Fighting Mother Nature with Biotechnology - The Oxford Topic of Food, Politics, and Society - page 433

Again, we're the only species to use unnatural, artificial means to expand our geo-
graphical range.
As well, we're the only species to have literally changed the face of the Earth, as our
human activities have altered the physical appearance of the planet. A quick look at
Google Earth or other satellite views show man-made features, such as cities, farms, and
open pit mines, all of which are unnatural and none of which would exist if our early
ancestors had remained in their natural niche. Although Homo sapiens are natural as
biological and physical entities, human behavior consistently repudiates Mother Nature
and her attempts to keep us in line with other of her species.
In a very real sense, we humans have not just rejected Mother Nature, we're constantly
fighting against her efforts to reign in our burgeoning population. We're exploiting nat-
ural resources to our exclusive benefit and at the expense of other species. If we don't like
human domination of the planet's resources, the option is to reject human technology
and return to Mother Nature.
Consequences of Returning to Mother Nature's Fold
Having Mother Nature look after us in a sustainable way may be a warm and comforting
thought, but the cold reality is decidedly discomforting, and it carries some frightening
consequences.
First, Mother Nature has no answer to the expanding human population, not unless
we revert to her ways and shun human interference in natural processes altogether.
Humanity is already so far removed from Mother Nature that she might not recognize
us. After all, we spent 10,000 years defacing and polluting her planet and enslaving her
species to the benefit of only ourselves. Assuming she was merciful enough to take us
back, it would be on the condition, of course, that we follow her rules to keep all species
in balance and harmony.
Second, we'd have to say good bye to our grandparents and grandchildren. As with
other species, our natural role is fulfilled when we raise our children to reproductive
independence. After our biological replacements are capable of looking after them-
selves, somewhere around the mid to late teen years, we proud parents become not only
expendable but also an actual drain on resources. Every additional day beyond—let's be
generous—our fortieth birthday, we eat food, drink water, and breathe air that is right-
fully due to someone else, someone not yet completing their natural, biological duty.
Mother Nature is kicking us out of the nest. But don't worry, we're still useful to her,
as our corpses provide nutrients for other of her hungry creatures—unless, of course,
we render our cold carcasses useless through embalming or cremation. And during our
forty years or so of natural lifespan, we have to accommodate yet other natural inhabit-
ants. Various parasites, bacteria, fungi, and vermin have long been denied their natural
due, their pound of human flesh, or at least their domicile inside or alongside humans,
all because of our interference with their doing what comes naturally. We'll just have to