ndmckinney|net

I was reading an article in Slate magazine about the cherry tree. Recently, DC had its annual Cherry Blossom Festival, a celebration of spring and the confluence of American and Japanese culture. The article mentions how the domestic cherry tree does not hold to Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

I’m not sure if this comparison is correct. I think, based on what little I’ve read of Darwin, that there really is no distinction between natural and artificial selection. Rather, Darwin was naive to believe that the processes that affected natural selection were somehow different than those that affect “artificial” selection. That we don’t work on a purely primal instinct — driven solely by a desire to survive — does not negate that we, like the rest of the animal kingdom, derive utility from plants and animals. That is how, for example, grass dominates over other forms of plants, despite the ubiquitous nature and overall superior genetic traits of most “weeds.”

In sum, I would advocate an abandonment of the “theory of natural selection.” It has certainly not led to desirable results, and, if permitted to continue, can only lead to worse results. We are a part of the world in which we live. It is time to live up to that fact.

Apparently, a group of chimpanzees in Sierra Leone are mad as hell at not going to take it anymore. Perhaps deciding that they were tired of being in captivity, the chimps revolted, killing one man and injuring two others.

All joking aside, the chimps are in dangers of being of being wiped out in West Africa. Unfortunately, the sanctuaries are perhaps the only places left in the world for them. More people need to take the lead of the chimps and become more proactive against the harm coming to our taxonomical cousins.

In so many words, when there is no profit to be made, markets will not go. But what happens when a market failure causes death? Africa, for starters.

In an article from the BBC, a new report suggests that governments should move and take control of water systems in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Citing a complete lack of investment (<1% of all private investment funds have gone to these areas), the World Development Movement is urging governments to take the lead in this area.