Anthropocene
Worldwide, there are still many societies,
communities and tribes
that live in harmony with nature
fully integrated into the cycle of life.
They are not contributing
to climate change,
but will undoubtedly suffer
from its consequences.
Legend has it that the
Maasai originated to Earth
by sliding down a rope linked from heaven.
This game is known by many different
names across the continent,
although the board and rules
vary slightly from West to East Africa,
it is very common and widespread.
I am from the West.
my opponent is from the East.
We do not speak the same language.
But while playing,
we can understand each other.
To avoid feeding my pawns to my opponent,
I use this strategy
called the marching group.
I am moving forward,
but the distribution of the stones
doesn’t change.
Another evidence of the recursive nature
that underlines our cultures,
we might not be aware of it,
but the mathematical principles
we grew up with are very similar.
Despite the
fact that we come from opposite
sides of the continent,
so does the respect and care
for our environment.
Where we often fail is when we call
people primitive, either because they
want to stick to their traditions
or because they refuse to adopt
western standards.
In my humble opinion,
we have more to learn from people
who live close to nature and navigate
inside the cycle of life
than they have to learn from us.
Especially in this age
of the Anthropocene,
where it is very obvious
that our way of life is not the way to go.
During my own lifetime, oceans
have been dying out at alarming rates,
even if we cannot see it.
The sheer quantity and variety of species
is so impressive and intimidating.
Who are we
to consider ourselves
superior to all of this?
There! There’s one on the left.
I’m going in.
If we don’t get our destructive
human behaviour under control,
everything indicates
that we are the last generation
that will experience
such variety in marine life.
As civilised and advanced
as we call ourselves,
we certainly don’t behave as such.
The decisions
and actions of human beings
down to the individual level
have become the greatest threat
to humanity.
Africa represents
approximately 18%
of the world’s population,
but we only account for less than 5%
of all greenhouse gas emissions.
This number is rising fast.
Yes, we are not as developed
as other regions.
But what is easier developing
Africa sustainably
or changing the rest of the world,
the regions where development
happened unsustainably?