By KARIN BRÜNING*
Who are the superior beings, the trees or us?
In the third episode of the web series Live volume, researcher Antônio Nobre tells how in the Amazon region the oldest trees, called mother trees, capture water from groundwater with their deep roots and distribute it to younger trees, located on plateaus, and which do not reach the water table. Without distribution through the surface roots of the mother tree, young trees would die during the dry season. Cooperation between trees is truly fascinating and inspiring!
In the book The secret life of trees, by Peter Wohlleben, cooperation between trees is presented as a sophisticated and interconnected system of mutual support and communication. Peter Wohlleben describes how trees in a forest are not solitary individuals, but are part of a complex network, through which they share resources, information and even warnings about potential dangers, communicating through chemical signals in the air and electrical impulses, sent for its roots.
This example from nature leads us to the obvious conclusion that without cooperation there is no survival, neither ours nor that of the trees. This cooperation benefits us not only with the purity of the air, with the maintenance of water sources and a pleasant shade on hot days, but even by stimulating cells in our body, which fight cancer.
A study carried out in Japan, published in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology (Li et al.), in 2007, demonstrated that walking in nature, especially in forest environments, can increase cell production natural killers. A walk, or “forest bathing”, which involved walking in forests for several hours over two days, increased cell activity by 50% natural killers.
How about, then, changing our perspective from beings at the top of the food chain, who see nature as something at their disposal, and trying to capture the internal values that it has to teach us, with respect and gratitude?
In Bhutan, children learn compassion and emotional well-being as part of their early education, even before they begin formal studies such as mathematics. Bhutan places great emphasis on Gross National Happiness (GNH) as a guiding philosophy, which includes promoting mental and emotional well-being, mindfulness, and values such as compassion in the education system. Gross National Happiness is a holistic approach that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens, environmental conservation, cultural preservation and good governance over purely economic indicators.
Bhutan is not considered a rich country in traditional economic terms such as GDP per capita, but classified as a lower-middle income country by the World Bank. The country has a relatively small and developing economy, with agriculture, hydroelectric power and tourism being the main contributors to its GDP.
Another example of a country where happiness is prioritized over purely economic measures is Costa Rica. Costa Rica is often highlighted as a nation that values well-being, environmental sustainability and social equity over simple economic growth.
The country has extensive national parks and almost a quarter of its land is protected. It has also made significant investments in renewable energy, with around 99% of its electricity coming from renewable sources such as hydroelectric, wind and geothermal energy. Costa Rica consistently ranks high in global happiness indices and life satisfaction surveys.
The country's focus on social equity, the community and the environment contributes to a high quality of life for its citizens. “Pura vida” is a common expression in Costa Rica and reflects the national ethos of living a happy, relaxed and fulfilling life. This cultural emphasis on enjoying life, maintaining positive relationships, and staying connected to nature is deeply rooted in Costa Rican society.
The examples of Bhutan and Costa Rica may seem strange, but something inside us tells us they are on the right path. The vision with happiness parameters based on material values, purchasing power and consumption increasingly highlights the need to change the way we construct our values.
I believe that change is more than necessary. Concern for sustainable models of living should not be restricted to environmental issues, but must begin with internal sustainability. We need to take care of our external and internal nature, because without material nothing can be sustained. Exemplifying the reasoning: how can you expect a child to feel sorry for pulling up a plant, if the feeling of compassion has not been cultivated in them? At the same time, nothing prevents her from learning to count the number of plants, in other words, from taking her first steps in mathematics.
We live in times when fear is common to all social classes because we have learned that the best thing is to get ahead, to compete and take advantage, and not to cooperate so that everyone is well. And the trees, those that are an example of cooperation, we cut. There are many attitudes to be recycled, within us and in relation to our surroundings. It is worth giving the new generations an opportunity from an early age to become better adults than us.
*Karin Brüning is a scientist and environmentalist, with a PhD in Synthesis of Carbosiloxane Dendrimers from UFRJ. Founder of Play Recycling, an environmental education platform.
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