Dr. Agni Vlavianos-Arvanitis
B.I.O. President and Founder
How can we implement our vision to place the environment at the core of our societal structure? How do we save biodiversity and preserve the differences necessary for a healthy bios? The beauty of the human body is related to the differentiation of all its parts. The health of the whole is dependent on the health of each part. So too the body of humanity is interdependent on the preservation of all its parts, and when one part suffers we all suffer.
However, we humans have become too arrogant; we have forgotten our obligations and speak only of our rights. To guarantee a harmonious future, we need to understand the interdependence of all forms of life. If we are to save the body of bios, which encompasses animals, trees, forests, the enormous wealth of life on our planet, we must have a radical change.The good news is that, since the inception of B.I.O. in 1985, there have been many changes. Public opinion has shifted and there is a much greater awareness of environmental issues. People understand when we speak of bio-diplomacy or of biocentric values and placing the environment at the core of society, but they still do not feel that they share the obligation to bring these goals about. So the question remains; how can we make each person a participant in the goal of saving bios?The answer is bio-diplomacy, and this event is all about exchanging information and ideas. It is also about inspiration. One of the immediate threats facing us is globalisation. If globalisation is not based on bio-ethics and proceeds without a vision of environmental harmony, there will not be many more generations left to enjoy the precious gift of life on our planet.In the spirit of global co-operation in environmental protection, B.I.O. has launched a long-term campaign, inspired by the ancient Olympiads to utilise the world’s positively focused attention, at the time of the Olympic Games, to demand world cease-fire and to celebrate outstanding general, intellectual, as well as physical achievements. Regarding the Olympic Truce, we proposed and worked for a long time back in the late 1980’s and 90’s to have a UN resolution passed in support of world cease-fire during the period of the Olympic games. This resolution was signed by 75 UN member states.Everyday that goes by is a loss because so many forms of life are disappearing. We need to move at a faster pace to prevent further destruction, but we also need to take the time to consider important contributions and achievements in environmental protection. This is why B.I.O. awards Bios Prizes to enlightened leaders, who promote the environment in their endeavours. Recently a Bios Prize went to Dr. Anton Rupert of South Africa, Founder of the Peace Parks initiative. His efforts to transcend national and political boundaries for the sake of saving Africa’s natural heritage are remarkable and a true manifestation of bio-diplomacy.Where are we heading? Are we going to reach a resolution of our problems with the same vision we had in the last millennium? Extinction no longer belongs to the distant past. It is becoming a reality. We are endangering the fragile gift of life on our planet. Environmental abuse is unacceptable. What is needed today, in order for civilisation to evolve into the future, is leadership with a vision that unites and does not divide. It is therefore high time for current defence protocols to be used to save life instead of destroying it. We must convert the machinery and all of the technology available to save the oceans, the rivers, the soil. We should utilise the brilliance of the human mind to serve humanity and bios with sincerity. This is only a dream at the present moment. We exist on what is only a tiny speck in the universe, yet we go on dividing our fragile planet into smaller and smaller increments. We must wake up and realise that we cannot continue with a dead-end plan; something new is needed, a paradigm that will bring peace and joy to all humanity.
