Shiva has managed to create a simplistic manner of explaining what our world is currently experiencing, in regards to biodiversity. This was a very enlightening read in that it only further shows the deterioration of our natural resources through a monocultural paradigm of production. "According to the dominant paradigm of production, diversity goes against productivity, which creates an imperative for uniformity and monocultures" (Shiva, 2000, p. 46) It is this dominant viewpoint which really struck a cord with me. This only goes on to show and support our incesant greed for which in turn destroys the biodiversity of local communities. We are "highly ignorant" as Shiva rightfully put it, and it couldn't be any closer to the truth. The increase in our population is another contributing factor in of itself. This, in turn, sparks our limited capacity discussion and how our resources are not producing as quickly. The fact that we are leaning towards monoculture and uniformity and away from diversity is frightening as can only be further exemplified with the numerous negative global trends. We are further over-exploiting natural resources and this can be readily seen with our consumption patterns. An example Shiva stated on this topic was the dramatic decline of apple varieties. This of course is only one of the numerous trends that have have taken a turn for the worse. Another common example is over-fishing. Our actions have become the main thing to blame for these dramatic changes and extinctions worldwide.
"This is the heart of the present conflicts over biodiversity. Systems that destroy biodiversity and that conserve it both need it. In biodiversity-based economies it is the growth of biodiversity that is the measure of progress. In biodiversity-annihilitaing economies, it is the growth of money that is the measure of progress." (Shiva, 2000, p. 55)
Shiva's comments on "the wealth of the poor" further demonstrates how biodiversity doesn't only fall under a conservation issue, but also on an economic standpoint. The majority of those in a first world country take for granted the grand aspect of their lived- whether that be with jobs, or food in the fridge. What we are failing to consider is how many third world countries rely on biodiversity as a means of livelihood and production. People in these countries depend on the wealth of biological resources that are unfortunately depleting quickly. The industrialization of food and agriculture, amongst other new mechanisms, to the North is what is stripping the Third World of its biodiversity, and as a result is leaving it, "...poorer both ecologically and economically". (Shiva, 2000, p. 56)
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| The Penan people of Sarawak state have been pushed out of their forests by dam projects Photo by: © www.aljazeera.com |
"The shutting out of alternative ways of knowing and making leads to the assumption that the dominant knowledge and techniques are the only option. The monoculture of the mind destroys biodiversity by blocking the perception of the multiple benefits and uses of biodiversity." (Shiva, 2000, p.57)
The idea of living in an "empty earth" paradigm only further supports the monocultural perspective that was mentioned earlier. This paradigm defines what the greed of human beings has, and continues, to place on both the environment and the minorities. It has certainly created a divided world, as Shiva states, which is definitely present to this day after 17 years. We need to start opening our eyes to what is right in front of us- we are a monocultural world that only considers land and others with an economic value. There must be more compassion, especially for prior inhabitants. Many are seeing land through the "empty earth" colored glasses where instead of seeing biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem that should be left alone to thrive, they are seeing an empty land used only for profit.
Source: Shiva, V. (2000). Excerpt from Tomorrow's Biodiversity, In University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton, MA. XanEdu Publishing
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