2020 has been a very challenging year for many. As Christmas time is approaching, we are still in the midst of a pandemic and nobody can tell for sure how long it will last nor what will happen next. One thing that the scientific community agrees on however, is that the increase in pandemics is closely related to the loss of biodiversity and the human impact on nature, and that the only way we can efficiently reduce this threat is by changing our relationship to nature. 

“It was known that a pandemic was going to come, in the same way that we know that if we don’t change things, another one will come very soon, sooner than we imagine. To prevent pandemics we have to become allies with nature,” says Fernando Valladares, scientist and research professor at The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), during an interview for the newly launched campaign Define Humano, initiated by Save The Med Foundation and the creativity and technology agency ‘Patterson Agency” and published at definehumano.com. 

To understand what had brought us to the current situation, what we can learn from it and how we can avoid it in the future, the STM team and Patterson Agency spent the summer months interviewing experts in a wide array of areas. 

“Is this current reality with face masks, social distancing and movement restrictions the future we wanted for ourselves, for our children and for the planet? If not, what can we learn from this and how can we co-create the reality we want? That is what Define Humano is all about.” says Mari Gutic, from the Save The Med Foundation.

Through interviews with experts, informational videos, infographics and downloadable materials, Define Humano invites citizens to reflect on our role in nature and proposes actions which can lead us towards a more resilient society. The platform definehumano.com is an invitation to all to join the conversation and help co-create a new reality where humans have a positive role in nature. 

Through the visions and action steps shared by the participating experts, the campaign explores the benefits of diversifying our economic system, proposes action steps for moving towards a low impact lifestyle, presents regenerative projects that are already being developed in the Balearic Islands, explores the pillars of a comprehensive education and highlights the role that companies and the tourism sector can have in this necessary shift of paradigm. 

“We believe that human beings can become a positive and regenerative force in nature and that this crisis can help us redefine our role on the planet,” says Ana Núñez, from Patterson Agency.

Visit definehumano.comand follow @definehumano on Instagram to see the interviews and to to download the resources that interest you. For example: 

– Are you wanting to reduce your plastic footprint and support the local economy by shop from local farmers? Download the list of Zero Waste shops and that of Local Producers in the Balearic Islands from the “Low Impact Living” page. 

– Do you want to support citizen science while you are out at sea? Download a list of projects that involve the reposting of cetacean sightings, ghost gear recovery and turtle rescues to participate in, on the Marine Regeneration page! 

– Are you looking to get involved in regenerative projects on land? At the bottom of the Collaborative Communities page you can download a document listing different projects by type, along with their websites and/or contact info. 

Are you just curious to learn more and get inspired? Watch the short videos with experts which include: 

• The former education minister and professor Thakur S. Powdyel who speaks about the value of “Gross National Happiness” as a tool for change and a measure of the success of a society which is based on social and ecological values and shares the pillars of “The Green Schools”. 
• Dr. Joan Martínez Alier, Professor of Economics and Economic History at the Autonomous University of Barcelona who talks about the real meaning of economy and how we can diversify our existing model. 
• Brenda Chávez, journalist specialized in sustainability and author of the book “Your consumption can change the world” who talked about our power as consumers. 
• Guillem Ferrer, founder of Poc a Poc, Tierra, Alma y Sociedad and organizer of the conference “Educació per la Vida” who highlights the value of a holistic education.
• Salud Deudero Company, Marine Ecologist and Research Professor at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, who explains why marine protection is crucial, especially in times of crisis. 
• Rosa García, biologist, Doctor in Sustainability and General Director of Rezero who provides suggestions on how we can avoid the consumer-trap and shop in mindful ways that increase our levels of happiness and satisfaction, rather than reducing them. 
• Catalina Torres, doctor and professor of Applied Economics at the UIB, secretary of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory on Climate Change (LINCC UIB), shares suggestions for how we can help reduce the acceleration of climate change in our everyday lives as well as on the level of politics. 
• Miquel Puiggròs Noguera, biologist and technical manager at Preverisk, a company dedicated to advising, training and auditing physical and hygienic-sanitary risks shares suggestions on how we can protect ourselves from the pandemic without harming nature. 
• Mar Romera, Teacher with a degree in pedagogy and psychopedagogy, specialist in emotional intelligence and author of the pedagogical model “Educate con las tres Cs: Capabilities, Competences and Heart” shares her thoughts on what the education system can learn from this crisis and how we can educate for life. 
• Gabriel Morey, technician at Tragsatec, member of the IUCN Shark Specialists Group and co-founder of the Save The Med Foundation teaches us about the values of Marine Protected Areas. 
• Fiona Tomas Nash, Senior Scientist at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies UIB (IMEDEA UIB-CSIC) shares information about citizen science and invites participation. 
• Ricardo Sagarminaga, marine biologist and scientist at Save The Med Foundation tells us about the alarming threat of ghost gear to marine biodiversity and how we can help reduce it from home and at sea. 
• Daniel Christian Wahl, Biologist with degrees in Holistic Science and Natural Design, author of the book “Designing regenerative cultures” highlights the value of a diversified and more resilient local economy and provides examples on how companies and the tourist sector can choose to play an active role in this transition while at the same time managing risks to their business. 
• Aina Calafat Rogers, coordinator of international projects of the Spanish Society of Ecological Agriculture / Agroecology (SEAE) highlights the value of supporting local businesses and provides examples of cooperative initiatives on the Islands. 
• Miguel Ángel Benito, president of Eticentre, Center for the Ethical Management of Companies shares his thoughts on why we can’t go back to the way things were and how we can, as individuals and business owners, find meaning and act for a sustainable future. 

All interviews, downloadable materials and infographics will be made available on the definehumano.com website, Instagram page @definehumano and on the campaign’s YouTube channel.