The Nature of Nature. The Metabolic Disorder of Climate Change
by Vandana Shiva
In this well-researched book, Vandana Shiva describes how modern human civilisation has contributed to the problem of climate change, not because humans are bad or greedy by nature, but because global corporations (the 1%) have become rich and powerful using methods that destroy the ecosystem. They have then used their influence to double down on those practices, spreading misinformation and limiting people’s choices. The solution requires a complete switch in thinking. Rather than considering humans as separate from, and superior to a dead Earth, we need to remember that nature herself is a living system that seeks balance. We need policies that reflect an understanding of the interconnectedness of life, and vocabulary that names the hidden costs of linear thinking. Terms like ‘energy slaves’, which refers to the units of Earth’s energy that are trapped in the service of the few, to the detriment of the system. Although the topic is serious, this book is easy to read. It invites us to trust in nature and ourselves.
