The animals of this world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites. – Alice Walker
It is an evident fact that humans are inherently selfish. Ever since time immemorial, humans have molded the earth to their benefit; from moving mountains to churning the sea, we have done everything to get what we want. We act like we own everything, the oceans, the forests, the mountains, the entire Earth. Even kind deeds are mostly done out of religious fear or in hopes of salvation. However, we tend to forget that every action has an opposite reaction, and the consequences of our actions are devastating.
Every day we receive horrifying news of wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, and avalanches. While we brought it out upon ourselves, the ones suffering are innocent. Among the innocents are the animals, who like us, have an equal share of the world.
The world is undergoing rapid biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse which is leading animals to the brink of extinction. And all we do is feel sorry for them. We see a picture of a polar bear on an iceberg and feel sorry for them. We see sharks and whales being hunted and again we feel sorry for them. Of course, at times, we do take action, we might have omitted using plastic straws after seeing the image of a turtle with a straw up its nose. Yet our small steps of redemption don't cover the devastating impact of our actions. We blame huge corporations for this destruction when we too play a role in it as the demand of people fuels the rise of their success.
So maybe we can take a step today and choose a more sustainable living and a healthier diet. We can also raise our voices to protect those who meant no harm but are sacrificed on the pyres of the human deed.