(MODULE 1) GEE 11: Peace Studies

Introduction
In this module you are going to explore how nature adapts to changes in the environment and maintains diversity to sustain life.
Diverse forms of life coexist in harmony. To establish harmony, different beings work together and coexist. Cooperation and
coexistence are the starting points for peace among humankind and it is where we start our study pertaining peace.

Rationale
Seek answers for world peace from the original state of all creation.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Recognize that all creation maintains diversity and works together to establish harmony.

Main Points of the Lesson:

• Diversity - Various characteristics such as shape, color, form, etc. In biology, it refers to different species of the ecosystem.

• Harmony - The state of being able to live together with no conflicts or disputes

• Coexistence - Two or more beings able to live together

Discussion

Opening Story

One day, a king was astonished by the great wine he drank and
ordered to summon the person who made the wine. The king said, “I
will reward you for making such great wine.” The owner of a wine
brewery said, “Actually no. I just made wine from the grape the
farmer farmed with sweat, so it is only right he is rewarded.” Upon
hearing this, the king called the farmer and said, “The wine made
from your grapes tasted amazing, so I will reward you.” Then the
farmer said, “My Lord! The reason why I was able to harvest such
wonderful grapes is that the weather was great this year. Hence, you
should reward heaven.” For a great bottle of wine to be made,
various environmental factors and efforts of people are needed in a harmonious manner. The owner of the brewery and the farmer
knew that the amazing wine could not have been made from only one person’s effort. Earth that we live in is like the great wine, so a
world of peace cannot be made with a single person or a single nation’s endeavor. Only when diverse people and nations form
harmony and work together, can we build a beautiful and peaceful world.

Diversity
Be it smooth or rough stone, they both have their use.
- Ahn Chang-ho / Korean independence activist (1878~1938)

What is in Nature?

In the world that we live in, there are sky, earth, and water. In the sky, there are the sun, moon, and stars with the clouds and wind
in the atmosphere. The sky provides rain or snow to water the earth. Geography is established through the harmony of mountains,
islands, fields, deserts, rivers, and lakes. In the oceans, 97% of Earth’s water gathers to create waves, currents, and high and low
tides. Ocean floors have various geological types such as continental shelves and trenches. What make Earth more beautiful are the
forms of life in it. Earth is filled with various organisms. There are not only animals such as birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals but tens
of thousands of plants and microorganisms living together in harmony as well. Among all of these, there is mankind. The first lines of
old texts from eastern Asia often mention heaven, earth, and all creation. This implies that teaching mankind also begins with
understanding all creation. The following quotes are the beginnings of two primers used to teach Chinese characters to children.

1. How Diverse are Forms of Life and People on Earth?

Starting from 2007, over ten science research institutes, including the Natural History Museum in London, Harvard University,
Marine Biological Laboratory in the U.S., and Biodiversity Heritage Library, have collaborated to make the Encyclopedia of Life with
the purpose of recording all living species on Earth. The encyclopedia, also dubbed the modern version of Noah’s ark, has 1.96
million species registered as of 2019. The encyclopedia expects there are over 90 million species of animals (with insects taking up
the greatest portion), and over 400,000 species of plants. When fungi and bacteria are included, it is difficult to even estimate the
number of species on Earth. In addition, there are 193 member states of the United Nations (UN) and 206 participating nations in
the International Olympic Committee (IOC). On Earth, there are people of diverse ethnicities and nationalities living together, and we
can often see cases where different tribes live within a country. As of 2019, the world’s population reached around 7.7 billion, with
the number of languages registered amounting to 7,111 according to Ethno-logue. Out of them, there is a total of 20 languages,
which over 50 million people consider as mother tongue. The total number of religions is not definitive, but there are 22 religions
with believers exceeding 500 thousand. As we can see, the world is a place where diverse languages, nations, ethnicities,
nationalities, and religions coexist.

2. Why is Biodiversity Needed?

Biodiversity generally refers to the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems. The reason genetic diversity is needed is to ensure
adaptation according to environmental changes and survival. When a disease spreads, the species with lower levels of genetic
diversity have the highest chances of becoming extinct. On the other hand, when the level of genetic diversity is high, tolerance to
environmental changes or diseases increase. The diversity of species refers to the number of different species and their distribution
ratio. When the level of diversity is high, food chains become complex and the ecosystem is more likely to be stabilized and maintain
balance. For example, if we assume snakes only eat frogs, then the extinction of frogs would mean that snakes would disappear as
well. However, if snakes feed on frogs, field mice, and rabbits, even if frogs become extinct, snakes can feed on something else.
Hence, when food chains become complicated, it is harder to disrupt the ecosystem. The diversity of ecosystems mean diversity in
an ecosystem’s environments such as forests, grasslands, swamps, etc. For example, mud flats are buffer zones that connect the
land ecosystem to the marine ecosystem, and the phytoplankton that live in these mudflats, through photosynthesis, exude more
oxygen than the forests of the same area. In addition, the flats purify ocean pollutants and are the home for different kinds of
marine lives including clams, crabs, and lugworms. The ecosystem diversity enables better environments for many forms of life to
live in.

3. A Lesson to Learn from Nature’s Diversity: Acknowledging Diversity

All organisms on earth are so diverse that it is not an exaggeration to say that no two organisms are the same. Human beings carry
unique traits and identities that are different from one other, and they call one other as separate “individuals.” However, people do
not live alone, but in a community. As such, problems arise when people do not respect differences in diversity. This does not stop at
conflicts among individuals but spreads into society as well. For people, who have
various objectives and interests, to resolve conflicts and live together in harmony,
the first step is to acknowledge diversity and to accept it. Only when such a
foundation is laid, can we establish a cohesive community and bring forth harmony
among mankind.
Kudzu and wisteria vines (image: flickr.com)

When kudzu vines grow, they grow from left to right, while wisteria vines grow from the opposite direction, climbing from right to
left. When they grow together, they are intertwined so much that it is difficult to untangle them and this results in one of the vines
dying. This is the same for our society. When we stubbornly adhere to our own perspectives, peace cannot be achieved. Only when
we acknowledge our differences and find ways to coexist, can we maintain peace.

Application:

The etymology of the word “respect” derives from respicere, meaning to look to. Hence, when we want to respect someone, we first
need to see and understand them as they are. To do so, we should make the effort to pay attention to the person and try to
understand them.

Harmony
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate

those differences. Audre Lorde / American poet (1934~1992)

1. Harmony Based on Diversity

Diversity is a characteristic of nature. To be “Harmonious” means that various entities are able to coexist without conflicts. One can
think of it like different watercolor paints making a beautiful artwork on canvas. As we look at how different forms of life in nature
live together in harmony, let’s also think about what the peace we yearn for should look like.

Nature in a Harmonious State/ Spectrum of Light

When the light goes through a prism, there is refraction, where the rays are divided into different colors and wavelengths. As we can
see above, light is dispersed and arranged by wavelengths. We call this a spectrum. The reason why we are able to see various
shades of color is that wavelengths in the light overlap and create harmony among themselves.
 Insidewink.com / rd.com
Ecosystems in Balance and Harmony Based on Diversity

Approximately 71% of Earth is the ocean, and 29% of it is land. Waters and lands are composed of ecosystems, with countless
species inhabiting them. Even within a breed, there is genetic diversity, which is prone to change. As we can see below, ecosystems
consist of balance and harmony against the backdrop of diversity. The beauty of the ocean, where various seaweeds and fish create
images of wonder.

2. Harmony Found in Human Society

Wqxr.org / Britannica.com

Various Instruments and Sound from the Orchestra

An orchestra moves the heart of people through its beautiful sound, which can be calm, exciting, grandiose, and amazing by playing
different types of instruments at the same time. When a particular instrument’s sound needs to be emphasized, the rest provide
support, creating harmony. The conductor of the orchestra and the members become one in heart to create magnificent sound,
exactly as different organisms within nature work together to achieve harmony. Such beautiful sounds are not made easily; when
there is mutual respect between the conductor and musicians, and among those who play different instruments, harmonious music
can be made.

Diverse Nations and Categories of Sports in the Olympics

The Olympics Games, held once in summer and once in winter every two years, are sports festivals of the world that transcend
ethnicities, nations, and religion. They first began in ancient Greece as Olympia. At the end of the 19th century, Coubertin was
inspired by an ancient Olympian festival and led the revival of the modern Olympic Games. In order to do so, he founded the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894 and two years later in 1896, the first Olympic was held in Athens, Greece. Athletes
from various nations come to join the event and compete in different sports categories. However, the Olympic Games are not events
with the mere purpose of having competitions among nations. Nations across the globe gather to have competition in good faith,
accept results, and cooperate based on mutual respect. The Olympic Games are truly a festival of people to build a wonderful world
of peace.
Application:

What people can learn from nature living in harmony is the notion of “respect.” Going beyond the level of simply “acknowledging”
each other’s differences, we need to “respect” each other to live in harmony together.

Cooperation and coexistence

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

- Helen Keller / American author (1880~1968)

Harmony is Established upon Collaboration

When we watch people rowing, we see athletes with different levels of strength and
skills get on a boat and row together to pass the finish line. Even if an individual’s
skills are excellent, if they cannot find harmony in the direction and strength when
rowing, the boat ends up straying from the lanes. According to a theory in Richard
Dawkin’s book called “The Selfish Gene,” genes are selfish as they only consider
their survival. However, there is no possible way for a single gene to survive, so
altruistic genes that know how to work together are chosen more often by other
genes. Thus, cooperation is the strategy for survival. As we can see from the
example above, collaboration is a process leading to harmony, a process that benefits us.

Fungi belong to a different kingdom compared to animals or plants. Within the fungi
group, yeast, mold, mushrooms, etc. are included. One of the unique characteristics
of fungi is that they do not have photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll. As
they are not able to photosynthesize like higher plant life, they cannot produce
nutrients on their own. This is why they are parasitic or saprophytic. Such
fungi are the best partners to trees. Fungi adhere to the root of trees and spread via
soil. The tree provides sugar and carbohydrate the fungi need, and in return, the
fungi help trees absorb needed nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and
minerals. In addition to this, fungi filter heavy metals harmful to trees and provide protection when damaging fungi or bacteria
attack them. In addition, fungi establish network underground. Within a cup of dirt, many kilometers of hyphae can be found, and so
different types of trees are connected through the fungi and are able to share nutrients and information. Hence, a forest is like a
living network all in itself. Such a network is also dubbed “wood-wide web.”

2) The Collaboration of Honey Bees

Honey bees live in a society with an organization like ants. The bee society is composed of a queen bee, male bees, and working
bees. There is one queen bee per group, and excluding about 100 male bees, the rest are working bees. The working bees go on a
search for honey or pollen and once they find them, they do a waggle dance also called the harvest dance. Through these moves,
they accurately move towards the direction to the honey or pollens found. When the distance is near, they dance in a circle while
the distance is far, they make the Arabic number eight. The speed of the dance reflects the distance to the honey, and the direction
can be seen through how slanted they are against the sun. What is astonishing is that this waggle dance is a lingua franca. If the bees
from the U.S. were to be brought into Korea to do the dance, Korean honey bees would understand the dance and fly toward honey.
As we can see, honey bees have their own language they use to work together. All reproduction is done through the queen bee.
These bees go on wedding flights with male bees and lay eggs while working bees carefully take care of the eggs. Working bees do
not give birth, and they only foster the baby bees from queen bees to maintain the group. Working bees live approximately four to
five weeks, so they devote their entire life to queen bees and their group. When intruders come into the hives, they sting the
attacker to protect queen bees and the eggs. The stingers are connected to their internal organs, so they die after they sting
something.

housebeautiful.com / sophisticatededge.com / futuretechreport.com

Symbiotic relationship - Bees gather honey from flowers, and flowers spread pollen and flourish through bees. Ants acquire sugar-
rich meals from what aphids excrete, and aphids are protected by ants from their predators. Clownfish are protected from their
predators using sea anemones, and anemones get nutrients from the fish. Bees and flowers Ants and aphids Clownfish and sea
anemones

2. Efforts Toward Coexistence Between Nature and Humans

As scientific technology develops and industrialization progresses, humanity has often seen nature as a target to conquer. For
industrial development, oil and various minerals were excavated in large amounts. According to Green Peace, 72% of Indonesia’s
wild forest and 15% of Amazon’s Forest have been deforested due to logging, and even at this moment, the size of a soccer field is
being destroyed every two seconds. In addition, areas of Arctic glaciers are consistently decreasing due to global warming. Such
environmental damage is pushing diverse animals to the point of extinction. Rather than seeing nature as something to subdue, we
need to strive to establish harmony and coexistence with the understanding that we are a part of nature. To this end, the UN
Environment Program (UNEP) has designated May 22nd as the “International Day for Biological Diversity,” and the UNEP carries out
many campaigns to prevent environmental destruction and to reinforce biodiversity. There are actions we can implement to practice
living together with nature such as saving resources, not using disposable products, and being attentive to environmental protection.

Application:
Mutual cooperation does not mean I am the only one benefitting from the relationship, but with both sides enjoying a
win-win situation. Let’s find ways in which we can cooperate with the members of our family and with peers at school
and put them into practice. To this end, let’s have a conversation promoting mutual cooperation.
Conclusion

Adolf Hitler, who started WWII, claimed using the survival of the fittest as the basis to say that superior people should dominate and
rule over the weak. He also said that even in nature there is a food chain, and it is common to see fighting and death, so war is not
against the order of nature. Unfortunately, many people bought in the argument and took part in the war. Consequently, WWII
broke out, creating casualties exceeding 70 million.

However, Hitler’s argument was based on a misunderstanding of Darwin’s theory of the survival of the fittest. According to the rest
of the theory, nature maintains diversity to heighten the chance of survival and to adapt to environmental changes. Genetic diversity
increases the chance of the fitting appearing, those which are able to adapt better to environmental changes. Also, an ecosystem, in
which diverse species form harmony, is healthy and balanced, so these species do not get destroyed easily. This strengthens the
food chain and its maintenance. Within the harmony nature has shown us, the mechanism of cooperation and coexistence are the
underlying factors.
Indeed, there are cases where fighting and death occur in nature. However, they are at a level where individuals fight for food for
survival, or males fight among themselves to mate with a female. It is rare to find species having war within themselves solely for the
purpose of eliminating others, instead of for survival. However, the wars we see in the world today, regardless of the size, are not
fights for survival. For the survival of humanity, it would be much better to not have any wars. Wars breaking out due to all kinds of
excuses and reasons are destroying not only humanity but nature as well. Who are starting wars that take countless lives away? For
what are they doing this? Are there people who truly win or lose in wars? We have to see this from the perspective of mankind. To
draw a picture of what the world of peace that mankind needs to restore looks like, we have seen nature in this lesson. In nature’s
original state, diversity, harmony, cooperation, and coexistence are the fundamental outline of world peace. In the following lesson,
we will look into why nature is harmonious, and think of more specific ways to achieve peace.