sanctuary

Monday, March 19, 2012

The real death eaters: destroying the will to live



WARNING: This film shows cruelty to animals.



May we live long and die out.

(The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement)



It's only economics



The unraveling of global capitalism over the past few years has diverted our attention from a great many things. A lot of us, especially in the West, have come to realized that the word “precarious” may not just apply to the images of starving children in some faraway land. An unease has now settled over a good part of the developed world as well.



But what has been flying under the radar, at least in the mainstream media, is the on-going devastation of forests throughout the world and wildlife in general. Part of this increasing destruction is due to the expanding middle class in east Asia.



We should not be surprised that the acquisition of “stuff” is a hallmark of our global economic system along with the insatiable need to demonstrate economic success among individuals, regardless of where they reside.



Let the people speak



Alan Weisman, author of The World Without Us, has suggested that around two billion people is probably the “ideal” human population for the maintenance of a healthy, viable planet. This was the world population near the end of the 19th century.



While we now have more than 7 billion people on Earth today we could, surprisingly, by the end of the 21st century theoretically reduce our population by some five billion, if all fertile females had only one child over the next 88 years, according to various demographic studies that have been completed over the past several years.



Clearly this is not likely to happen during the next 100 years for a number of reasons, some all too familiar, but slowing population growth and reducing our levels of consumption are very much in our self-interest and in our ultimate survival as a species.



The rise in the price of ivory has, by some estimates, resulted in nearly one-third of the elephant population in the Cameroons being killed for their tusks. The rhinoceros on the other hand is being butchered because in some parts of Asia ground up rhino tusks are believed to improve sexual potency. Of course, tiger paws have always been considered a delicacy for the well to do and can be found in only the “very best” restaurants.



The video, Green: Death of the Forests, is emotional and difficult to watch. There is no commentary whatsoever. The images of a dying orangutan speak for themselves. We are all responsible.



As a species we are the biggest criminals on the planet. Every day we rape the planet, shed blood and cause suffering.

(Patrick Rouxel, filmmaker)



P.S. In the United States we continue to slaughter wolves for no rational reason … other than we can.







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