#Whatimagesteachus
What do images teach us about biodiversity and the relationship between Man and Nature? We, human beings, were created to inhabit the earth yet, to survive, we are in need of animals and vegetation: those invisible organisms, the multitude of worms, fungi, insects, birds, and all types of plants. We are, in fact, dependent on living organisms to breath, eat, and survive. Since ancient times, myths depict this dependency. As Levi-Strauss wrote: "A myth always refers to events that happened "before the creation of the world" or "during the first ages", or at any rate "a long time ago". But the intrinsic value attributed to myth stems from the fact that the events, supposedly taking place at one moment in time, also form a permanent structure. This structure relates simultaneously to the past, the present and the future.”(Anthropologie structurale, Paris, 1958)
In “The Golden Ass”, Apuleius recounts how it was only with the help of living beings that Psyche was able to complete the seemingly impossible tasks to which the jealous Venus had condemned her. When Venus demanded she sort through an immense pile of grain, who came to Psyche’s aid? The ants. Who solved the challenge of bringing back wool from ferocious sheep without being killed herself? A humble water reed. Where did she find refuge? Safe and sound under the branches of a tree nourished by the same water as the reed, Psyche picked the golden wool which had gotten entangled in its branches. When ordered to put in a vessel water gushing from the top of a mountain which was impossible to reach, who helped her? The eagle of Jupiter, who pitied her, did the job, saving Psyche’s life.
The wisdom of the myths gives us food for thought, demonstrating how dependent we are on Mother Nature and how we thus must adapt our lives to her in order to guarantee the survival of the human race. Let’s delve deeper into common expressions such as abundance and richness, but not through an economic lens but, rather, through an environmental one.
Species diversity -#biodiversity- is a combination of species #richness(number of species in an area) and species #abundance (number of individuals of each species in an area). In order to survive, human beings must recognize that we are part of a complex ecological balance which encompasses both abundance and richness. We, therefore, must modestly acknowledge that human beings are only a minuscule part of the dance among archaea and bacteria, not its master.
Bruno Fulda Bruno DavidPhilippe PerezBrune PoirsonKlaus Kunz Annika Mohr StorfältJulien MigeonTiphaine HecketsweilerJean-Philippe HecketsweilerPauline d'OrgevalJean-Michel BeaccoNaima Hachad Claudia GoteaArnaud de Baynast Julie de La Sablière Gaël Giraud (Georgetown University)Jean-Marc LiduenaHervé GASTINELhervé ANDORREFX Rouxel
Owner: dp-architectes.ch, Morges, CH / branch: dp-architects.gr, Athens, GR
1mo2024, The forests of Greece (Attica, Orvilos, Falakro mountain, Taygetos, Evia, etc etc) are burning again, a drama that started in the 80's 44 years ago! Every summer despair, anger, destruction, nothing changes, familiar scenario, remake and the same words in the media, now with the "excuse" of climate change! However, the only excuse is political indifference. Forest fires in Greece: behind the climate crisis is the responsibility of the authorities. While a large fire has been plaguing Attica - specifically the suburbs of Athens - since Sunday, the responsibility of the Greek authorities is highlighted. The government is accused of letting annual fires repeat ! That said, in the 19th century Attica was arid and as bare as the Cyclades. The planting of pine forests is due to our grand and great grand parents. If we call this nature, we have no right to not protect the precious heritage for our survival. Otherwise we are ungrateful and unconscious.