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Earth is our home. We evolved in a nurturing environment. The Earth and its biota, known by some as Gaia, gives us air, food, water and shelters us with hospitable climate. We have only a remote inkling of how the Earth cycles gases and nutrients, how it maintains a protective U.V. layer, and how it maintains a relatively constant temperature. Only within the past 100 years have scientists begun to understand the complex interrelations of biogeochemical cycles, of weather patterns, of cosmic impacts upon the Earth.
What we do know for sure is that massive perturbations in the past have altered the Earth’s climate, wiping out vast numbers of species. In all probability, another extinction event will occur that could destroy humans along with other life on Earth. No one knows where, when or how this extinction event will occur. It could be a meteor, a massive solar flare, global warming, nuclear winter, or something else.
Humans may have the insight, technology and advanced social structure to avoid catastrophe.
We do know that Earth is losing species at a rate nearing that when species were lost during the massive extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
Because massive extinctions have happened before, they will likely happen again unless we work together to prevent certain destruction.
When people see how Earth, it's biota and humans have co-evolved, then they will see that the health of humans is linked to the health of the Earth’s biota.
The good news is that already many people have this worldview and are working to prevent disaster. People now scan the skies for meteors that might impact the Earth. Nuclear war has been suppressed. In certain parts of the world, species are successfully protected by law and several have been brought back from the brink of extinction.
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