The Universal Concept of Gaia
The core ideas of the Gaia Theory aroused a substantial change in our perception of the planet. Gaia is a scientific theory, developed by James Lovelock, which shows the Earth as a living organism. The theory was put forward in 1969 claiming it is the biosphere that generates, maintains and regulates the conditions for its own functioning. The name chosen for this theory was Gaia because, in Greek mythology, Gaia is the Goddess of the Earth.
The holistic approach of the Gaia Theory was extremely innovative because it united what was until then separated and assumed the challenge of global thinking, venturing through the complex pathways of interdisciplinarity. Lovelock and Margulis describe the retro-feeding network, in which living beings and the physical environment form a deeply interconnected and indivisible system in evolution, resulting in the climate's self-regulation and the chemical composition of the atmosphere. This possibility opened doors to the junction of Geology, Microbiology, Atmospheric Chemistry, Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and other sciences, in an integrated approach to a series of natural phenomena in which the rocks, the air and the oceans are strongly combined systems, that evolve by a single process rather than by several separated processes.
When it comes to interdisciplinarity, there is not much difference, after all, between talking about Biogeochemistry or the Gaia Theory. Gaia represents this living planet, which is much more than a collection of living beings and ecosystems, it is a complex and transcendental network, a union of beings and phenomena that create a whole immeasurably greater than the sum of its parts.
Everyone acknowledges that, either accepting the Gaia Theory or not, we must ponder very seriously the consequences of Man's actions on the planet, since climate change has made clear that the Earth's natural system is deeply interdependent.
Gaia, Goddess of the Earth
In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of the Earth as a Goddess. She was one of the first deities to appear in the universe and the mother of all other things. She was born immediately after Chaos. It is the Goddess Gaia that, after separating Heaven and Earth, comes to order the cosmos and terminate the chaos. In this process she creates several other deities and also the oceans, the mountains, the plants, the animals... Thus symbolising the world's origin, the triumph, she is the facilitator of dreams, the protectress of fertility and youth. The name Gaia, Géia or Gê, is used as a prefix in the name of various sciences related with the study of the planet, as in Geography or Geology.
Gaia, the Portuguese City
The chaos, in which this planet's neighbours live, demands an urgent task of organisation, so that the 'roof' does not fall on us all. This time, using the same metaphor, we need Gaia to organise life on Earth once again, but in a new way, separating what may be each State's sovereignty: the territory; and what is indivisible and requires a common management: the global natural systems. The task is so colossal to Humanity that we may do well to invoke the Gods.
In the north of Portugal, in the south margin of the mouth of the Douro river, facing the city of Porto, is the city of Gaia that, because of its name, wishes to assume itself as the place where the issue of the much needed organisation of the global neighbourhood is debated. Although homonymous, here the name Gaia has a different origin from the name of the Greek Goddess. It comes from the word Cale (or Gale in classic Latin). Due to the proximity between neighbours, the name PortusCale was born, which then became the name of the country - Portugal, which still means the port of Gaia.
Gaia is the third largest city of Portugal with over 300,000 inhabitants. Gaia houses the Port wine cellars, one of its greatest riches and emblems. The Ribeirinha area, where the event Gaia Commitment has taken place in 2009, offers a dazzling scenario with the monumental bridges connecting Gaia and Porto. Both cities reveal the best of their historical heritage over hills of granite, whilst the Douro river swings the Rabelo boats. Although highly developed and cosmopolitan, Gaia still has unmatched natural riches, such as the river, the seaside, the natural parks and well-preserved rural areas.
So that Gaia may be more than a distant mythological figure, rather a living symbol that can, and knows how to, change an apparently insoluble destiny, the city of Gaia accepts this challenge.
- Sign the Gaia Declaration
- This is essential to show your support and strengthen the movement. Tell everyone to sign by filling in the following short form:
