The Consequences Of Disturbing Nature: The Medieval Papacy And Mao’s China – OpEd

Throughout history, humanity has often faced unexpected and devastating consequences when interfering with the natural order. Two striking examples of this are the extermination of cats during the Middle Ages by the papacy and the killing of birds in China during Mao's era. Both events illustrate the dangers of disrupting the balance of nature.

The Extermination of Cats and the Plague in the Middle Ages

In medieval Europe, cats, especially black ones, were seen as symbols of bad luck and evil, largely due to Christian church influence. This belief intensified under the papacy, which encouraged the killing of cats. As the cat population dwindled, the number of rats increased rapidly. At the same time, rats carrying fleas infected with the plague bacterium spread from Asia to Europe. With fewer cats to control the rat population, the plague spread rapidly, leading to the Black Death, which killed approximately one-third of Europe's population.

In contrast, such an issue did not occur in Turkey, where cats were commonly kept in homes and neighborhoods. The presence of cats helped keep the rat population under control, reducing the prevalence of plague outbreaks.

The Killing of Birds in Mao's China

In 1958, Mao Zedong, the leader of the People's Republic of China, initiated the "Four Pests" campaign, targeting sparrows, rats, flies, and mosquitoes. Sparrows were singled out because they were believed to consume large amounts of grain. The public launched a massive campaign to kill sparrows. However, this led to an unforeseen problem. Sparrows also fed on insects, acting as natural pest controllers. With the decline in the sparrow population, insect populations surged, causing severe damage to crops. This contributed to a great famine in China, resulting in millions of deaths.

In Turkey, a new law aimed at capturing and euthanizing stray animals, particularly stray dogs, could potentially reduce the natural dog population. While the consequences of this action are currently difficult to predict, the possibility of disrupting the balance of nature should not be overlooked.

The Consequences of Disrupting Nature's Balance

Both the events in medieval Europe and Mao's China demonstrate the dangers of disturbing nature's balance. Every creature in nature plays a role, and the balance between these roles is critical for the healthy functioning of ecosystems. The extermination of cats and birds removed natural predators, allowing harmful populations to grow unchecked.

Every intervention in nature's order challenges humanity's capacity to understand ecological balances. Historical examples show that such interventions often lead to unforeseen and destructive outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully consider and understand the complexities of ecosystems before tampering with nature's balance. The consequences of interfering with the natural order often come at a great cost to humanity, both in the past and potentially in the future.