As a collective society, we seem relatively disconnected with our environmental surroundings, and don’t have a good sense our relationship to the greater universe. Because of this cultural disconnect, we don’t feel the desire to connect ourselves to the world on a primal level, or the need to respect and take care of the environment. I strongly believe that if people possessed a greater awareness of the ways in which they are interconnected with the world and other living beings, they would care more about the well-being of the environment.

At this critical point in our global environmental crisis, it is more important than ever to be aware of the interconnectivity of the world, and the natural recurring patterns that are important from biological, evolutionary, and cultural perspectives. So, how is the awareness of the world’s inherent interconnectivity helpful in the goal of preserving and protecting the environment? The reality is, effective social action always begins with awareness – By educating people and making them more aware of their connection to the world, people will begin to care more about this relationship. Ultimately, knowledge of one’s relationship to other entities (whether that be other living creatures, or the entirety of the universe) instills not just a greater understanding of one’s place in the world, but it also causes one to care about the things that they are fundamentally connected to. Namely, showing people how they are connected to their environmental surroundings will cause them to care more about the well-being of the environment. Ultimately, people spend their lives attempting to seek understanding of the world, their place within it, and its meaning/importance. Exposing and emphasizing the intrinsic connections between humans, all living things, and the universe gives people the underlying motivation and passion to care about the world, and take the necessary actions to ensure its long-term well-being.