wirelessguru1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It is called natural selection...
Only in the sense that genocide & invasion is as well.
Once we become sapient, the rules change.... we're held to a higher standard, by ourselves if no other.
And in this case, such things as colonialism, mass enslavement, genocide, careless introduction of invasive species, sudden introduction of (looted) crop species of the "major improvement" variety, and widespread disease dissemination HAVE done quite a bit to mess up peoples' ability to live in a reasonable balance with the land.
Eh.... to take a European example, as proof I'm not implicitly Euro bashing, bringing the potato to Ireland was a bad thing. It allowed the local population to increase dramatically DESPITE English exploitation.... at the cost of a near fatal reliance on a very limited genetic base of a single crop. As inevitable, a disease hit that wiped out virtually the entire potato crop (& English exploitation KEPT mandating the export of grain to England, despite millions of starving Irish)..... leaving the land unable to support even it's previous populace. The convienience of the potato crop had allowed the English to get away with grain exports & foreign landlords using much of the best land for commercial or even frivolous (like raising race horses) usages, without overmuch protest from the subjugated Irish, who could still "get by" via potatoes. But eliminate potatoes, and you had massive famine.
This same thing happened elsewhere, sudden European introduction of New World crops & medicines & European technologies allowed massive population increases.... shorcircuiting social checks & balances (what did European overlords care... or know.... given their OWN unchecked population increase & king of the hill status?). Introduction of new diseases (plant, animal, human) made systems more unstable.
So no, after all the UNNATURAL interference in local "natural" systems, we can't simply write off the consequences as "natural selection"....
Kenuchelover.
