The Paradox of Humanity: A Reflection on Consumption and Nature

Humans are a peculiar species! We need a bungalow to live in, a car to travel, creams to adorn ourselves, a barber to groom our beard, and countless products for our hair—hairdryers, shampoos, conditioners. We require shoes and slippers to walk, a bed to sleep, a pen to write. To unwind, we need a destination, a hotel to stay, a disco to dance, and perhaps a drink to indulge.

They say humanity is the highest form of life, the most exalted existence. But sometimes, it feels like humanity is the most foolish. Other creatures live naturally—eating, moving, sleeping within the framework of nature. Humans, however, seem to complicate everything with endless desires.

Education today has become synonymous with expansion—how much you can spread your influence, your possessions, your reach. But true education should mean understanding life: discerning what you need, what’s excessive, and what’s entirely unnecessary. It’s about recognizing the impact of your actions on others, on society, and on the environment. What benefits you but harms the world? What serves both you and the greater good?

The house you live in, proudly purchased with your hard-earned money, often comes at the cost of displacing countless creatures. The land you call yours might once have been home to snakes, insects, spiders, or frogs. Your very existence, your act of living, can be a blow to nature.

Even the things you wear and use carry a hidden toll. Silk garments come from boiled silkworms. Lipstick may involve the brutal killing of animals. Leather shoes or belts? They’re tied to slaughter. Badminton rackets use feathers plucked from birds. Even your computer, a marvel of technology, is built on the exploitation of natural resources. Humanity, which we often see as the solution to problems, is itself the root of many. The more humans, the more problems. Some argue about population growth—whether one community’s numbers are rising or falling—but the truth is, every additional person adds to the strain on nature.

Global warming is a stark reminder: the Earth’s temperature has risen by one degree Celsius, a significant threat driven by our reckless consumption. We call it “living freely,” but it’s a path to destruction. Diseases are rising, mental health issues are rampant, and conditions like cancer, autism, and ADHD are becoming more common. Children are born into a world where abnormality is becoming the norm. If 70% of people live with high blood sugar, will that become the new “normal”? When the majority lives a certain way, it’s automatically deemed standard.

So, what’s the solution? Perhaps our education is flawed. It glorifies expansion when it should teach restraint. True education could mean living simply, consuming less, and understanding that a disciplined life is a mark of wisdom. We must reflect on how much we can control our consumption. Reducing our footprint is essential to preserving nature.

Think about it. If you have solutions, share them. Let’s start a conversation about living thoughtfully, for the sake of our planet and ourselves.