By H.K. Burke, ContributorMY ARTICLE of January 25, 2002 ended with the words -- (Man's) best defence for the future is to adopt a mode of "species consciousness" to protect himself against environmental hazards and self-inflicted damage by short-sighted economic, political, religious, scientific and military stupidity. Let us now look at a few examples of some of the stupidities I had in mind.
ECONOMIC
It is estimated that the oil resources of the world, which were formed by fossilised animal remains over a period of about 300 million years and could not be replaced for perhaps half of that time, are being consumed at a rate which will completely deplete them in about 300 to 400 years. What happens after that?
That question has not yet been satisfactorily answered. Experiments in wind and water power, sunlight and atomic power generation (with its hazards) are not yet offering a very satisfactory answer, yet the wheels of industry and the gas-guzzling automobiles and aircraft continue to operate as though there were no limit to the supply.
Worst of all, the Iraqis set fire out of spite to hundreds of oil wells in Kuwait which took nearly a year to put out.
POLITICAL
In response to an attack on a complex of high-rise office buildings in lower Manhattan and the Pentagon, President George W. Bush and his administration, within a few hours, embarked on a war with no end in sight, which was intended to involve all nations. He flatly refused to countenance any negotiations with the Taliban and proceeded to pulverise Afghanistan as the first of an unknown list of targets. He has been able to rally some support for this but it is beyond doubt that the ultimate result will be worse in its effects than the attack on New York or any capability which the fanatical terrorists are presently capable of carrying out.
When you strike a match you cannot predict what will burn, especially when it is near to a powder keg. It is true that the lunatics among the Muslim fundamentalists struck the match but the American administration has done no less than stoke the fire. Like the bush fires (no pun intended) of California and Australia, they may take more putting out than Bush and company ever imagined.
RELIGIOUS
Bigotry among believers is ever present. In the West, as doubting Thomases multiplied in number and secular interests took their place, the partly forsaken churches wisely sought shelter by herding together in an ecumenical movement which even included the long hated Jews. Small pockets of violent confrontation lingered in Ireland and elsewhere but were no great threat generally.
This did not happen in the Muslim world and a fanatical fringe has developed which has allied itself to politics which is one of the most explosive mixtures you can get. This is where the terrorist spark originated and the USA has been foolish enough to apply it back to its originators who are already torn between the Arab Palestinians and the Israelis and between the Pakistanis and the Indians, many of whom are already incensed by past treatment by the West and America in particular. This could lead to an "unholy war" between Christian and Muslim, two supposedly God-fearing, peaceful and neighbour-loving religious peoples.
SCIENTIFIC
One of the greatest dilemmas with which science has had to deal was the pursuit of the research which led to the production of the first atom bombs. Because the world was divided and in fact at war, rivalry developed between the Axis Powers and the Allies to get the bomb first and annihilate the other. Science was caught up in this rivalry and in the end, when the bomb was ready in the U.S.A. only Japan remained to be defeated. The end was in sight but the U.S. decided, as always, to save "American lives" at the expense of the Japanese.
Bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing or maiming untold thousands of innocent Japanese and setting in train a scramble by Russia and a number of other nations to acquire similar power if for nothing else, for self-defence. The U.S.A. must bear the responsibility for initiating this short-sighted stupidity.
Another scientific dilemma which now gives concern is tampering with man's DNA. I am all for the research to be done. There should be no limit to our quest for knowledge but we are only at the beginning of the quest in this instance and I understand that orders are already coming in for designer babies with super health and intelligence and that some of these orders are being accepted. The human race is far too delicate for us to proceed with such limited knowledge. A little patience here would go a long way. Does no one remember the eugenics fiasco of the early twentieth century and Hitler's attempt to implement it?
MILITARY
Military equipment is no longer confined to traditional ordnance plus atomic weapons. It now includes biological, chemical and no doubt other unnamed instruments of mass destruction. This is the most dangerous predicament the world has ever been in.
At the same time, India and Pakistan glower at one another across their border. Is there any difference these two powers with nuclear capability could possibly have which would justify the stupidity of a conflict between them?
Another way must be found so that four million years of human evolution are not wiped out in a flash of short-sightedness.
