We have broken that which holds us all together
We have forgotten our shared origins
We don’t realise that we are
all from one
But
There
Is
Hope
We Face a Threat Unlike Any Other
Humankind is facing a threat as catastrophic as the one faced by the dinosaurs 66 million
years ago. But unlike that single uncontrollable cosmic force that led to their demise,
our threat sits in the multitudes among us. Today, life on our planet is being split
apart by arrogance, entitlement and dominion.
Across societies, people have lost understanding of our shared origins and the true
value of diversity, discriminating against each other based on gender, sexuality,
ethnicity and scientifically invalid classifications such as race. Abusing nature through
reckless use of resources. Making choices that carry cruel social, economic
and environmental consequences. Nature and humankind will be torn
apart
if we continue on this devastating trajectory.
We, as humankind, have turned against ourselves and against nature,
believing we are above and apart from it. We have broken the natural order we fit into.
Yet, we are so deeply connected that we depend on each other for survival.
The way we treat each other and the world we live in needs to change before it is too late.
The
Oneness
Answer
Lies
In
Our
Science contradicts our pervading cultural and natural hierarchies. Life’s 3.8-billion-year fossil history
reveals that all people and all living things share the same origins. Any two people from opposite ends
of the globe share a 99.9% genetic likeness. All colours, all creeds, and all people across all continents
share a single common origin. We are all from one.
Our origins can all be traced to LUCA, our last universal single common ancestor.
A
3-billion-year-old microbe from which all species living today inherited DNA, with modifications.
Which is why we believe that the sooner we can educate people around our common humanity
and our inextricably connected place in nature, the greater our chances of ending the looming
threat to our survival. We can and must unite around our interconnectedness if we are to piece
things back together and continue humankind’s lifeline.
The ancient tree of life holds our true place in the world, a place to which we need to return
so
that we can piece things back together for ourselves and the world around us.
Our Role at Past
As Africa’s largest independent not-for-profit organisation working in the origin sciences, we support the research and integrated, impactful programmes that provide evidence-based answers about our place in the world. Answers that change the way we live with and for each other. We are working to grow our understanding by supporting academic research in Africa into the origin sciences, sharing this research with the wider public including school students.
At PAST, we have the knowledge to make a meaningful impact.
We base our very existence on
looking back to the dawn of the deepest time for lessons to create a better future for us all. Lessons that are based on the conclusive science of our shared origins.
The Role of Palaeontology
Our deep knowledge of palaeontology is a springboard from which we use the facts learned through science and research into our past to address some of the key challenges facing society today, including divisions based on race and geography as well as the severe effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Based on our shared common origins, we call our approach All from One.
We have broken that which holds us all together
We have forgotten our shared origins
We don’t realise that we are
all from one
But
There
Is
Hope
We Face a Threat Unlike Any Other
Humankind is facing a threat as catastrophic as the one faced
by
the dinosaurs 66 million
years ago. But unlike that single
uncontrollable cosmic force that led to their demise,
our threat sits in the multitudes among us.
Today, life on our planet is being split apart by
arrogance, entitlement and dominion.
Across societies, people have lost understanding
of our shared origins and the true value
of diversity,
discriminating against each other based on gender,
sexuality, ethnicity
ethnicity and scientifically
invalid classifications suchas race.
Abusing nature through reckless
reckless use of
resources. Making choices that carry cruel social,
economic and environmental consequences.
Nature and humankind will be torn apart if we
continue on this devastating trajectory.
We, as humankind, have turned against ourselves and
against nature,
believing we are above and apart
from it. We have broken the natural order we fit into.
Yet, we are so deeply connected that we depend on
each other for survival.
The way we treat each other and the world we live in
needs to change before it is too late.
The
Oneness
Answer
Lies
In
Our
Science contradicts our pervading cultural
and natural hierarchies. Life’s 3.8-billion-year
fossil history
reveals that all people
and all living things share the same origins.
Any two people from opposite ends
of the globe share a 99.9% genetic likeness.
All colours, all creeds, and all people
across all continents
share a single
common origin. We are all from one.
Our origins can all be traced to LUCA,
our last universal single common ancestor.
A 3-billion-year-old microbe from which all species
living today inherited DNA, with modifications.
Which is why we believe that the sooner we can
educate people around our common humanity
and our inextricably connected place in nature,
the greater our chances of ending the looming
threat to our survival.
We can and must unite around our
interconnectedness if we are to piece things
back together and continue humankind’s lifeline.
The ancient tree of life holds our true place in
the world, a place to which we need to return
so
that we can piece things back together for
ourselves and the world around us.
Our Role at Past
As Africa’s largest independent not-for-profit organisation
working in the origin sciences, we
support the research
and integrated, impactful programmes that provide evidence-based
answers about our place in the world.
Answers that change the way we live with and for each other.
We are working to grow our understanding by supporting
academic research in Africa into the
origin sciences, sharing this
research with the wider public including school students.
At PAST, we have the knowledge to make a
meaningful impact.
We base our very existence on
looking back to the dawn of the deepest time for lessons
to create a better future for us all. Lessons that are based
on the conclusive science of our shared origins.
The Role of Palaeontology
Our deep knowledge of palaeontology is a springboard
from which we use the facts learned
through science
and research into our past to address some of the key
challenges facing society
today, including divisions
based on race and geography as well as the severe
effects
of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Based on our shared common origins,
we call our approach All from One.