Holistic remedies for mother earth<\/p>\n
An Earth-saving Revolution: A Means to Resolve Our World's
\nProblems through Effective Microorganisms;
\nBy Teruo Higa;
\nTranslated into English by Anja Kanal;
\nSunmark Publishing Inc. 1996;
\n336 pages.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"At this moment in time, the earth is sick, very
\nsick,\" writes Teruo Higa.<\/p>\n
The planet is suffering from environmental degradation and
\nthis fact has been depicted by authors, philosophers and
\nscientists for decades. Many agree that humanity's decadence and
\nexploitation of the environment are the causes behind the earth's
\ndeterioration. While some offer solutions, others simply say the
\nworld is heading for purgatory.<\/p>\n
With a more realistic and optimistic point of view, Japanese
\nagriculturist Higa gives new hope to those who long for an end to
\nthe world's race down the path toward self-destruction in his
\nbook An Earth-saving Revolution: A Means to Resolve Our World's
\nProblems Through Effective Microorganisms.<\/p>\n
He offers solutions to the world's problems through the use of
\nminuscule creatures, dubbed \"effective microorganisms\" (EMs),
\nwhich have proven effective in terms of improving the condition
\nof humankind's most essential needs.<\/p>\n
EMs are being utilized in a liquid concentrate produced in
\nvats from cultivations of over 80 varieties of microorganisms.
\nThe microorganisms are drawn from 10 genera belonging to five
\ndifferent families, including both aerobic and anaerobic species.<\/p>\n
It has long been assumed -- although never proven -- that
\naerobic and anaerobic microorganisms cannot coexist, as the two
\ngroups live in environments which are contrary to each other.
\nAerobic microorganisms require oxygen to survive, while anaerobic
\nmicroorganisms cannot tolerate oxygen.<\/p>\n
Higa's research, however, proved that the two species happily
\ncoexist as a culture, exchanging food sources. The aerobic
\nspecies, which feed on organic matter, produce waste matter, the
\nideal food source for anaerobic microorganisms.<\/p>\n
Although the microorganism's culture is characterized by an
\nongoing supremacy battle, most microorganisms are opportunistic
\nin nature, meaning they conform to actions of the dominant
\nstrains in the group. This way, a mutual exchange occurs between
\nthe two groups at all times.<\/p>\n
Since EMs feed on practically all kinds of waste matter, Higa
\nargues that they are the ultimate means for solving the world's
\nproblem of food supply, and environmental and health treatment.<\/p>\n
Visionary as it may sound, EMs have maximized the results of
\nthe three aspects. Originally used for soil treatment and to
\nenhance agricultural produce, EMs have a wide range of uses, from
\ndomestic waste treatment, water purification and a better
\nrecycling programs to the medicine EM-X, which helps strengthen
\nthe body's immune system.<\/p>\n
Its application in the agricultural sector has multiplied
\nagriculture production in countries such as Brazil, currently the
\nlargest consumer of EMs, Thailand and some European countries. In
\naddition, an EM-based product, Bokashi, has been used for waste
\ntreatment and water purification in Higa's hometown, Okinawa.<\/p>\n
Dilemma<\/p>\n
But how can such a significant and useful discovery cause such
\nlittle impact? Successful results from the use of EMs have not
\nled to the utilization of their abilities to provide solutions to
\nglobal problems.<\/p>\n
Higa refers to this as the dilemma of the competition-based
\nsociety, meaning one instance of success will cause the loss of
\nother. The great outcome of EM applications, especially for soil
\ntreatment and medicine, would threaten the giant industries'
\nmonopoly over their related sectors.<\/p>\n
To fully develop the concept of EMs in many countries --
\nespecially well-developed ones such as the United States and
\nJapan -- would mean clashing with the interests of the private
\nsector which has been controlling the game for so long, not to
\nmention the hectic competition it could raise between
\nentrepreneurs desiring to gain control over the royalties
\ngenerated by EMs applications.<\/p>\n
Worse still, competitive values have spread to important
\naspects of the society, including medical treatment and health
\ncare, which were originally aimed at helping people, causing them
\nto become \"redundant burdens on the society\", which serve solely
\nas money-making tools.<\/p>\n
But Higa did not place all the blame on business and its
\nprofit orientation. For the most part, he blames the government
\nfor issuing regulations regarding farming and health products and
\nfailing to consider the long-term effects they cause. In his
\nbook, he criticized the government's strict protectionism, which
\nonly certain industries benefited from, but also blamed the
\ngovernment for hindering the application and development of what
\nhe calls \"authentic technology\" such as EMs: \"The current
\nsituation vis-a-vis agriculture in Japan is similar to the case
\nof the overprotected child, spoiled by parents whose selective
\nperception allows them to see only their child's apparent
\nweaknesses, and blinds them to his or her potential strengths.\"<\/p>\n
The definition of \"authentic technology\" lies solely in its
\npurpose of benefiting people. It is one that generates only
\npositive results, free from any defects, drawbacks or negative
\neffects, capable of auto-correction and auto-perfection, and
\nrelatively inexpensive. The development of authentic technology
\nis the key to reforming a system which damages the earth's most
\nimportant environmental assets in the long term, he argues.<\/p>\n
In the book's final chapter, Higa lets the readers plunge into
\nhis pattern of thinking, his motives behind the long years of
\nsearching for the solution. It exposes sides of him which prove
\nhim to be more than what he was previously known as, a researcher
\nand an agriculturist, terms he loathes for their pretentious
\nconnotations.<\/p>\n
The writer in fact is just a devout farmer who, through long
\nyears of work, has gained knowledge and acknowledgement. His
\nworries include not being able to control the further
\ncommercialization of EMs.<\/p>\n
But setting aside the success of EMs, what Higa really points
\nout is that nature often provides solutions for the earth's
\nproblems. EMs are only one of the alternatives nature can offer
\nto solve problems created by humans and nature itself. Imagine
\nhow much the world can benefit if the government -- like mature
\nopen-minded parents who let their children grow to their maximum
\npotential -- encourages more smart inventions like this.<\/p>\n
Like traditional medicines, effective microorganisms can treat
\nthe world's illnesses with their natural holistic method. It is a
\nrevolutionary means which utilizes objects which have occupied
\nthe earth since its formation, by applying the old concept used
\nin food fermentation.<\/p>\n
Higa's desire is to see a poverty-free world that can fulfill
\nthe needs of its residents, but it was not a world illustrated in
\nfairy tales or the communal values created in the sixties by the
\nhippies. It is a world where competitive values do not fit in,
\nwhere the ultimate goal is to save the earth's resources.<\/p>\n
If you are a farmer, an environmentalist, a medical
\npractitioner, or simply a concerned individual looking for
\nsomething to believe, here is a book loaded with information and
\nprofound insights.<\/p>\n
-- Devi M. Asmarani<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/holistic-remedies-for-mother-earth-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }