Sunday, June 28, 2015

And Justice For All Species

Now that we're starting to see more social justice and equality, let's keep the ball rolling. Our next big task is environmental justice, not just the fact that climate change will adversely impact the poor, but that it will decimate (and is decimating) entire ecosystems and species. When we can hold bees and birds in our hands and be transformed by the miracle of compassion that touch brings, when we can be transformed by the same between two men or two women, then it is not a far step to extend our compassion to all creatures on this rare and glorious planet. We are all equal, all key components in a rich web of hope, compassion, and freedom. Stand up for each other. Fight for equality and the right for all to live out their lives as they're designed to do.

5 comments:

Saurs said...

It's always uncomfortable when conservative reactionaries co-opt the language of social justice, but it's especially embarrassing when tone-deaf white people do it while pretending the world has magically and bloodlessly achieved Peak Equality. No, Benjamin: plant lives and bee lives don't matter. This is gross.

Benjamin Vogt said...

"...the current psychological and economic defaults of individualistic strategic thinking must be reset to a mode of relational ethical thinking that is mindful of human interdependence, sustaining the natural commons, and promoting the social common good. From mine to ours, from “What’s in it for me?” to “What’s in it for diverse, abundant, and resilient life?” http://www.humansandnature.org/mine-and-ours-article-202.php?issue=26&utm_source=Join+the+Center%27s+e-mail+list&utm_campaign=0df4cd3c2f-March_5_e_newsletter_QRF_Launch_3_1_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e050879c3d-0df4cd3c2f-418404769

Lisa Rainsong said...

Beautifully stated, and I could not agree more!

Rambling Woods said...

It is well stated and I share your philosophy, but despair that we are not willing to make changes until we see the total and direct benefit to ourselves. Too many people are wearing blinders to all that is going on.. and I worry it will be too late when they take them off... Michelle

Unknown said...

It is sad to see the comment "plant lives and bee lives" don't matter. They do, in and of themselves. But to put it in terms that a person unconnected to the natural world might understand.. "if bees were to die, people would have about four years to live" Einstein. And what sir, do you suppose produces oxygen? Money?