All animals matter
There are countless examples of man’s cruelty to the most vulnerable among us. Often, it starts with animals and escalates upward. In 1874, it took the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to bring the abuse case of 10-year old Mary Ellen McCormack before the New York State Supreme Court. Our FBI now profiles animal abusers when investigating domestic abuse crimes.
Most of us are saddened and disgusted with the savagery of blatant abuse, but many of us don’t think about the everyday actions that can contribute. Consider that those who trap wildlife may be eradicating coyotes, which can result in an overabundance of rabbits. Perhaps they may snag a neighbor’s dog or cat, which can result in pain, suffering, and hundreds of dollars of veterinarian bills. What happens when an adult or child tries to free the dog? Many have sustained serious injury and were forced to seek medical attention.
The steak you ate for dinner may have come from an animal confined to a small space in a factory farm and fed hormones and antibiotics. The milk you had for breakfast may have come from a cow whose calf was taken from her immediately after birth so that she could produce milk for humans. The eggs you bought at the grocery store may have come from a hen confined to a battery cage. Bacon may taste good, but it comes with a huge cost to the pig and your health. Cosmetics may contain animal ingredients or have been tested on animals. There is no reason to wear fur anymore other than for vanity, and many designers no longer use it.
All animals matter.
Because of the availability of mountains of information, most people are aware of much of the above. Many businesses and consumers have taken steps to ensure the continued welfare of all animals, including human animals. We are beginning to realize that the existence of our own species may depend on the existence of others. Animals matter more than ever.
Many realize that cattle are destroying the ozone layer and facilitating climate change due to the methane they emit into the atmosphere, but some don’t know that huge amounts of rainforest have been decimated so that people can plant grain for their cattle. The irony is that if grain wasn’t being fed to cattle, it could be used as food for humans. Nearly half of the world’s species of plants, animals, and microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation.
Most animals live in rainforests. Rainforests house the world’s lemurs. Lemurs matter. Most Madagascar rainforests are gone due to deforestation and agriculture.
If all this weren’t bad enough, the growing demand for palm oil has placed pressure on palm oil producing countries like Indonesia to rapidly expand their plantations and ramp up their production. They do this by clearing vast areas of old growth rainforests, which destroys the habitats of critically endangered species such as orangutans, elephants, and tigers. Orangutans, elephants, and tigers matter.
Our fragile ecosystem depends on balance. It’s like a game of dominoes. One species affects another, and the repercussions will affect us. If the pollinators are destroyed due to pesticides and plant decimation, they will take us with them in a few short years.
We are all aware of the rising sea levels and destruction of coral reefs and ocean life. Apparently, the open oceans of the world have lost an astounding 77 billion tons of oxygen over the past 50 years, leading to an increase in the so-called dead zones. Aquatic life matters, and so does oxygen.
So what does a seafood-loving, planet-loving animal advocate do? It takes courage to make changes that will improve our lives and the lives of the many creatures we share our planet with. Not everyone is in a position to help animals, but everyone is in a position to refrain from intentionally harming them. Perhaps that which ties us to animals also defines our humanity. Live your life proactively. Be a hero for humans, animals, and the environment.
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