7 Comments

I've been thinking same, thank you for articulating it so well.

Expand full comment

Good point about the word “biodiversity” being a way to avoid taking responsibility for humanity’s crimes against the natural world. It’s a word that has the gloss of science, measurement, quantifiability. It is a word without a strong and vivid image—maybe like the word “habitat.” Not sure about the word “life” as a replacement that will catch on but I agree we need a better word for these concepts. Look at what’s happened to the word “woman”—defined by Stanford as “non-man”!! OMG!

Expand full comment

This is such a gift to life! Thanks Tony.

Expand full comment

I love this concept, Tony. I agree. Too, refreshing the tired out old rhetoric could have significant impact. My world is wildlife advocacy and I think your suggestion could take us a long way. Thanks!

Expand full comment

We do what we can do! Good luck with your advocacy. Cheers!

Expand full comment

Totally agree! With issues like this, we need to speak to people's emotions and "life" simply resonates more deeply - and hits closer to home - than "biodiversity". We also have to move beyond equating "life" solely to human life. The author Jeremy Lent has used the term "human supremacy" to talk about this same phenomenon.

Expand full comment

An Earth advocate for a tribe in Ecuador that faces great harm from the surge in mining recently avoided the term biodiversity in his appeal to protect all LIFE. Everyone should follow his lead.

Expand full comment