The Relationship Between Humans and Nature

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Essay: How are the relationships between humans and nature important for moving towards sustainability? Throughout history, the relationships that humans have formed with nature have been ones that have been based purely off the cultural values of humans at the time. In this essay, the need for a global attitude shift towards sustainability will be explored through the examination of how humans see the natural world around them. It will address the importance of a sustainable planet and analyse the role that humans play in achieving this goal on a global scale. The differences between how different groups of people see nature are vital to address when sustainability is to be achieved on a global level. A definition of nature that many people from a western culture commonly associate with is one that does not encompass the relationship of humans with the natural world: “...the vast domain of organic and inorganic matter that is not a product of human activity or intervention...It includes the world of rock and sand, of shoreline, desert, woods, mountains, etc., and the diverse manifestations of plant and animal life that are encountered there. It excludes the man-made world: our cities and towns, our houses and factories, along with the diverse implements devised by mankind, for transport, recreation, commerce, and other human needs.” (Wolhwill, 1983) This definition, exclusive of humans, can be problematic when attempting to bring forward a view that the actions of human beings directly affect the ecosystems that make up the natural world, and therefore sustainability which is affected by nature. In contrast, a view of nature by ecologist Jianguo Liu of Michigan State University is that ‘the stark distinction between man and nature is not scientifically valid; these two separate worlds are now inseparable.’ (Lehrer, 2008). Liu’s interpretation of the
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