MOSCOW -- Planet Earth, aka Mother Nature, is a sturdy killer. Preachers, environmentalists and sunset lovers keep trying to persuade us that it is as benevolent and fragile as a loving aging parent. Not at all. The environment we live in is hard-nosed and violent -- hardly a mother figure but rather a mean impartial witch.

Do we hurt nature when we dump oil into the ocean or radioactive waste into mountain caves? No, we just hurt our own species. As for nature, it changes for sure, losing fish and weeds, but as an entity it does not suffer the least bit.

Earth has gone through gigantic transformations over millions of years. It has lost a zillion species and a few continents in the process -- and hardly noticed. Nature is not about nice healthy woods and crystal clean brooks, pristine coral reefs and frolicking lion cubs. It's just out there, evolving. It has survived an asteroid impact and will certainly survive our worst abuse.