The EXTREMOPHILE Mission Statement

Gause's Law (long version): Two species competing for the same resources cannot stably coexist.

(short version): One species, one niche.

The Extremophile mission entails A CONTINUING EFFORT TO RESTORE NATURAL HABITAT BY REDUCING OUR HUMAN FOOTPRINT. The word, "extremophile", which is not capitalised in normal usage referring to the ecological strategy of a motely collection of species, mostly microbes, will in these pages be capitalised as a strategy of human choice. The Extremophile Choice is a commitment to the restoration of wilderness, and to its close but non-intrusive appreciation through the simultaneous pursuit, by progressive use of technology and architecture, of a life as free as possible from dependence on prime Natural habitat. In making the Extremophile Choice we interpret Gause's Law to mean that, ultimately, Man 'cannot stably coexist' with the rest of Nature (meaning species, or the living component of ecosystems). Since humanity doesn't occupy a niche with Naturally enforced resource partitions, then we are either not a species at all (just a consummately destructive alien meddler) or we must become a 'free species' with an extremophile 'niche'. Either we must let Nature make its own rules, or there is no authentic Nature.

This is a choice that can be made in a tentative and thus practicable way by individuals in support groups of any size. It is also just a beginning from which further decisions must follow without pre-judgement: no other motive is necessary in principle, nor is any strictly political or religious belief necessarily excluded. It is hoped that any attempt to apply this prime directive of containable living next to undeveloped wilderness (in concentrated groups where necessary) will bring about a sense of freedom from the guilt and denial that arises in many thoughtful persons today (however subliminally) out of our collective failure in the ultimately impossible task of sustainable living within Nature.

The Extremophile ethic as given above does not propose significant changes to any working program aimed at preserving Nature, but it regards the Extremophile Choice as the only occupation capable of fully empowering these efforts with the Dickinsonian standard of 'exhilaration' given below. Adopting this ethic qualifies as a "no regrets" choice; and furthermore it means a way of life sufficient in itself, regardless of any long range benefits through encouragement, research, or leadership, to the rest of humanity a 'species' that is indeed "of this world"; that is still dependent upon its "natural resources"; that might always, out of biological or spiritual need, want to live with some of it's cultivated life forms or in proximity to authentically large ecosystem preserves; but for whom culture, architecture and infrastructure, not ecosystem, is 'home'.