, that this interconnection begins light years away, in space.. Stars release their transformed energy out into the universe while here, on Earth, material is being constantly moved, that of which can be seen with the cycles. For example, it can be seen from the minute bacteria who have the ability to capture nitrogen and release back out into the atmosphere when they are eaten or decompose. Without this type of bacteria, most life would no longer exist. How mind-boggling is that? Bacteria is responsible for keeping this world thriving. Bacteria. This brings me to my next point..


"In fact, it turns out that bacteria are not only the oldest, most numerous, and most diverse organisms on Earth, but they also run the planet. Every living system on Earth depends on these tiny complex beings. They  form the essential thread of the intricate planetary web of life processes. Without them, carbon, nitrogen and other materials would be unavailable to plants and animals. Bacteria regulate the temperature and chemical composition of the atmosphere and without them the planet would grow too hot to support life." (Robertson, 2014, p.31)

This ultrasmall bacteria cell could be the world's tiniest life-form.

 
PHOTo BY BERKELEY LAB

I recall a specific discussion within my assigned group in which one individual had a dramatically contrasting view. We had been discussing the development changes that were happening on campus and how this change will negatively affect what land fgcu still has and the ecosystem in of itself, of course. This person mentioned how the smallest living organisms would make no impact if they were to be removed because, after all, what are they compared to us. We are the ones on top of the food chain, afterall. I firmly bit my tongue to the person's remarks, something I wish I hadn't done. One of my many faults is keeping to myself when I so desperately want to speak out, but my strong dislike of confrontation has always succeeded in keeping my mouth closed. Without the smallest of organisms the entire complex web of life will fall to nothing. We as a human race would cease to exist. So even though it may appear that something as "insignificant and minute" as bacteria might appear worthless, it's most certainly not when you look at the grand scope of things. As the reading progressed to that of our impact as a human race, the same interconnection seemed to present itself, further supporting and raising that little voice in my head..

"The whole world is interconnected, and certain sustainability issues by their nature can only be considered by looking at connections on a global scale." (Robertson, 2014, p. 54) 

Muhammed Dobibar Rahman (foreground) and Jinnat carry rice in the fields of the village of  Jogahat,
Chunamonhathi, Jessore, Bangladesh. Photo by Jim Richardson © National Geographic 

This particular quote hits home with the overpopulation, as well as the failing state, issue. For example, I remember studying overpopulation specifically and its direct effects and huge toll it takes on natural resources in high school.The concept of a failing state was never touched on. But it's now as I read through this text that I realize the immense impact it has. "Starving people cannot make ecosystem preservation their top priority when they are struggling to stay alive, and armed conflicts almost always result in severe degradation of destruction of habitat." (Robertson, 2014, p. 55) I couldn't agree more with this. It makes me angry to think that third world countries could easily thrive if only more attention was placed to the people's current situations. These people depend entirely on natural resources to simply survive, and by reducing to eliminating their poverty would take off a gigantic load off the stress being placed on environmental resources. I only hope that in the very near future we can reach some type of agreement on this issue.

Source: Robertson, M. (2014). Sustainability principles and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.