What is Biodiversity and Why is it so Important\ by Vandana Shiva

Biodiversity is “a diversity of life- the rich diversity of life forms on our beautiful planet.” (Shiva 38). Biodiversity is how the world is made up, all the different things around us and how they interact and make the world a whole. There are many factors that affect biodiversity and how diverse the world around us stays or diminishes. Shiva wrote about the destruction of biodiversity and how crucial it is to try and preserve it better. There are many things that we as humans changes to become more efficient or to make more money off of it. This is a major contribution to the diminishment of biodiversity. “Biodiversity and cultural diversity hold key to those sustainable alternatives.” (Shiva 39). There are sustainable living techniques that could help preserve and protect the world’s diversity as we know it. Each culture and each unique piece that contributes to the world and its diversity are a part of the circle of life. “…that the Earth is a living system, self-regulating, and self-organizing. Just as our bodies maintain their temperature, the earth’s equilibrium is maintained through ecological processes in which biodiversity plays a central role.” (Shiva 41). Each and every part of each ecosystem have a role in keeping that ecosystem alive. The world is moving more and more towards producing food and goods the most efficient way whether that means the healthiest and best way it not always the case. This means people whose livelihood depends on these markets will be left behind, these people will not have a way to make a living anymore, and they will not be able to survive. The world has lost touch with biodiversity and with what should be done with the earth and people and how they should interact daily. Powerful people want to make the most money they can in the shortest amount of time and do not consider the consequences. This seems to be the downfall of humans, instead of taking and working with what the earth gives us, we have to push it and take advantage of it and push it to the brink of extinction. Shiva has brought out ideas and thoughts on how the world works with the biodiversity around it and how we should change our interactions with it.

http://back2greenjordan.blogspot.com/2011/01/biodiversity-in-middle-east-two-study.html