The primary reason that they went extinct was due to a loss of food. The Maori hunted all of the moa species of bird (large and flightless) to extinction. Another prime example of natives living "in tune" with nature...
There are thousands of examples, in nature, of invading or adapting species eating out the food supply of other species, causing extinctions. This isn't an example of natives not living 'in tune' with nature, it's an example of people being 'a part of' nature.
I think you may have missed the sarcastic subtext of the original post. There's a recurrent myth in the modern world, especially in technologically developed societies, that "natives" or "primitive man" or whatever somehow lived and still live "in tune" with nature or in harmony with it or whatever. They all supposedly respect the land in a way we don't, are inherently wise, spiritual, blah, blah, blah.
You are, of course, correct in pointing out that hunting species to extinction is a very natural thing t
past and "primitive" societies would have exploited or would exploit nature as thoroughly as we do, anyway, were it not for limitations of populations and technology.
Dead on. The only reason the buffalo was still around in huge quantities was because native americans didn't have rifles, or horses for that matter.
Native cultures were famous for "slash and burn" agriculture, possibly the most destructive farming method around that leeches all the nitrates out of the soil in just a few ye
Every one of them left an environmental mark on the world around them.
Yes, but the environmental mark was, on average, a lot smaller than modern living. The Australian Aborigines had a way of life that was essentially unchanged for tens of thousands of years. The lifestyle consisted of finding water sources, hunting for food, and collecting wild growing berries and fruits from the land (not farming). Everything that they constructed was made from wood and other natural, biodegradable materials, from completely renewable and sustainable sources. Without intervention, they woul
Our current lifestyle is based on consumption of resources that we can't replace.
Love it when people talk like this. I usually ask them "are you willing to give up modern life". You know, cars, fresh food year round, no fridge, modern medicine (universal healthcare) etc.
They all claim to want it, but fail when someone asks them to step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is.
So, are you ready to give up TVs and other appliances and live in a tent or mud hut you made yourself? You willing to
I usually ask them "are you willing to give up modern life". You know, cars, fresh food year round, no fridge, modern medicine....[blah blah blah]
This is not an "either or" proposition. You can give up some things. Cycle rather than using a car. Don't watch TV. Walk occasionally. Eat food which is locally grown and in season. You'll actually find that your life is better for it. Just because over consumption of "modern life" is bad doesn't mean that you can't do anything at all.
In Tune... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:5, Insightful)
I think you may have missed the sarcastic subtext of the original post. There's a recurrent myth in the modern world, especially in technologically developed societies, that "natives" or "primitive man" or whatever somehow lived and still live "in tune" with nature or in harmony with it or whatever. They all supposedly respect the land in a way we don't, are inherently wise, spiritual, blah, blah, blah.
You are, of course, correct in pointing out that hunting species to extinction is a very natural thing t
Re: (Score:5, Insightful)
past and "primitive" societies would have exploited or would exploit nature as thoroughly as we do, anyway, were it not for limitations of populations and technology.
Dead on. The only reason the buffalo was still around in huge quantities was because native americans didn't have rifles, or horses for that matter.
Native cultures were famous for "slash and burn" agriculture, possibly the most destructive farming method around that leeches all the nitrates out of the soil in just a few ye
Re: (Score:5, Informative)
Every one of them left an environmental mark on the world around them.
Yes, but the environmental mark was, on average, a lot smaller than modern living. The Australian Aborigines had a way of life that was essentially unchanged for tens of thousands of years. The lifestyle consisted of finding water sources, hunting for food, and collecting wild growing berries and fruits from the land (not farming). Everything that they constructed was made from wood and other natural, biodegradable materials, from completely renewable and sustainable sources. Without intervention, they woul
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Love it when people talk like this. I usually ask them "are you willing to give up modern life". You know, cars, fresh food year round, no fridge, modern medicine (universal healthcare) etc.
They all claim to want it, but fail when someone asks them to step up to the plate and put their money where their mouth is.
So, are you ready to give up TVs and other appliances and live in a tent or mud hut you made yourself? You willing to
Re:In Tune... (Score:2)
I usually ask them "are you willing to give up modern life". You know, cars, fresh food year round, no fridge, modern medicine....[blah blah blah]
This is not an "either or" proposition. You can give up some things. Cycle rather than using a car. Don't watch TV. Walk occasionally. Eat food which is locally grown and in season. You'll actually find that your life is better for it. Just because over consumption of "modern life" is bad doesn't mean that you can't do anything at all.