We have been living on borrowed time. COVID-19 and other global pandemics attest a systemic crisis. This crisis is as a result of the proliferation of a dominant and devouring system – capitalism, which thrives on exploitation, manipulation, aggressive violence, destruction, planned aggression and loss of freedom.
The ugly head of capitalism manifests in different forms as bio-cultural diversity loss, climate change, conflict, gender inequality, poverty, economic meltdown, and so forth. Treating these symptoms is a waste of time because solutions should be geared towards addressing the root cause.
To date, large sums of financial investments have been channelled towards curbing the effects of capitalism and very little investment has gone towards addressing the real problem. You can only treat a disease after you make a correct diagnosis. So, what is this disease that is manifesting as COVID-19 and other global pandemics including the changing climate?
Thomas Berry, an Eco-theologian and Father of Earth Jurisprudence says humans have disconnected to the web of life. This separation has led to the treatment of other forms of life as objects rather than subjects to be communed with. Earth Jurisprudence recognises our relationship to the broader Earth community.
Stephan Harding in Animate Earth. Science, Intuition and Gaia, says an ecological genocide is occurring because humans have lost a deep connection with the spirit of Earth, Anima mundi. Harding sees life on Earth being sustained if humans have genuine affection towards other life forms while awarding all living and non-living beings the right to be, the right to habitat and the right to fulfill their roles in the ever-renewing process of Earth community (Berry, 2006).
But the disease of separation has infected humans. Humans have forgotten that the relationship between life and the environment acts as a single self-regulating system with feedback loops. Therefore, when we destroy nature we in turn destroy ourselves and all that is dear to us.
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