[HWPL Peace Education Textbook 1-1] Diversity | Why is Diversity in Nature Necessary?
[HWPL Peace Education Textbook Chapter 1] The Original State of All Creation
[1-1] Diversity | Why is Diversity in Nature Necessary?
"Diversity" chapter aims to introduce the concept of diversity and its significance in both nature and human society, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and respecting diversity for achieving peace and harmony.
[Learning Objectives]
1. Understand that all elements of
nature cooperate with each other to maintain harmony amidst diversity.
2. Explore the answers to world peace
within the forms of nature.
◆ The Earth is Beautiful and Valuable with Various
Form of Life
One day, a king, deeply impressed by
the delicious wine he was drinking, ordered to bring the person who made it to
him. Eventually, he found the person who made the wine and said, "I will
bestow a reward upon you for making such a delicious wine." The owner of
the winery said, "No, Your Majesty. I simply made the wine from the grapes
diligently cultivated by the farmer, so the reward should rightfully go to the
farmer." Upon hearing this, the king summoned the farmer from the vineyard
and said, "I am impressed by the taste of the wine made from the grapes
you cultivated, so I will bestow a reward upon you." The farmer replied,
"Your Majesty! The reason such excellent grapes were harvested this year
is because the weather was favorable. Therefore, the reward should be given to
the heavens."
To produce a bottle of delicious
wine, various environmental factors and the efforts of diverse people must
harmonize. Both the winery owner and the farmer knew that the best wine cannot
be made through the efforts of just one person. Similarly, peace, like the
finest wine, cannot be achieved through the efforts of one individual or one
nation alone. A peaceful and beautiful world can only be created when diverse
people and nations harmonize and cooperate with each other.
Image from Pixabay |
◆ What Exists within All Things Under Heaven?
Our planet, the foundation of our
lives, consists of the sky, land, and sea. In the sky, there are the sun, moon,
and stars, with clouds drifting in the atmosphere and winds blowing.
Occasionally, the sky brings rain or snow, nourishing the land. On land, there
are mountains, islands, fields, deserts, rivers, lakes, and various other
geographical features. The oceans, comprising about 97% of Earth's water,
create waves, currents, tides, and numerous underwater landscapes like
continental shelves and trenches. What enhances the beauty and value of Earth
is life. Earth is home to a myriad of living organisms, including not only
animals such as birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals but also thousands of plant
species and microorganisms. And among them, there is humanity.
Ancient East Asian texts often
contain extensive discussions on the universe and its myriad beings. They
suggest that teaching humanity begins with understanding all things. The
opening lines of two ancient books used to teach children's characters are as
follows:
天地玄黃,宇宙洪荒
"Heaven and
Earth are mysterious and yellow, the universe vast and desolate."
<<Thousand
Characters>>
“Heaven is above,
and the earth is beneath, and between heaven and earth are man, and all created
things. The sun, moon, stars and planets are close to heaven, the rivers, seas,
mountains and hills are bone on the earth.”
<< A Book
for Enlightenment >>
◆ How Diverse Are the Creatures and People on Earth
Since 2007, over ten scientific
research institutions worldwide, including the Natural History Museum in
London, Harvard University, the Marine Biological Laboratory, and the Heritage
Library, have started compiling the Encyclopedia of Life to record all living
species on Earth. As of 2019, this modern-day ark, known as the Encyclopedia of
Life, contains records of approximately 1.96 million species. The team
compiling the Encyclopedia of Life predicts that there are about 9 million
animal species on Earth, with insects comprising the largest proportion, and
over 400,000 plant species. Including fungi and bacteria, the number of species
on Earth is so vast that it's difficult to measure accurately.
Currently, there are 193 member
states of the United Nations (UN), and according to the criteria of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC), there are 206 countries. The Earth is
home to diverse races and ethnicities, and many countries consist of multiple
ethnic groups. As of 2019, the world's population is approximately 7.7 billion,
with 7,111 languages registered according to the Ethnologue: Languages of the
World, of which 20 are spoken by over 50 million people as their mother tongue.
While the total number of religions cannot be accurately determined, there are
22 religions with over 500,000 adherents each. Thus, diverse languages,
countries, ethnicities, races, and religions coexist on our planet.
Image from Pixabay |
◆ Why is Biodiversity Necessary?
Biodiversity generally refers to the
diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems. Genetic diversity is necessary for
adaptation and survival in changing environments. Species with low genetic
diversity are more likely to become extinct when new diseases emerge.
Conversely, higher genetic diversity increases the population's resilience to
changing environments or diseases.
Species diversity refers to the
variety of species and their distribution ratios. Higher species diversity
leads to a more complex food web and stabilizes ecosystems, maintaining
equilibrium. For example, if snakes only prey on frogs, then the disappearance
of frogs would lead to the extinction of snakes. However, if snakes have three
prey options—frogs, mice, and rabbits—even if frogs disappear, snakes can still
survive by preying on other animals. Thus, the more diverse and complex the
food web, the more stable the ecosystem.
Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands. For instance, marshes serve as buffer zones connecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and the phytoplankton in marshes emit more oxygen per unit area than forests. Moreover, marshes play a role in purifying marine pollution and serve as habitats for various marine organisms such as clams, crabs, and polychaetes. Ecosystem diversity provides a better environment for various species to inhabit.
Image from Pixabay |
◆ Learning Values through the Diversity of All
Things: Acknowledging Diversity
Every living organism in this world is so diverse that no two are exactly alike. Similarly, humans possess unique characteristics and identities. However, because humans live as members of a community, conflicts arise when we fail to acknowledge each other's differences and respect diversity. This conflict not only remains among individuals but can escalate into societal conflicts. To resolve conflicts and live harmoniously with diverse goals and perspectives, it is essential to first acknowledge the diversity of each individual. This foundation must be laid to form a more cohesive community and advance towards global harmony among humanity.
Image from Pixabay |
◆ Reference: Conflict - Originating from the Caltrop
and Pagoda Tree
Caltrops grow by winding their
branches from left to right, while pagoda trees wind their branches from right
to left. If they grow side by side, they become entangled, making it difficult
to untangle them, and eventually, one of them dies. This relationship is
expressed using the Chinese characters for "caltrop" and "pagoda
tree," symbolizing conflict.
Human society is no different. Like
caltrops and pagoda trees, maintaining peace becomes impossible when each
insists solely on their own interests. We must find ways to acknowledge and
coexist with differences to maintain peace.
◆ Conclusion: Respecting Others
"Respect" originates from
the Latin word "respicere," which means "to look back, to look
again." Therefore, to respect someone, it's necessary to accept them as
they are. Accepting someone as they are requires making an effort to be
interested in and understand the other person.
Image from Pixabay |
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