ABSTRACT
Earth is the only known planet with life so far, and it is saturated with it. Non-human living beings are necessary for human survival, even when, in some cases, they can threaten human health, well-being, lives, and livelihoods. The living world demands that humanity understands itself as integral and interactive without privilege, letting go of binary constructions along the lines of people versus nature, culture versus the environment, and variations. Non-human life’s hazards, harm, and help with respect to human beings are shown through microbiology emphasizing disease, macrobiology covering flora and fauna, and the collectives of ecosystems, biomes, and anthromes. Fire as a hazard and resource illustrates how the living world is dynamic and hugely intertwined with non-living aspects and human social worlds. The resulting interplay among human life, non-human life, and abiotic aspects is part of understanding disaster risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities.
