The fate of the planet.

The above photo is of a male splendid fairy-wren, a bird indigenous to Australia.  I photographed it during the height of breeding season; it was vigorously chasing a potential mate.  I followed the antics of the creature during the pursuit.  It paused, only for a moment, but long enough for me to capture this image.  Then it was a streak of black and blue again obeying its nature and the drive to procreate.

Nature has a way of balancing the forces of life.  Populations wax and wane over time with many factors at play.  The availability of food, number of predators, weather, and a host of other biotic and abiotic influences are responsible for this endless cycle.  The only species on the planet that does not follow this pattern is mankind.  

We are clever and have the dexterous ability to create and manipulate tools.  Our success has been logarithmic with the population exploding to unsustainable values.  Our success in overcoming diversity and molding the environment to suit our needs has been the premier reason behind this.  Science has led the way; we have been only too eager to embrace the discoveries that have fostered the comfort and lifestyle desired.  It is ironic that science has also shown us the impending doom we are facing because of the choices we make.  We are just too selfish to consider the inconvenient truth behind it.

I watched an amazing video last night on Netflix.  It was a show narrated by David Attenborough, perhaps the planet's foremost advocate.  It is called Breaking Boundaries and presents Johan Rockstrom's ideas on the planet's current status regarding nine factors responsible for its homeostasis - the balance of forces to allow life to exist on Earth.

The basic idea is that any one factor has a threshold whereby recovery is impossible once it has been pushed past the point of no return.  The boundaries include "climate change, biosphere integrity, ocean acidification, the depletion of the ozone layer, atmospheric aerosol pollution, biogeochemical flows ... freshwater use, land system change, and the release of novel chemicals." (click here for reference).  Together, the two document compelling evidence to suggest that we are on the precipice of a disaster from which humanity will not recover.

The fairy wren I photographed and it's kin likely have died since the photo was taken.  You see, I shot it the year before Australia had that horrible wildfire that destroyed some three billion animals.  It is a sobering thought and foreshadows our own fate should we not take control.

I fear that our united stupidity will inevitably lead to a dystopian future with little hope.  Consider what is going on in the world with Russia, China, overfishing, and deforestation - all in the name of greed and securing a dollar or a bit of land.  We should not be fighting each other, but fighting for our survival.  Otherwise, we may be just like the now-deceased fairy wren that used to be so beautiful and magnificent.

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