Elementary, I Thought

Wednesday, 27. February 2008, 00:21:35

When did we begin to dominate nature, rather than utilise and nurture it?

Progress is not the problem, I don't expect indigenous cultures to live the way they once did. The world has changed so much and some of it good. In quiet moments I wonder why very few people understand that this urge to dominate our planet, to rule, to conquer, to become great and powerful might ultimately be what renders it uninhabitable and its people very defenseless indeed.

African bushmen or San are the last of the original hunter gatherers. These quiet and peacable people have used Africa as their larder and shelter for many, many years. They use hand signs to communicate the nature of all the animals they hunt, and their hunting strategy. They have always understood how to preserve as well as utilise.

How much could you say without saying a word?

Now it is understood that one of the most intriguing African tribal cultures will soon be no more. Their language is being captured on audio so that one day we might remember the last of the hunter gatherers.

I feel a moment of silence is appropriate.

Cape Point 360First Do No Harm. Then Do Some Good!

Comments

By ripp2002, # 27. February 2008, 01:11:46

indeed.

By jrd2498, # 27. February 2008, 03:16:34

I wish it would stay like it was...
but then I wouldn't be part of it? (as I'm from this modern civ.)

By martinouellette, # 27. February 2008, 05:18:13

yeah.....

By gdare, # 27. February 2008, 05:45:16

thank you for sharing your thoughts on this post..

I will be going into the rainforest soon to help built a Wildlife Interpretation Center...

hopefully i can do my tiny part to bring better awareness of the powerful imbalances thats been pulling our planet apart.

RaWe

By RaeW, # 27. February 2008, 10:30:49

Martin, it could never have remained so, as the people who held the power (with guns and bulldozers) were already too invested in civilization and its gains to make another choice. they MIGHT have made another choice but in their minds this wasn't practical. they were short-sighted to say the least and feared "the savages" too. we might have lived in a civilised way, yet still lived in balance. i'm guessing it will be forced on us soon enough. it has already started actually.

RaWe, fantastic! are you a conservationist or in construction? i heard about the first biofuel airplane flight the other day..."woo-hoo!" i thought..until the reporter finished his sentence..:

"fueled by nuts harvested from the Amazon rainforest" my mouth was hanging almost to my chest..have we learned nothing? are we going to laud biofuels while comitting the same mistakes all over again? i hope not. NOT!

By Capegirl, # 27. February 2008, 10:45:46

Few interesting facts about the San people. Thier language has no words for ownership. They don't talk about 'your' water or 'my' water or 'our' water. They simply talk about the water. They also have no word for murder. Deliberately killing another human being is completly incomprehensible to them.
.
Just thinking about these things makes me wonder if they are not the most civilised people on the planet.

By qlue, # 27. February 2008, 15:49:48

indeed. and since no "ownership" no land now

but some have gone to court to fight for ancestral land rights..i think...not sure if that's still ongoing...i guess change..changes what we see as valid too...

obviously their demise is a tragedy. i'm just hoping they know some of us have noticed. i reckon if i was drifting into the ether, i'd hope somebody nodded their head as i vaporised.

By Capegirl, # 27. February 2008, 17:02:14

..their culture that is..of course they will have descendants and stories...we'll likely need those survival tactics when global warming begins its real work....let's hope we got that on tape too.

By Capegirl, # 27. February 2008, 17:03:38

that does make a person ponder the meaning of civilized or civilization for that matter

ok, that was enough I am getting a migraine

By ripp2002, # 27. February 2008, 17:04:49

well i know i've been pondering it for years. is this why i get migraines?

i am a "filthy savage" i guess.

By Capegirl, # 27. February 2008, 17:08:19

I think you get migraines because your crown is too tight on your ever growing ego

I mean, I think your higher levels of brain activity compared to the normal person is what causes your migraines

but then again, I dont know my nose from my asshole and I get migraines

could be either one.

By ripp2002, # 27. February 2008, 17:36:24

i get migraines from foods..certain foods. i had my ego knocked clear out of my crown years ago..oh so many years..i remember it fondly....the ignorance of youth.

By Capegirl, # 27. February 2008, 18:02:06

In my case just ignorance; youth seemed to have nothing to do with it:whistle:

I do not get migraines but certain foods do give me slight head ache.

I think your sarcasm is about the right mix with your "ego" so to speak.

By ripp2002, # 27. February 2008, 18:14:36

i'm sarcastic AND ego driven?

By Capegirl, # 27. February 2008, 19:14:18

that doesnt sound like a green vehicle

way too much waste is placed in the air around you

By ripp2002, # 27. February 2008, 23:30:31

Cheers!

a little of all the above...

WCS volunteer/ex-architect/aviation nut...??
agree sexy words like "biofuel" needs to looked at in closer detail.

BIG QUESTION;
what else can we do...?

By RaeW, # 28. February 2008, 05:39:56

i presume we'd have to begin cultivating crops sustainably for these uses..or in some cases i think they are using by-products of other processes...still increased agriculture presents it's own problems and changing the way we do things is going to become very tricky before it begins to make sense.

whatever the "new gold" is going to be, it's likely to complicate before it improves things and that worries me quite a bit. since we can scarcely afford more backward motion. when i hear "amazon" i worry. there are so many problems there already.

By Capegirl, # 28. February 2008, 11:07:58

p.s. hope you'll set up your blog and share some of what you're doing over there

presuming you'll have comms?

By Capegirl, # 28. February 2008, 11:15:11

Wind power and solar power are the two most competitive alternatives. Wind power has the advantage that it doesn't need such high tech to build.
Even in a post apocolypse society, we could build wind generators.

By qlue, # 2. March 2008, 04:42:33

Problem with these is.. you need sun and wind. They lack in many places of the world. And you need a lot of batteries to keep the energy coming meanwhile. Also the output is quite small for the space they use... you'd have to cover the planet. But they are good alternatives indeed.

I'd like to know what we could do better with the tide/ocean power....

Many scientists say the future should come from Nuclear. I agree.
The environmentalists say no to all, that's utopia.

But right now, believe or not, in USA and China all the big next projects are all about good old cheap coal. Still, these days. With all we know.

$$$

(sorry, I have to go. I need to shut off my pc now.)

By martinouellette, # 2. March 2008, 05:40:04

i first came accross these 'clicking' bushmen in the movie "the gods must be crazy" great movie. it was so funny... a coke bottle falls from the sky and hits a bushman on the head. they treat it with great respect but it causes them a lot of trouble. a couple of kids in the movie supply all those laughs that will make you double up and cry.

they made a sequel to it which is even funnier. they are a charming loving group of people. i would adopt the whole tribe if i could.

By I_ArtMan, # 2. March 2008, 06:04:58

I saw it -the first- when I was very young...

By martinouellette, # 2. March 2008, 06:24:41

It was one of the last international success's before the cultural embargo against South Africa.

By qlue, # 2. March 2008, 07:23:36

And it was probably the last one I have seen of SA cinematography. I suppose there are new movies but I haven`t heard of any

By gdare, # 2. March 2008, 07:43:31

Our movie industry is battling to recover.
All the cultural embargo succeeded in doing is destroy our entertainment industry. It didn't help the oppressed people much. I could be wrong but that's how I see it. Naturally I don't like politics

By qlue, # 2. March 2008, 07:49:27

I don`t like politics as well and avoid to talk about it too. Ever since october 2000. I did it for about a decade and now is enough.
My country was under all sorts of embargo you can imagine, cultural as well. Our movie industry is recovering now too, but it is easier because we always had a good actors and directors

By gdare, # 2. March 2008, 09:03:47

good to hear that SA cinema has been so widely viewed all over the world.

of course "Tsotsi" did SO well. look out for "e-lollipop" "faith like potatoes" and "a reasonable man" these 3 are favorites for me. great African films!

as to our global environmental crisis. there is no denying what we already know and little point talking too much and doing too little. we each need to change how we live..im each and every home across the world. if we don't we'll likely be forced to anyhow..so might as well become self-sufficient and energy conscious, now.

each continent and country will likely have to create systems that suit its climate, locality, topography etc...the money is going to be an issue of course, but it will be cheaper than say...massive drought or a hurricane, the death of fishing industry. i hope it's not too late. if we start now, it won't be...any later and....

By Capegirl, # 3. March 2008, 00:37:24

Sorry for d late post.. Been busy preparin for the project.
Good news today; We got the funding from the government!

Found out theres no telecommunication link there yet..

Ya good idea about blogging on this coz I need the feedbacks from you guys!

..btw will be at the rainforest in Borneo, not Amazon.

Cheers!

By RaeW, # 4. March 2008, 18:08:36

oh! just assumed Amazon! GREAT about the funding. for sure everbody that visits here would be most curious and interested about the progress there, so keep us informed if you can, huh?

and GOOD LUCK!

By Capegirl, # 4. March 2008, 18:23:46

I remember watching "The Gods Must Be Crazy" movies and they were both funny!

I've heard of a project, I can't remember it's name, to save many of the worlds languages that are disappearing for future generations. Currently there are over 6 billion people speaking over 6, 000 languages on the planet. Some languages are in real danger of becoming extinct before too long, hence the push to record them for posterity.

By FXM256, # 6. March 2008, 00:47:37

And just to prove how @#£%ed up our priorities are, everyone goes of and learns to speak klingon. Just in case we ever really meet real klingons?.

By qlue, # 6. March 2008, 09:59:54

they are unique films Marcus! Look out for the others I mentioned too, I think you'd enjoy them immensely! I'd be happier about inevitable progress if the culture that was its replacement was half as interesting or even inspiring!

Aadil, you are going to be SO sorry when Klingons attack...just SO sorry. I for one, am making sure I can tell them where to find Robert Mugabe..oh no! wait! they'll only band together, won't they? Mugabe and Klingons state: "there is nothing terrible happening in Zimbabwe, everything is fine! Nobody is being persecuted under out government!"

meanhwile, the locals purchase the last loaf of 50 million dollar bread, that they waited in line for 10 days for and fight each other for it.

By Capegirl, # 6. March 2008, 10:26:36

It's doubtful that Western culture is "half as interesting or even inspiring" as the Bushmen's culture. I'll keep an eye out for the other movies too, Michelle.

By FXM256, # 6. March 2008, 22:27:56

We are having elections here now and our local blahnost has a similar ring...

Headlines; SARAWAKIANS NOW RICHER BY 5%....

By RaeW, # 7. March 2008, 03:26:34

here too:

"govt, says crime rate under control"

By Capegirl, # 7. March 2008, 08:35:22

here too:

"govt, says crime rate under control"

By Capegirl, # 7. March 2008, 08:38:20

marcus, you'll really like "Faith Like Potatoes" i think

By Capegirl, # 7. March 2008, 08:39:55

Hmmm, I looked it up and the movie does seem interesting. I'll see if I can find it and thanks for recommending it, Michelle

By FXM256, # 7. March 2008, 21:41:53

"The gods must be crazy" was such an hilarious movie

the same director made another movie but sort of like a documentary, about the way animals live in Africa, more like weird and unknown facts. They way the African bushmen use the baboons (I think) to find water by feeding them salt while tying them to a tree and then releasing them and following them so that they can find the water

or when animals eat fermented fruits and get very drunk

. It was such an amazing movie and I never saw it again, don`t even know what the name of it is.

We saw "Tsotsi" too the other day. Very good movie, indeed.

About the San, I don't really know what to say, I just feel this deep sadness that is so hard to express with words (and in English). It is happening too with some of our very small communities in Mexico (along with their traditions and everything else).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In quiet moments I wonder why very few people understand that this urge to dominate our planet, to rule, to conquer, to become great and powerful might ultimately be what renders it uninhabitable and its people very defenseless indeed."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wonder that too

it makes me incredibly sad.

By yomeriux, # 12. March 2008, 15:28:06

I think that name of this movie is Animals Are Beautiful People
I have seen it when I was a kid, our teacher from primary school had taken us to cinema to watch it. I am so sorry I have never see it again

By gdare, # 12. March 2008, 20:42:38

awwww....

yeah!! it must be that one!!

thanks Dgare!!!

maybe we can find it on DVD or something

By yomeriux, # 12. March 2008, 22:11:53

btw, it's so cool that your teacher took you to watch it

our teachers took os nowhere

By yomeriux, # 12. March 2008, 22:12:33

but our mom took us everywhere to compensate, haha

By yomeriux, # 12. March 2008, 22:13:09

It was usual practice to take us to theatre or cinema, usually in saturdays morning or afternoon, but only 2 or 3 times a year...

By gdare, # 13. March 2008, 05:28:00

Marin and Darko> it came as a complete surprise that so many people overseas know the SA films-even the old ones

Darko you had a nice school! we had field trips to museums, botanical gardens etc. but not to movies

Marina, tribal/rural people are becoming more and more marginalised everywhere..the younger ones might welcome it in many cases..becoming more western..but there is so much sadness within the older people. i remember a documentary about an old khoi-san lady being taken back into what is now a transfrontier park and finding her old "home tree" they used to live beneath this tree when she was a child..she found where her father had scratched into the tree..crying her eyes out..very sweet and sad.

By Capegirl, # 13. March 2008, 14:26:55

Arfff, it breaks my heart.

Many times I think and think, how can I help, HOW??? And you know what,now that the Chinese are making cheaper "Mexican" crafts, many of the people (poor people, of course) that make a living from selling their typical crafts are now having big problems, because the Chinese versions are cheaper (and uglier, but many people don't mind about that). It's very very sad.
I just stopped buying Chinese products.

By yomeriux, # 13. March 2008, 14:40:26

and it's no loss-because they really don't make very good ones. i try and buy local products, but now these are outsourced to china anyway..funny story..about the rugby team jerseys sold at the time of world cup..thousands had the team insignia sewed on upside down! (chinese again)

By Capegirl, # 13. March 2008, 15:34:40

yeah, it sucks...

buying local is the best , I think, for many reasons

By yomeriux, # 13. March 2008, 15:36:37

If we really wanna understand, then start communnicating...

2008...
Communication is still largely one way... though vocubulary is now more lively...The voices that were unheard still remains unheard.

In short... everyone's knowledge now is a lot more better. but the fears in the hearts...well thats another thing...

By RaeW, # 22. April 2008, 09:41:25

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nickthesurfer
2008-10-02 12:22:08
........ almost went away from MyOpera but back again now! Not seen Apocalpyto but it's on my list of films to see :)
rhona
2008-06-08 04:16:33
Hi Mish!! Just a fly by *hug* :)
martinouellette
2008-02-23 06:40:03
How do you put a blog on hold? *gone checking*
qlue
2008-02-19 20:24:39
And here I thought it was something I did wrong :D
Capegirl
2008-02-18 21:12:56
i've not locked anybody out. just put the blog on hold for a bit...just sorting something out here at home. klingons are behind this one i think....back in a seccie
ripp2002
2008-02-17 22:26:42
I cant see your blog :(

North, Truly