I tend to agree with Christine on this one folks.
You can call me a romantic pastoralist if you want to. But, when we go back in our histories collectively, when we look at how our ancient ancestors lived (no matter what part of the planet your ancestors came from) we lived in harmony with the earth and all the creatures and plants therein. We had, and still *do* have a connection that is, I believe, built into us.
I believe that our connection to the planet, the universe, is hard wired into us from conception.
So someone will come up and say what about the benefits? What about growing hearts for people who need heart replacements, or livers, or kidneys? Yes, while these things may seem to be beneficial to people who need them, there are two problems as I see it. The first being that I hardly see this technology developing in ways where it will be available en mass to those who cannot afford it. It's tech funded by big pharma for one purpose: money.
I've been waiting for a time to jump in to post, and this might actually be the thread to do it. At the heart of why we are all here is this need to know truth, and to share truth. Everything we do in our lives tries to bring us to connections, deeper meaningful connections with people, with ideas, and with our own selves. I truly believe there are two paths we can all choose from. (With respect, Phil, relativity was never intended for morality or ethics. Einstein hated the fact that people translated his ideas into the moral realm and was emphatic about the idea that it was not meant to be so. The bulk of philosophical moral relativists that I've encountered tend to be on very shaky ground, but your mileage may vary. *Grin!!!*)
There's the path that follows the connection to ego, and there's the path that follows the connection to our greater connections to community, to our planet. When used in conjunction with that innate knowing of our connection to our environment, science, medicine, art, technology, all of our labours are fruitful in beautiful and unifying ways. Here's a doodle berry for everyone to think about. The UN General Assembly is probably going to be looking at bacteria resistance as the next great issue in our human family. Because we've abused pharma, because we've included ourselves in the legacy by default of our parents and grand parent's choices, we stand on the door step of a decision: How do we move forward? Do we move in line with the innate wisdom we need to start listening to, or do we continue to act in fear, out of fear, feeding the profit makers of fear, that drive us on like cattle? Monsanto is still pumping chemicals out into the environment, now owned by Bayer (ok tell me that's not potentially frightening!); even though there are over 125 peer reviewed papers that say that Monsanto fertilizers/chemicals are directly linked to autism, we keep using them. The numbers I've heard are saying that in the next 25 years, 4 out of 5 males will be *BORN* with autism. Setting aside the sheer conspiracy door we could open, I ask you: why are we doing this to ourselves, actively choosing?
I have said it before, I will say it again with a simple modification. The first step to breaking the matrix is to put your fingers into soil, plant an heirloom tomato. Fertilize with compost. Prune. Mow. It takes time, it teaches patience, it brings us back into connection with our planet. Learn the local herbs and medicinal plants, learn how to use them correctly and responsibly.
We're watching as people, very smart people, are introspecting the human being with metal, glass, and electricity.
Y'all wonder why I chose the nick "hermit"?
Pax et Bonum.