Biologists have always been aware of the interrelation and the dynamic interactions among organisms in nature. David Suzuki, a scientist and biologist by training, can not be clearer about this. What he also pointed out in his article titled Nothing Simple About Nature was the domino effects due to the human intervention or change of human intervention to the delicate balance between man and nature. From this, at least two lessons can be drawn.

First and foremost, respect is urgently needed for the existing working mechanisms of nature. This is also the most fundamental principle that underlies all good environmental, and increasingly social and economical, decisions, public policies and laws. It might sound sarcastic that a well intended policy to save the dwindling fishing stocks by EU would harm the seabird populations. Yet this is the best illustration of how organisms have evolved to adapt to the nature and the humble existence of human in the past. Any human invention beyond the scale that other living beings can adapt to might be doing more harm rather than good.

This leads us to the second lesson. The policy implication of our complex nature is that all policy or law making needs to base on sound science. Yet what is sound science? Haven’t the DDT been tested against to make sure no adverse effect should be produced as a result? As science advanced, DDT turned out to be one of the most dangerous things we have realeased into nature. While most toxics go out in the community, the public are always asured by impressive looking scientific data and concludions that these substance are safe and benefitial to our well-being. Bad science is worse than no science at all. The often worshiped science is flawed not only due to some unethical conducts of some scientists, but also the narrow mindedness rooted in most science eduation. James Lovelock, an eminent scientist, has developed the famous Gaia theory, which takes the reductionist science to a holistic direction. It says not only all living beings are integral parts of a complex ecosystem but that the non-living beings underpins the intricate net of all. In the face of global climate change, the Gaia theory warns the possible effect of enhanced greenhouse effect, which consists of more than biological processes but the chemical and physical processes that make lives on earth possible.

To me, the Gaia theory is able to grasp the big picture of human and nature. Man is not the only determine factor of our ecosystem nor are the living beings. Non-living beings have their roles to play too. It means all public policies need to guided by holistic science that respects our mather earth. Let’s forget about all the ambitious speeches of conquering nature. What we ought to do is to learn from nature and adapt to it. The simple thing is not nature but our na?ve understanding about it.

dwindle