My Observations of Dr. Paul Alan Cox, Ph.D.
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My Observations traveling with ethnobotanist Paul Alan Cox, Ph.D.
By Dietrick van Nederveen Meerkerk
March 30/2021
If you look close enough, you’d agree it is a big deal that ethnobotanist Paul A. Cox Ph.D., discovered a substance called Prostratin. The basic extract comes from the bark and stem wood of a small tree Polynesians call Mamala, (Homalanthus nutans), that grows to maturity in about three years, and is found to be an effective remedy against HIV.
At the time, during his explorations on the island of Savaii, it was a new tree species for Paul, but to Samoan healer, Epenesa Mauigoa, who had been passing on knowledge of how it had cured and treated illnesses for generations, it was useful for treating Fiva Samasama: Dengue Fever and hepatitis. It was exactly the slow process of passing on of knowledge that brought Paul and later his entire family back to the island many times. Learning as much from the healers as they were able to share.
Before all that, before graduating with a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University, Paul was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. One of thousands of missionaries that swarm all over the planet, the only thing Paul knew was that he was sent to a remote, 654 square mile island in the Samoan archipelago called Savai’i.
Unlike most foreign missionaries, he found himself sleeping on a thin mat woven from the leaves of the Laufala or Laupaogo tree within earshot of crashing waves, barking dogs and snorting pigs that were all part of traditional Samoan life.
And it was a promising sign when he learned that to Samoans Savai’i is “the Cradle of Polynesia,” — the “birth place of their civilization, as for Paul it soon became the birth place of his passion for preservation.
At night, right before drifting off to sleep, he listened to the day-to-day sounds that define a dynamic, well-structured traditional Samoan island life, an amalgamation of vibrations that blended with the ancient voices that inaudibly spoke to Paul. And subtly drew him into a world that aligned with his soul, awakening the professional purpose of his life.
Upon arrival Paul immediately engaged. Happily shedding all attachments to modern conveniences, befriending his surroundings mere days away from his comfortable mattress and supportive family back in Utah.
These and many other cultural and low-tech conditions, not in the least their starch-rich, taro root and coconut cream centered culinary customs, make it hard to blame any of the few fellow missionaries who served with, before and after Paul, who may not have found these conditions as agreeable.
The young men and women who answer the “call” to serve their church view this as an honor they take seriously, but it takes a special level of dedication to melt into a tribal society that lacks most of the comforts of a busy Mormon household and culture the way Paul did.
Not just a few weeks. For a whole two years Paul became an active part of the villages he served in and the extended traditional communities. From the stories he told me, Paul indeed quickly recognizing the unique opportunity offered by the unsoiled rainforest and waterfront environment that surrounded him, and started taking notes, while exploring this heaven on earth that would eventually become his second home.
It was not just Paul who blossomed, everyone that came in contact with him enjoyed the blessings of his kind, intelligent, happy character and immensely caring personality. As faith would have it, some years later, matured and resolute, Paul would play a critical role in saving their forest from the indiscriminate destructive powers of misguided government sanctioned clear-cutting efforts.
His role in the complicated process that stopped deforestation also led to the inception of Seacology, a foundation dedicated to conservation of island communities and their natural resources that continues to operate.
To people who hardly leave their island community, years ahead of this tree cutting drama, Paul was this clever, fun, life loving kid from a far away place who looked nothing like a Polynesian, but wanted to know everything about them and was as much a never ending source of surprises.
Especially because, as one may predict, Paul learned the Samoan language, including the proper phonologies, at a level that most tagata mai fafo, or foreigners, rarely do. To expand his ability to learn and communicate, he later added chiefly Samoan and Tongan to his linguistic repertoire.
Making a close study of their complex social protocols, especially their rich tradition of plant based treating and healing, Paul certainly had no trouble convincing everyone that he was interested in everything that went on.
It should be also mentioned that both his educated parents, in different ways, fueled the love for nature and the fire of learning and science within him. For anyone interested, his book “Nafanua, Saving the Samoan Rainforest,” is a truly pleasurable read and offers valuable insights in the lives of these wonderful people, their important role in preservation through their love and ability to live in harmony with nature.
http://nafanua.org: http://nafanua.org
Looking back, thinking about the many hours observing him, in Utah (speeches), Samoa (visiting Falealupo, Savaii, attending the actual signing of the royalty agreement), Sweden (when he received a Professorship from King XVI Gustaf at the Uppsala University), Hawaii (during his time directing the National Tropical Botanical Gardens) and the United Nations in New York (after he and chief Fuiono Senio received the Goldman Environmental Prize), it is impossible to not be inspired at his dedication and accomplishments and that of his wife Barbera, a formidable woman in her own right, who supported him and kept the growing family going through all of these journeys.
Like with many other discoveries, it took a lot of hard work, knowledge, perseverance, keen observation and some luck. We can argue whether luck is the result of random events or a long series of logical, even calculable, traceable moments that have the appearance to merely offer a lucky benefit to those who rather avoid debating the actual logical evolutionary process that precedes their windfall. Let’s agree at least on the fact that we have to recognize the events for what they are and know how to utilize them before really being “lucky.”
Once Paul and his colleagues analyzed the chemical compounds of this Mamala tree extract it became clear they found something far more complex and unique than they anticipated. To make it all a bit more scientific, a hint of the complexities at play organizing and understanding the relationship between the chemical compounds, I indulge you a little bit.
The active principle scientifically known as 13-O-acetyl-12-deoxyphorbol, was initially discovered from an New Zealand endemic shrub called Strathmore weed Pimelea prostrata from which it was first isolated, in New Zealand in 1976. And, despite conflicting opinions, customary to scientists who do like to simplify, the substance was appropriately coined Prostratin.
Thanks to another lover of plants, a brilliant Swede, who lived from 1707 to 1778, Carolus Linnaeus, also called the father of the “binomial system” that simplified the previous, chaotic, long-winded variety of naming plants, animals and insects.
By arranging and understanding the relationship between family groups and types, it became immediately much easier to follow the source and path of the various substances found in all organisms. I mention him also because Linnaeus first studied, then taught at the same university in Uppsala where Paul too would teach ethnobotany some two hundred fifty years later.
An Unlikely Find
Because from a scientific view point, the proper analysis and classification of ‘simple’ lawn grass requires and deserves exactly the same due diligence, even respect, yet without any expectation to find equally helpful medicinal powers within them, -it drew immediate attention when Paul and his colleagues discovered antiviral implications analyzing Prostratin.
Qualities that were far more promising than their proven value fighting against hepatitis and dengue fever as recognized by Samoan healers.
One in particular, the previously mentioned Epenesa Mauigoa, who’s rudimentary, but effective system of organization assigned Prostratin as her potion #37, was amongst the 121 other remedies she identified and taught to Paul.
Prostratin belongs to a terpenoid class phorbol ester that have a suppressive effect on HIV intracellular receptors, by activating a protein kinase C sequence which in turn expels the latent HIV virus from the host cell back into the bloodstream where it can be killed off by drugs, and uniquely so, without killing is former host.
The only thing regular anti-AIDS drugs can do is kill off and suppress the HIV virus as it moves about in the bloodstream, but fail to enter and terminate the virus while it is hiding in a cell host without also killing the host as well, allowing the virus population to re-emerge and spread as soon the medication is stopped, or rendered ineffective during a late state of contraction. This approach also suppresses an already compromised immune system.
That is why Prostratin offers an enormous opportunity for the anti-AIDS community of scientists and their recipients, to finally have access to an affordable remedy. And we can only hope that this effort continues to receive all possible support in a world where some may feel that “curing” is a dirty word. Part of this potentially joyous journey is an agreement between Paul’s scientific community and the Samoan people, who are to receive 20% of all proceeds any remedy generates.
When I filmed the signing event that preceded the traditional Kava ceremony, I was touched by the emotional, pious but joyous energy that filled the room. This wasn’t the typical gathering of business and political associates, rather a meeting of individuals whose observance of their inter linked long genealogy dominated a contemporary sense of commonality. Relying on a deep sense of respect for each other, their ancestors and the role they play in everyday life.
Of course, even the dark corners of a wonderfully rich and old traditional Samoan society has its own variety of deceit, contempt, disrespect and violence, but one will be hard pressed to find a culture where social harmony, respect for the elders, the Matai who hold the family chiefly titles, and parents receive more respect, out of fear and reverence.
While one’s personal wealth is of lesser importance than social status, it is with collective envy that many, be it with some shame, will glance at anyone’s roof if it is taller than the rest in the area. In the end we are all human, even those who play that role so honorably on these magnificent isolated islands.
Kava Ceremony
During one of two traditional Kava ceremonies I attended, the true essence of the respect for their leaders and ancestors became very clear to me when the Ali’i, the speaker, or tulafale, stood up while everyone sat on the floor mats with crossed legs, looking up in anticipation. Through his posture, the expressions on his weathered face, the glitter in his eyes and his strong, articulate voice I could tell he was speaking of something that had great importance to him.
Here’s the translation as well as I remember:
“As I stand here, as an elder to many of you, it is my duty to explain why I can not eat from the pig that has been offered in all its glory here tonight. I not only apologize to you who are here with me now, but also to our ancestors who I must have disappointed. This beautiful pig, before it was so carefully prepared for tonight’s feast, ravaged my garden only days ago.
And if it was just a few days ago I would not stand here and confess, but this animal has been a nuisance for far too long to remember and drew the worst of character out of me. My verbal condemnation for all the damage he did to my vegetables and flowers is unforgivable. It is something I will have to carry with me for the rest of my life.
I am sure most of you will understand that I can therefore not eat his flesh and participate in the feast in that way. However, I will be here and enjoy the moments of unity. I give all of you my blessings and thank you for your understanding.”
To observe this man in that setting, expressing his deepest authentic feelings, that, if it had been a stage performance would easily earn him an award, was something I will never forget. And I didn’t even understand a word of what he said.
The time I spent with Paul and his Samoan friends, and in other ways the communities I met during many long sailing trips around the globe, offered me some insight into the lives of people who honor values we bemoan having lost within our own western society.
And it doesn’t surprise me that some of the Samoans who left their communities to pursue different opportunities find it difficult to adjust to cultures that have replaced respect and a sense of communal duty with individuality and the pursuit of immediate personal gratification.
Give and Take
Early during our visit Paul led a small group of us into the rainforest I felt some relief being able to not only navigate the sharp lava rocks and slippery trails well enough to be of assistance to a few elderly members of our group until we reached an easier part of the trail. When I ran ahead to spot a few endangered flying foxes Paul had told us about, just before they flew off over a deep ravine an enormous sweat soaked Samoan man approached from the opposite direction.
He stopped, smiled and while I observed him for a few seconds, admiring his ability to walk barefoot over the exact same rocks that had torn my sneakers to shreds, he gently reached for my water bottle. He looked at it, then lifted it to his lips and gulped down nearly every drop, before handing it back to me and quickly continuing, disappearing into the beautiful, rich natural environment that had been his home and that of thousands of his ancestors, with a nod of gratitude and smile.
Because this came after my observation of another individual who flip-flopped into the open Fale we were staying in, and went straight over to the fridge to grab a few items before disappearing, I suspected I was witnessing a pattern of something unique. Upon my inquiries Paul confirmed that individual possessions in Samoa don’t enjoy Western style boundaries.
As I marveled at their sense of community sharing, and despite our own ways of generosity, I shivered at the thought of the relentless beating, or the number of bullets one would receive upon walking into a random house back in Europe or the US, with the intention to grab some leftover Emmentaler or a tall-cold-one.
Even a lousy Heineken, not one of the good beers we do share among friends, “on the house,” (if you’re invited), will likely receive an equally obsessive protective response. It makes me question our odd Western perception of value and ownership, given the throw-away attitude we adopted towards most things we toss, often prematurely, on a landfill, if not burn them, polluting everyone’s air.
These being just a very few deeply fascinating and wonderful cultural characteristics, stress the importance of casual and scientific communication with cultures that have survived unchanged far longer than our own, for exactly that reason.
Especially in regards to their approach to sustainability, it is people like Paul Cox, Michael Balick (who I met via Paul), and their many colleagues who make it possible for traditional cultures to fight off threats and help them preserve their identity while also playing a role that benefits a global society. One that still relies heavily on what nature has to offer, despite its arrogance and hubris, mostly failing to appropriately acknowledge it.
This dichotomy can only be won if the unspoiled environments that still exist have more value intact, alive than dead.
Paul’s Students
If I look at the many students that swarm around Paul, wherever he speaks, outside in nature and inside the well organized university environments, solidifies his and their absolute awareness of the urgency of preservation.
Having witnessed him in action, I urge you, if you ever make your way to any of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, to slow down your pace to consciously inhale all of what these magnificent places offer. Sit down under a Banyan or Monkey-pod tree, or marvel at the enormous roots and impressive trunk of the Morton Bay fig, and know that at one point or another Paul sat there, alone, or surrounded by his students.
It is at any of these places where Paul explained the importance of finding and growing ingredients that are used in personal care product lines and the vast, ever expanding field of developing naturopathic, allopathic medicinal remedies, without destroying the natural habitat.
Mentally step inside the circle and listen as Paul speaks to them in a calm, neutral, controlled voice. With humor referring to anecdotes and rare scientific events. Sharing unique details that describe the relationships between plants, humans, insects, brushes, trees, ferns and explain how some of them self-pollinate and spread their seed in very unusual ways.
By the time he is done you’ll know how to recognize the different sexes, understand the importance of separating indigenous versus endemic and endangered species. Also patiently listening and answering their questions. Stimulating their own process of understanding the interconnectedness and interdependence of all living things.
To search and peek beyond the confusing layers of a physical reality that reveals ever more mysterious secrets to those who “just look, observe and protect.”
It is not politics, personal opinion or drama that sets the tone of these sessions. It is pure love and excitement that allows everyone to grasp the enormous importance understanding the long traditions of human dependence on proper type and dosing of remedies that have been found to help throughout the ages, despite cultural, religious political, geographical changes and convictions of its beneficiaries.
There seems to be an absolute sense of trust and faith in the humanity that offers Paul the strength to continue his work without being engulfed by anger, hate and desperation naturally associated with anyone who has seen the cutting of thousands of trees, has studied the global impact of their unjustifiable demise and has seen the consequences like not many have, at level that had he gone mad with rage, we could do nothing but forgive him.
It is exactly this level of equanimous commitment and captivation that drives his students, the new generation of biologist and ethnobotanists, that give us all hope. That they too boost awareness and its ability to guard the survival of biodiversity at all levels.
We Barely Know One Step Worth
Despite all of his knowledge and that of all others who search, analyze, prod and eagerly carry off seeds, leafs, bugs, spores, moulds, enzymes, bacteria from all corners of the globe to an equal number of laboratories, will Paul, as an answer to being asked “how much do we know about the rainforest,” take one medium step on whichever trailhead at the edge of the forest you happen to meet him.
That is how little we really know.” That answer surprised me, until he explained, “it is a very long and complicated process to truly know exactly how millions of organisms grow in, over, and around and because of each other. The many lives they sacrifice, but how many more they offer shelter to, help pollinate and even create. Essentially, it is one big extremely complex interdependent, sacrificial and symbiotic system. It is the most beautiful creation on earth.”
When I asked Paul to proofread this article, correcting and perhaps add a few details he offered the following important insight: “That is why as humans we should not destroy what we cannot create, nor create what we cannot destroy. All of the indigenous peoples I have studied with believe the earth to be sacred. If you love the Artist, do not slash His painting.”
Some Self Reflection
For me, among the many observers, traveling to the actual village, the forests to meet its people who shook my hand, smiled at me, touched my heart. Welcoming me into their dwellings with an absolute authenticity that was refreshing.
Buoyed by the joy of meeting them offered some healthy self reflection, making me realize how much their lives contrasted with my own. Coming from a place that promotes individual competition and blind materialism made me feel uneasy, even primitive and lacking a proper sense of reality, since none of the people I met questioned their “purpose” in life, their duty toward one other and seemed sincerely happy.
Their personal and social obstacles were handled between them under guidance of their chiefs and leaders. I cannot imagine any of the villagers to feel compelled to sit down with a psychiatrist to discuss problems that seem far more often part of my own, a contemporary, but lost-society, often shrouded in ignorance, feigning a level of superiority that fails to convince a keen eye.
Contributing to this reality is that most of the problems that threaten the traditional Samoan communities, far beyond the insanity of the cutting down of forests. The introduction of recreational drugs, pornography and fast food, are just other examples of destructive foreign influences.
Rainforest Experience
During my years sailing as well as traveling with family to remote places, among which Borneo and Brazil, visiting the rainforests was always a highlight of the trip.
Some of the yachts had enough space for biologists to process samples and teach marine-biology students about the local area, the East African coast (Pemba Island, Madagascar), the Red Sea and the South China Sea.
Chartres or Notre Dame cathedrals, to name a few. While tangible these enormous spaces represent the unseen and unknown. Welcoming as well as daunting in their grandeur and mysterious nature. There are natural and phycological conditions that are not easily understood. Looking at the complexity of these grandiose buildings and the incredibly effort and intelligence it took to build them still remains child’s play compared to what nature created in the shape of a rainforest.
If you believe in a God that is “watching you” then the rainforest is should be a comfortable place, since it is always aware of your presence. Teaming with millions of living organisms, from bacteria to leaches, the many harmless and hostile insects, to the large predators that consume you within minutes if you make enough mistakes.
At the same time, if you adjust your pace and respect the powers at play you can live in relative harmony and actually find safety and wellbeing inside this network of ‘give and take.’ But there is not much room for error. Not unlike driving a car through a city or freeway that requires your attention and respect for the rules of the road as to survive, but also not be of danger to anyone else.
Once I sat down in any of these forests and took time to look at the enormous number of life forms it hit me that it would indeed take many thousands of man-hours to really understand what the heck is going on. Where is this or that bug going to? What is it eating and what is eating it in turn? What bacteria consume its dropping and who is consuming these bacteria and why?
What plant and flowers are pollinated by this or that bug, bird, or flying insect and which ones are not? And why are some plants and trees self-pollinating and how? What lives between the root-systems and what enzymes are found it it’s sap, on it’s leaves and in the bugs that consume the fibers?
Just the question: what bugs live on this plant and why not on another can be a specialty all on its own. Soon you find yourself losing track trying to figure all of this out and you realize that you can spend literally two life times on one bug, one plant, one larvae, spore and still not understand exactly all of the elements at play. So when Paul merely took meager step into the forest he wasn’t even exaggerating.
All of this organized craziness is immensely fascinating and discouraging at the same time To never really know what is going at the beginning and at the end in order to grasp what is happening in the middle while acknowledging that this journey of research may take perhaps four generations of researchers to conclude. Especially because we don’t understand much of this “living stuff,” it reminds me of a complex domino structure, where the falling action of a near endless number of them trigger all types of amazing activities and patterns, to suddenly end when the last piece has fallen.
Cutting even one tree triggers the end of millions of organisms, that die off one after the other, along their order of tolerance while their faith is sealed, like that of a domino piece that remains still at the end, without any further purpose.
The end of clear cutting the start of Seacology
As Paul told it to me: The moment the barges from New Zealand landed on the beach of his island to deliver their bulldozers, chainsaws and a crew of men who’s blind objective was to clear-cut the entire forest, as fast as possible, chief Fuiono Sonio immediately called for a gathering that all chiefs of the surrounding villages must attend.
Without delay they came to discuss the imminent threat. Like most discussions between people who hope to find a consensus, calling for more of them to come together only tends to have a latent effect on actual action taking. This wasn’t a discussion about the theft of a pig, cow or fishing net, the appropriate place for a school, a church, or the pending arrangements of a wedding. This was literally a matter of life or death for the entire island ecosystem.
It was also a problem they could not simply resolve, no matter how all of them agreed something needed to be done. If they did not accept the loggers offer of $85,000 for their rainforest, they could not build a required school, and the government teachers would be withdrawn from their village. They were forced to choose between their rainforest and their children.
Who was to ever come to their rescue? Who could not be bribed? Who would not sell them out? With lingering disappointment in far too many foreigners who came, took and left. The only person they all agreed on trusting was Paul, they knew had their best interest at heart.
Paul answered from his home in Utah, switching cultural and linguistic modes within seconds, to listen to his dear friends’ desperate pleas explained the situation, as chainsaws could be heard in the background. Paul and the chiefs heard far more than the rattle of bulldozer tracks, the chainsaw chorus, the shouts of men, deeply entranced by the danger of the job at hand. They heard the falling trees jolt upon impact. They heard the cries of flying foxes, the shattering of birds whose nests and habitat disappeared.
They felt the intense pain churn their stomachs, unable to digest this inconceivable torment caused by the removal of a heart whose rhythmic beat sets the life-pace of an organism millions of dependents rely on, that would all perish.
“You need to stop them!” Fuiono heard Paul loud and clear. “I will get the money you need to resolve this madness. I will get back to you. Don’t hesitate and do what only you and your chiefs can do.”
Fuiono, grabbed his machete and called out to his men to follow him.
With a sense of urgency, fear and rage that can only be compared to that of a mother who sees her child run toward a busy street, they sprinted a few miles into the forest. When they arrived at the site of the first clear cutting, they found a large group of workers who immediately stopped in their tracks.
Led by Fuiono, the men were ready for war. Showing up with raised machetes in hand, their scar-tattoos* that covered parts of their muscular bodies told of their accomplishments and status within their society, petrified the startled workers for a moment. Fuiono didn’t hesitate another second and shouted “Quit cutting our forest! Leave immediately and do not return!”
The rage in the eyes of these formidable men would scare everyone smart enough to run for their lives, no matter how blinded by an immediate need for money whose value they too would possibly agree did not compare to that of the environment they were destroying. If only someone had enlightened them before their departure to a remote island most had never heard of.
Their ignorance was not to last. Inspired by self-preservation, realizing that for any people to be this determined to cripple and even kill anything that threatens their existence, despite silly contracts that were signed by remote parties that traded their tribal roots with personal greed, the crew, their chainsaws and bulldozers limped off the island to never be heard of again.
In the mean time Paul approached his wife Barbara. “We need to quickly raise $85,000 to protect the rainforest. The only way we can raise that amount of money is to mortgage our house in the U.S. What do you think?”
Barbara responded, “How often in our lives will we get a chance to do something like this? Let’s go for it!” That was all Paul needed to hear from his wife who didn’t hesitate even a microsecond to wager their home for the greater good of saving not only the homes of their Samoan friends but that of millions of species.
It was the only answer they were willing to live with and Paul immediately arranged for a meeting at the Development Bank of Western Samoa, to personally assume the entire mortgage for the village school. Soon friends and family of Paul and Barbara found out about their pledge, and donated sufficient funds to save the forest and no one lost their home or forest. Illustrating that when we all collectively support the efforts of Seacology and other legit organizations with a track-record of preservation, we can absolutely make a difference. For most of us, without risking our home.
After the success of their project on Savaii, Seacology’s team found, preserved and supported many other endangered environments and their communities and continues to do so. www.seacology.org (http://www.seacology.org/)
Sandie N. Tillotson (Nu Skin Ent.) and Ken Murdoch (Natures’ Way) and many others are ongoing donors and one of the first to pledge large sums to give buoyancy to Seacology.
A Moment In The Concrete Jungle
Given this context and importance to preserve our most valuable natural global assets amplifies how much this means to many people around the world for whom this and many other events like it, are the first and only window into any form of preservation efforts.
For me, and everyone in attendance, the Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony was an important moment of recognition of those who have and still continue this long, difficult journey. The success of which continues to rely for a big part by the personal and financial contributions of those who feel compelled to take action in whatever way they can.
Due to my previous experiences you can imagine how deeply it touched me to see Paul and Fuiono Senio stand on a stage to receive the Goldman Environmental Prize in San Francisco. Fuiono, years after stopping the clear cutters, only a shadow of his former self, suffering from an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer, aware of his condition and the limited time he had left, spoke with deep gratitude.
Toward the end of the ceremony I tore myself away from the stage to make my way out of the building. I found some relief by taking a deep breath from the adjacent park-diluted city air and realized that if every citizen of that confusing concrete jungle donated one dollar many more forests could be saved. If asked, I’m sure everyone would. It is only a matter of communication.
The Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0k8xqyeBzI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0k8xqyeBzI)
From a Final Alien Perspective
Because the notion of actually meeting space aliens seems as far fetched as the notion of our ability to actually save our plants biodiversity, I take the liberty to step away from the Paul Cox, Samoa and Seacology canvas, like an artist who seeks a fresh creative insight, perhaps to regain a balance between all the elements at play.
To these obviously more intelligent individual space visitors it must be shocking to see what’s left of planet earth after we humans destroyed it. They may send their own Paul Cox, to sample, retrace and organize our sorry remnants, just to understand what caused the idiocy of total self-annihilation.
Perhaps this space alien ‘Paul Cox’ would classify it as: Sui Interitum Per Avaritiam (self destruction through greed). On a humorous note, an alien version of his wife Barbera would very likely lean over to calmly whisper, “Linnaeus would call it: Summa Stultitia, (total stupidity).”
Despite all that, as an afterthought, some of these alien visitors might find our life’s-story still worthy of giving it just enough contemplation to go through the stinking effort to haul a few of our undeserving carcasses on to their spaceship. At least for the purpose of sending a message to students at their local university, back home: “Do not destroy the very ecosystem you need in order to survive as a species. Preserve it before you wander around in space.”
On their way back to their planet their space-vehicle passes Mars, and offers a clear fly-by view of a relentless effort we humans put into shuffling around Martian dust. Surprisingly, in the hope to find valuable traces of life on what appears to be little more than a red ball of silicon dioxide on which only the most open minded expects to ever want to live. The astonished alien crew realizes that besides the endless oceans of deserted concrete structures, that once housed billions of people all over the globe, the only active memory of human life are a few stupid robots that continue to radio-transmit disappointing messages back to earth, to a stone deaf, former human community that totally ignored natures cries for help. Long before their final demise, due to floods and toxic air that became a new reality.
The good thing is that it doesn’t have to come to that. Despite the bleak outlook humans will probably come to a consensus and live in relative harmony with nature after nearly destroying too much of it. If we all work together and do our part, no matter how little we seem to matter individually, collectively it makes a huge difference if we buy less plastic and plan our traveling needs more economically and energy conscious and look at all the other options we have to limit our foot print.
Final Note:
I hope reading about Paul and Seacology illustrates the accessibility for all of us to get involved. Follow the work of Paul or any of the other biologists and ethnobotanists associated with Seacology or otherwise. Check their schedules and perhaps even experience the many places and people involved with preservation all over the world.
Go On Pure Nutritionals Inc. (Anino Alliance)
Go On Pure Nutritionals recently launched Amino Alliance in the US and pledges 3% of all profits to preservation. And one annual donation of $10.000 will be made if annual sales targets are reached.
Inspiration
Conversations withPaul and prof. emer. Arne van der Gen, Ph.D., (organic chemistry) who is also the formulator of Amino Alliance, lead us to make sure all ingredients are created and/or harvested in a sustainable manner.
Supplements should be created based on scientific research and if possible backed by an actual scientist whose reputation depends on the results. Amino Alliance — Fast-Acting L-Arginine Supplements for Improved Health http://www.amino-alliance.com
Thank you for reading and I am looking forward meeting you on the journey of preservation.
References:
It also serves anyone well to look up how Wikipedia describes Paul: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Alan_Cox
The Goldman Prize ceremony
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0k8xqyeBzI
The Goldman Environmental Prize
https://www.goldmanprize.org/recipient/paul-cox-fuiono-senio/
The foundation that organizes many of the global preservation efforts Paul started is called Seacology. www.seacology.org
Wikipedia’s information on Seacology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seacology
Traditional Samoan tattoo art:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pe%27ahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pe%27a
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Feel free to contact me with any question:
dietrick@amino-alliance.com http://www.amino-alliance.com
Ph: 202–656–6123
