So many of our systems largely depend on animals, and this has created many negative repercussions.
1- We treat living beings as machines, their food and shelter are inputs, and their body parts and secretions are outputs. Our educational programs are about optimizing and cheapening the inputs for more and more 'efficient' and commodified outputs.
2- Destruction of our ecosphere. Depending on organisms further up the food chain, makes us less efficient in our use of planet earth. Is the biggest contributor to global warming, ocean dead zones, ground water pollution, soil compaction, destruction of rain forest.
3- Animals without homes, sentient living beings with personalities, emotions, wants and needs, treated as objects, tortured, killed, contained, and homeless.
Something that can significantly help in our wrongs we have committed to the planet and fellow beings is being vegan. Choosing to refrain from eating and using sentient beings and higher trophic organisms, for any purpose.
But just as the human family has done many atrocious things over the years, merely 'stopping' doing something, isn't always enough. we need to take an active effort in undoing and fixing what has been wronged.
For example, merely ending slavery for African Americans living in the USA, although an important step isn't enough. Support is needed to help balance the power/control/patterns that had been created for so many years. Active involvement and participation needs to be taken on all levels to adequately provide buffers to subjugated peoples, in order to level the playing the field.
Basically we need to take responsibility for the wrongs that have been committed and do whatever we can in our power to not only stop the actions that subjugate, but also support to the extent that is beneficial and distributes equality among all living beings.
So in taking these animals off of our plates, out of our clothes and household products. As far as possible each of us, needs to take consideration how we can further support equality for animals.
Sustainability is important, and to me sustainability includes how we can care for all of our current living being adequately. This doesn't mean to live lavishly, but to reduce our own consumption as much as possible and share our resources as much as possible with those without power to obtain resources, or those with little power.
This means to donate as much as possible to worthy causes. Ideally causes that address multiple key issues at once.
For example, Sadhana Forest, is a vegan community who also delves into local food, water and sustainability issues. In Kenya, they work with communities in helping them plant and maintain trees, become more food sovereign, raise ground water, provide alternative energy to the community. Several issues are being tackled at once, these are awesome programs to support.
Also contributing to wildlife reserves, to help pay for security guards, wildlife rangers, etc.
In supporting locals to protect the area and support wildlife aids local communities by all of the services provided by wildlife -- rainwater capture and filtration, medicine, food, etc.
Contributing to organizations working in animal rights, Animal Defenders International, who work in several countries rescuing and lobbying against animals kept in abusive situations, zoos and circuses.
Animal rights organizations, and all and any type of animal sanctuaries, where abused and neglected animals have the ability to live out the rest of their lives in peace.
There are other ways to contribute, when cash is low or you just want to do something more.
Organizing vegan meetups, establish a community in your area. Hold pot lucks, host vegan videos to share the message, contact restaurants on vegan options.
Another way to support animals is to stop buying animal breeds. This one often is not spoken about enough, especially among people who adamantly 'love' animals. Cat and dog breeding only adds to the 7-8 millions of abandoned pets every year, and that's only in the USA.
We need to be more responsible with the way we think about animals. They are not objects, they are not status symbols, they are sentient beings with their own personalities.
The best thing we can do for animals is to adopt from animal shelters. And if you are fond of a particular breed, many times those breeds end up in shelters, may take a bit of scouting, but you will probably find what you are looking for.
Consider adopting an older animal. Babies are usually the first to get adopted out. But animals of all ages need home and love.
If your lifestyle is such that adopting an animal is out of the question, consider fostering an animal for or a week or two when you can. You will learn the joys of having animals around, and you can also see just how supportive that action is for your local animal shelter. Many animals in shelters just don't get the personalized attention that they need. And is really crucial that they learn to become social and used to households, it really increases their chances of being adopted out, especially as the shelter can learn more about their personalities through you!
It may seem weird to have the animals for a short amount of time, but as a community, I envision that our society can collectively take responsibility for the pain and suffering we've inflicted on animals for so many years, and open up our homes to either permanently or temporarily care for animals. I think it's the least we can do as a community to help the situation.
1- We treat living beings as machines, their food and shelter are inputs, and their body parts and secretions are outputs. Our educational programs are about optimizing and cheapening the inputs for more and more 'efficient' and commodified outputs.
2- Destruction of our ecosphere. Depending on organisms further up the food chain, makes us less efficient in our use of planet earth. Is the biggest contributor to global warming, ocean dead zones, ground water pollution, soil compaction, destruction of rain forest.
3- Animals without homes, sentient living beings with personalities, emotions, wants and needs, treated as objects, tortured, killed, contained, and homeless.
Something that can significantly help in our wrongs we have committed to the planet and fellow beings is being vegan. Choosing to refrain from eating and using sentient beings and higher trophic organisms, for any purpose.
But just as the human family has done many atrocious things over the years, merely 'stopping' doing something, isn't always enough. we need to take an active effort in undoing and fixing what has been wronged.
For example, merely ending slavery for African Americans living in the USA, although an important step isn't enough. Support is needed to help balance the power/control/patterns that had been created for so many years. Active involvement and participation needs to be taken on all levels to adequately provide buffers to subjugated peoples, in order to level the playing the field.
Basically we need to take responsibility for the wrongs that have been committed and do whatever we can in our power to not only stop the actions that subjugate, but also support to the extent that is beneficial and distributes equality among all living beings.
So in taking these animals off of our plates, out of our clothes and household products. As far as possible each of us, needs to take consideration how we can further support equality for animals.
Sustainability is important, and to me sustainability includes how we can care for all of our current living being adequately. This doesn't mean to live lavishly, but to reduce our own consumption as much as possible and share our resources as much as possible with those without power to obtain resources, or those with little power.
This means to donate as much as possible to worthy causes. Ideally causes that address multiple key issues at once.
For example, Sadhana Forest, is a vegan community who also delves into local food, water and sustainability issues. In Kenya, they work with communities in helping them plant and maintain trees, become more food sovereign, raise ground water, provide alternative energy to the community. Several issues are being tackled at once, these are awesome programs to support.
Also contributing to wildlife reserves, to help pay for security guards, wildlife rangers, etc.
In supporting locals to protect the area and support wildlife aids local communities by all of the services provided by wildlife -- rainwater capture and filtration, medicine, food, etc.
Contributing to organizations working in animal rights, Animal Defenders International, who work in several countries rescuing and lobbying against animals kept in abusive situations, zoos and circuses.
Animal rights organizations, and all and any type of animal sanctuaries, where abused and neglected animals have the ability to live out the rest of their lives in peace.
There are other ways to contribute, when cash is low or you just want to do something more.
Organizing vegan meetups, establish a community in your area. Hold pot lucks, host vegan videos to share the message, contact restaurants on vegan options.
Another way to support animals is to stop buying animal breeds. This one often is not spoken about enough, especially among people who adamantly 'love' animals. Cat and dog breeding only adds to the 7-8 millions of abandoned pets every year, and that's only in the USA.
We need to be more responsible with the way we think about animals. They are not objects, they are not status symbols, they are sentient beings with their own personalities.
The best thing we can do for animals is to adopt from animal shelters. And if you are fond of a particular breed, many times those breeds end up in shelters, may take a bit of scouting, but you will probably find what you are looking for.
Consider adopting an older animal. Babies are usually the first to get adopted out. But animals of all ages need home and love.
If your lifestyle is such that adopting an animal is out of the question, consider fostering an animal for or a week or two when you can. You will learn the joys of having animals around, and you can also see just how supportive that action is for your local animal shelter. Many animals in shelters just don't get the personalized attention that they need. And is really crucial that they learn to become social and used to households, it really increases their chances of being adopted out, especially as the shelter can learn more about their personalities through you!
It may seem weird to have the animals for a short amount of time, but as a community, I envision that our society can collectively take responsibility for the pain and suffering we've inflicted on animals for so many years, and open up our homes to either permanently or temporarily care for animals. I think it's the least we can do as a community to help the situation.
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