by Captain Paul Shepard

Earth Day has come and gone. One day of the year devoted to environmental concern—better than nothing?

Since 1968, the environmental movement has roller-coastered in popularity. In 1972, escalating human populations seemed the priority, but by 1992, that concern didn’t even make the agenda. When we warned of climate change twenty years ago, no one cared. Now, ecology’s in vogue again thanks to global warming. Big organizations are tapping the public for donations!

These organizations are too political to offer practical solutions. The solution is simple: live in accordance with the three basic laws of ecology.

First is the Law of Diversity. The strength of an eco-system lies in diversity of species within it. Weaken diversity and the entire system will ultimately collapse.

Second is the Law of Interdependence. All of the species within an eco-system are interdependent. We need one another.

The third law of Ecology is the Law of Finite Resources. The limit to carrying capacity implies limits to growth. Human populations now exceed ecological carrying capacity. This diminishes both resources and diversity of species. The diminution of diversity in turn causes serious problems with interdependence.

Einstein wrote, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” That illustrates the Law of Interdependence. Forget global warming, folks. The disappearance of the honeybee could end our existence far sooner than we think.

The honey bee is disappearing. Why? We don’t know--perhaps genetically modified crops, or pesticides, or cell phones interfering with bees’ navigation. Around the world bees are disappearing in a crisis called Colony Collapse Disorder. Read more »