“A Thought and a Smile…”
By Eelco H. Dykstra, M.D.
Columnists author articles offering an opinion or perspective about a particular subject.The columns I write are ‘playfully provocative’ and intended to deliver both a smile and a thought. A smile because you hadn’t quite looked at something that way and a thought because the column may leave you wondering…
What are your memories when you had Biology in school?
An eye-opening experience because you realized how interconnected everything in life and nature is? Or did you find biology classes boring and all you were interested in was to get a passing grade? Or was it something in between?
When we translate biology from Greek, we get “the study of life.” Nowadays, it is also referred to as ‘Life Sciences.’ Regardless of how you call it, many consider the Greek philosopher Aristotle as the Father of Biology and Maria Sibylla Merian, a German entomologist, naturalist, and scientific illustrator who died in Amsterdam in 1717, as the mother of Biology.
Hang on, wait a minute!
‘Biology’ is the body of knowledge that is relevant to all entities that live in today’s world? ‘Biology’ is a branch of science that deals with living organisms and their vital processes and is based on centuries of observation, investigation, reporting, and discourse?
Well, how could Diplomats then not be interested?
So, let’s present you with a refresher course: “Biology 101 for Diplomats”!
ESSENTIALS
It may sound like a platitude, but when it comes to what is essential, the “4F” approach summarizes all animal behaviour: fighting, fleeing, feeding, and reproduction. There is considerable truth in this tired joke, as all animals – including humans – must make decisions about conflicts, predator avoidance, feeding, and mating.
Diplomats know this – more so than most.
CELLS
Are universal building blocks of everything that is alive and the smallest unit in nature that can live on its own. They have an internal environment (cytoplasm) that contains a brain (nucleus) from which instructions are given to a wide variety of organelles.
These organelles represent essential services like energy, food, internal communication, transport, health, and waste disposal. Each cell is encapsulated by a semi-permeable membrane through which all goods and messages, inbound and outbound, must pass.
Diplomats know this – perhaps more so than most.
HUMANS
An adult human body is estimated to contain about 30 trillion (3×1013) human cells with an equal number of bacteria (!). Cells together create tissues, different tissues create organs and then organ systems. Obviously on a much larger and intricate scale, the human body’s structure and function resemble those of a cell.
With 60% of body weight consisting of fluid (cytoplasm), a central nervous system (nucleus) directs nine systems that work in unison to keep life-sustaining processes running. They break down food for fuel, clear away waste, repair damage, fight predators such as infectious germs and keep a close watch on both the internal and outside environment to keep us safe.
Diplomats know this – perhaps more so than most.
COMMUNITIES
Whether you call it a tribe, village, town, city or nation, humans are social animals that tend to (want to) live and work together in groups based on social/societal cohesion.
At city level humans (cells) live in different neighbourhoods (tissues), at national levels we can find provinces or regions (limbs, torso, neck, head).
Each community, irrespective of location, size, or type, depends on an uninterrupted supply of essential services such as governance, energy, food, water, housing, economy, communication, transport, health, education, and safety. At community levels, this system of essential services is often referred to as ‘Critical Infrastructure’ and its protection a top priority.
Diplomats know this, perhaps more so than most.
PLANET
Earth is a Cell or Organelle, Space is Cytoplasm, the Sun is a Mitochondrion, and all other planets are different Cells or Organelles? Are all of us living in different communities on the surface of a semi-permeable membrane?
Nobody knows – it is a mere hypothesis…
Since all courses end with an exam, here’s a multiple-choice question for you:
- Diplomats can be considered messengers within cells (m-RNA)
- Diplomats are gatekeepers for incoming and outgoing information through semi-permeable membranes.
- Diplomats are part of an overall Early Warning Systems (EWS) because they function as sensors in a Smart Sensor Grid
- All the above are correct.
- None of the above are correct.
You tell me!
About the author:
Once dubbed a ‘Global Nomad’ in East Africa, Eelco H. Dykstra is a seasoned international crisis and emergency expert. As a true ‘Prac-Ademic’, he blends – also in his column “A Thought and a Smile” – his innate optimism with knowledge from his practical experience and rigorous fact-finding.
Aside from being founder/chair of the Daily Impact Emergency Management (DIEM) network and a visiting professor in South Africa, he initiated the ’20/20 Vision’ program for the dual purpose of strengthening value-based resilience and overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of implementing lessons (to be) learned. Eelco has been a correspondent, written multiple books and articles and continues to work extensively with media, government, business, NGO’s and community-based initiatives. In short, Eelco is a transdisciplinary and trans-cultural multi-tasker – just like diplomats are.
Among his hobbies are cooking and playing the cello – see picture, taken by Tom Manning, during an impromptu performance with the Soweto Youth Orchestra.
Eelco H. Dykstra Professor (visiting), Adaptation and Resilience, University of South-Africa, UNISA. Chair, ’20/20 Vision’ Program: How do we go from ‘Risk’ to ‘Resilience”? Founder, Daily Impact Emergency Management (DIEM) Network
www.diem.nu www.20outof20.vision / eelco.dykstra@diem.nu
