As many biologists assert, we can learn a lot about the future of human society by observing nature. When life on earth began, bacteria, the first living organisms, struggled with each other for natural resources: life, food, and territory. Yet, in time, something wonderful happened—instead of bacteria exterminating each other—as you would expect of creatures in a struggle for survival—they joined to create a new form of life: bacteria-colonies, which in fact, function as single organisms.

In fact, the essence of evolution is that parties with personal interests join into a single body and work for the well-being of the whole body.

As we examine Nature’s evolution, we discover that it evolves in stages of individuation (giving a distinct nature to each element), conflicts, and competitions. But for the most part, the elements unite and create a single system that acts in harmony and mutual reciprocity. In a similar manner to bacteria-colonies, unicellular creatures evolved into multicellular creatures, creating increasingly complex organisms of plants, animals, and eventually humans.

A research study at MIT, conducted by Dr. Jeff Gore and Prof. Alexander Van Oudenaarden, published in the April 2009 edition of the journal Science, indicates that collaboration and reciprocity do not contradict evolution. In fact, they enhance the chances of survival of living organisms.

This law applies to the whole of Nature: the more a life form consists of elements that are alien and even hostile to one another, the more evolved and connected it will eventually become.

The same rule applies to human society. Initially, we lived in disconnected clans. As the clans grew, struggles ensued for the domination of people and territory. At the same time, we developed agriculture, which created extensive commerce.

Social and cultural revolutions connected us further, and since the industrial revolution, our level of interdependence has been rapidly accelerating.

Like bacteria, we began to struggle and contend, but Nature has led us to understand that we can produce far greater benefit for all from collaboration. Thus, we have become a single human entity that depends on the cooperation among all of its parts. The law that is the basis for every natural evolution has caused us to interconnect. While we could still exist alone a few decades ago, today it is impossible.

A Global Family

Globalization is not merely a trendy word. It is the expression of a relentless natural development, promoting us to a new life, a truly global one, where each country can enjoy life only to the extent that it collaborates and contributes to the global well-being. If we choose to resist nature and live separately from others, we will suffer the same fate that any organism does when a part of it decides to detach itself from the others—cancer will evolve.

Today’s crises indicate that we have entered the next stage in human evolution, in which we are becoming a single, united family, just like the bacteria that began to live in colonies. Biologist Elisabet Sahtouris eloquently described this message in a presentation titled «Learning from Nature to Create a Global Family» at the «Creating a New Civilization» forum held in Tokyo, November 2005: “Globalization… is a natural biological process toward the formation of a human global family.” She also stated that, “It is our evolutionary mandate to create sustainable global economics and truly become a global family.” Evolution will occur regardless. If we refuse to accept it, we will discover that the obstacles are only increasing.

External monitors and regulators, and various restrictions or sanctions are not the solution to bringing people to this vital understanding of Nature’s interconnectedness, and eventuating our common human goal. The solution begins with a conscious change in the system of human relations.