Page 17 - Issue 15

Busy Bees by Maia Loeffler, HDOZ

It’s interesting to think that human ideologies and
ideas can come from the interactions and patterns
we observe in nature. There are many animals that
exhibit ‘collectivist’ behaviours, prioritising the
community over the individual. One such animal is
the honeybee.

Bees have always been described as hard-working,
productive creatures. We see them in our gardens,
flying from daisy to daffodil, always on the go.
Throughout history, they have been adopted as
symbols of organisation and group morality by
many political unions. The collectivism of
honeybees comes to light in their collective
responsibility over their hive. Worker bees will put
in their all to ensure the hive is functioning well, to
the point that they sacrifice their lives to safeguard
the future of the colony. From stinging enemies, to
travelling extreme distances, to voluntarily
excluding themselves from the hive when sick -
bees exhibit collectivism in its purest form: a
selfless plight for the good of the community.

A lot of people are scared of bees, and maybe
there’s something in that. These creatures are
frightening and powerful because they aren’t
afraid to stand up (or sting) for what they believe
in. I say we should take a page out of their book.
As bees already know, a shared goal is more a
meaningful, rewarding and engaging one. I
challenge you all to find a common goal – political
or not – and fight for it. Together.