Africa Geographic February 2009 [antikvár]

'li founder's note ^^ What would he [Darwin] think about the world of today, of the great destruction of the very life forms he showed us how to understand ^ ^ "t is fitting that we join the world in celebrating the life and intellect of Charles Darwin as the 150th anniversary of his The Origin of Species . approaches, as does the 200th anniversary of his birth. With the exception of Albert Einstein, can there possibly be another human being who has contributed so much to the modern development of our thinking? First, Darwin explained how biology really works and then, some 20 years after his masterwork was published, the young German was born who would tell us how physics works. The world has not been the same since and, despite the most rigorous of examination by subsequent scientists, the stature of these two giants continues to grow, notwithstanding the ever-widening and deepening pool of knowledge we have about almost everything. I once visited Charles Darwin's home, Down House, just outside the village of the same name, but which in that quirky British way is spelt Downe. This was long before its re-opening under the auspices of English Heritage in 1998, after much fundraising on the part of the British Museum. I seem to remember reaching the big white house down a steep, tree-tunnelled lane. Of course, the relative isolation of the property, only some 25 kilometres south-east of London, would have suited Darwin's increasingly reclusive nature down to the ground. For he lived his adult life in two parts, the much shorter being his five-year adventure around the world aboard HMS Beagle, followed by some 40 years cogitating and corresponding from Down House, which he seldom left. I would like to go there again to see the new exhibitions, including many of his personal possessions, such as a detailed replica of his cabin on board HMS Beagle and digital interactive displays of his notebooks. The English Heritage website also refers to the 'brand-new handheld multimedia tour of the house and gardens [that] bring to life the world in which Darwin lived and worked, providing a fascinating insight into the many delightful ways he gathered evidence using his own family and the surrounding environment as inspiration, helping shape the theories that continue to influence to this day'. What appeals to me more would be to walk again in the gardens - Darwin's 'Outdoor Laboratory' - now restored to their appearance during his life there. How great it would be to amble along the Sandwalk, his famous 'thinking path', to see some of his outdoor experiments recreated in the garden and greenhouse, and perhaps to sink into a reverie, imagining oneself to be in conversation with, or just listening to, the great man. What would he think about the world of today, of the great destruction of the very life forms he showed us how to understand, of global warming and of humankind's inhumanity? I like to think that this precursor of the 'working from home' generation would be active on all fronts, eagerly embracing the web and the blogosphere, to engage with his disciples and detractors alike, and continuing to make a difference. About pur magazine Africa Ceograpfiic is editoriaily and financiaiiy independent. It enjoys the support and endorsement of several non-government organisations, but it is not affiliated In any way to these bodies or to any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Africa Ceogropfiic strives to foster an awareness of wildlife, conservation, ecotravel, indigenous cultures and the general environment. It consistently advocates the wisest use of natural resources in a manner that involves and is of real benefit to the people of Africa. Africa Ceograpitic is published 11 times a year.