Humans relationship with nature and a world in peace - PART: 1

For me, human relationship with nature and a world in peace are inextricably linked. I am not claiming to be an expert any more than anyone else is, just a young man trying to understand the world and our place within it. As an animal on this planet like any other, our relationship with the natural world is what makes us who we are and brings us closer to contentment and an understanding of the bigger picture.

In my life, I strive to have the biggest picture view of the world and life as I can. Building on this by (amongst other things) having new experiences, travelling to new places, learning about other cultures, having a thirst for knowledge, understanding the science of things and sharing thoughts with people. The better understanding we have of the world and the way it works, the more we can lead ourselves through life in the best way possible.

This big picture view allows you to keep life in perspective, make rational decisions and help you not get caught up in the little stuff. Imagine the earth from out of space. That glowing ball of life, floating in the midst of an endless black abyss. Then think of yourself within that image and next time something is bothering you, ask yourself the question: 'on the big scale of things, does this really matter? Should I allow this to ruin my day and put a negative on my mood?' Once you are able to tap into this perspective it will help you live a happier and more fulfilled life.

‘The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude' 

William James

I have come to this thought mainly by my time spent in nature. Being in the natural elements of this world is humbling and inspiring. Seeing life in all shapes and sizes existing harmoniously with each other. Every day I think how lucky I am. For me to be here today, every living creature (my ancestors) from the beginning of life on this planet has survived long enough to have reproduced. They have made it possible for me to be brought into the world and experience the magic of life for myself. As have you... Our family is not only that of blood but every living creature in this world. We are all brothers and sisters in this miracle of life and it is important that we respect this relationship. Albert Einstein once said:

"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us the 'Universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.”

What I love about his words here is that the mere striving for such a perspective is in itself creating the foundation for being a happier person. Therefore we don’t need to put all the focus on ‘what can I do’ but on trying to be the best you can be and the rest will come. The happier you are, then the more happiness you will spread to others and environments around you will benefit. We can make a better world.

For Part 2 of this Blog entry please click here.

Whale Sharks and a Planet in Peril

I recently returned home from an incredible trip to Mexico to visit the migration of Whale Sharks. 

Off the coast of Mexico is a small island called Isla Mujeres, where once a year between June and September hundreds of Whale Sharks congregate to feed on the plankton rich waters. Covering an area of 7 miles they gorge themselves day after day. 

Swimming with this beautiful, majestic species was one of the most humbling and incredible experiences of my life.

Early in the morning we hopped on a boat and headed out to the deep ocean for about an hour. Arriving at the location one could instantly see dozens of fins breaking the waters surface. Growing to up to 40ft in length they are a real sight to see. A mixture of excitement and anticipation fills the body and the thought of jumping in with them makes you a little anxious. Having now been through that experience, i now know all the nerves were completely unnecessary. 

That creature couldn't have been more gentle. Their 20 tonne weight gracefully glides through the water effortlessly, gulping huge mouthfuls of water as they go, filtering out the plankton. Their species originated around 60 million years ago and are so heavy, they rival many of the large dinosaurs in weight. But i couldn't have felt more comfortable. Not at one point did i feel threatened of scared.

You can swim along next to them, under them and over them and they don't even bat an eye lid (if they've got one! ;)  I swam deep down about 30 ft and rolled onto my back, looking up at the huge dark shadow above me. I spread my arms and swam underneath it's graceful presence, mirroring its form. It was so humbling and awe inspiring!

These experiences are wonderful but in a world filled with human immaturity, it saddens me to say these incredible beasts are being slaughtered for their fin. A Whale Shark fin will sell for around $50,000 and is used for shark fin soup. Shark fin in soup adds no flavour whatsoever. It is basically a thickening agent and a sign of stature on some parts of the world.

There are small villages in the world that kill one of these creatures every 6 months to feed an entire village and although this still seems brutal, it is easier to justify. The mass slaughter of this magnificent creature to supply roadside restaurants is one that has to change. 70 - 100 million Sharks a year are killed for their fin and the stability of the Oceans has already been effected. How can we justify this with all the knowledge the modern world affords us?

To think that species that have been around for millions of years can be wiped out in mere centuries is unfathomable. We must all help to get the message out that this is not something we will tolerate. If not for the Sharks sake, then for ours. The very fabric of the web of our planet is being weakened, one species at a time and it is up to individuals act if no one else will. My way of doing this is to share what i have learnt with you and hope in a way it will inspire you to make more of the world we live in.

I have been lucky enough to have had this experience and be humbled by it. I Hope that you have enjoyed me sharing it with you. If you ever get the chance, jump at the opportunity to see this magnificent creature up close and  if not then i hope i have given you a small window into the life of an incredible creature!

Flying over Madagascar

Flying over the wide expanse of Madagascar, thought it a poignant time to write a blog.

There are scattered clouds below me creating freckle like shadows on the reddish rock. I find it much easier to reflect up here and in a way enables you to have a birds’ eye view of things, an opportunity to look at the bigger picture.

Learning about this incredible place has been inspiring. It’s a mixture between magical and tragic.

Madagascar is the most bio-diverse place on the planet. The areas left are teeming with life. The bush hums with the noise of thousands of little mouths, in all shapes and sizes. The hum just magnifies the chilling silence of the endless emptiness around it. 90% of Madagascar’s forests have been destroyed due to logging and slash and burn agriculture. In between the vein-like channels of trees below me are endless fields of crops. Like giant circuit boards feeding energy to the local inhabitants.

There are three types of people on the planet; thinkers, doers and those that do both. I myself have always been a thinker, but recently I have become a doer too and it is amazing what you can get done. Up here above scattered clouds below, I can see that with passion and a little dedication we can make this planet the success story of the universe, not a tragedy. Find whatever it is in life that inspires you, store it in a place in your heart and use it for energy. Madagascar is one of a million places in peril. But those million places are all one. We have one home.

It makes me think; how can we co-exist with our magnificent world and still survive? In fact we can only survive if we co-exist harmoniously with her. Seeing how invasive species of plants here take over everything with no regard for its fellow plant reminds me of another species! But we have a choice of how we act. Humans can be incredibly destructive but we also have the power to help things thrive. Each and every one of us has a responsibility to help - it is a wonderful experience learning about the planet in the process.

Someone once told me what comes from the heart goes to the heart and all the rest is funny noises. Well this is from my heart. I believe there is an incredible person in each and every one of us. Be the best you can be and make a positive difference.