Originally Posted by
Leto
We are the stewards of the foodchain, with the ability to preserve the natural environment and allow animals to live according to their natures. We don't need to live like a virus, consuming and destroying everything we come in contact with. We are advanced enough as a species to both live in harmony with nature, preserving life and environment, and have an advanced civilization.
You're right, animals will always eat other animals. I believe that we are able to transcend that cycle. But I understand you are firmly in the world of western science/old school logic, so I don't blame you for your position. I felt the same way for most of my life, and resisted becoming vegetarian for a long time, even though something deep and "illogical" was always tugging at me to stop eating meat.
In the case that no other food source is available, then killing an animal might be necessary...but it would be done with an attitude of respect and gratitude for the creature giving up its life...not as a thoughtless, heartless murder. There may seem to be no difference from a purely scientific perspective...but I believe it makes a huge difference in our lives and to our world.
As for humane societies and euthanization...who said no one talks about it? Everyone talks about it. Bob Barker used to stand up there every day and say "please get your pets spayed and neutered!"
There are a huge number of people who participate in animal rescue, taking them out of overcrowded pounds and "humane societies" and giving them a place to live until someone can be found to adopt them. My wife and I lived in a very small house, but it was enough space to take in cats and kittens. The two cats that are in our family now were from the first litter we rescued. Our two dogs are also rescued from the humane society.
Anyone who is serious about helping in this area should inquire with the humane sociery about volunteering to participate in animal rescue of some kind...I'm sure no matter where you live, they are eager for anyone who can help. They usually pay for all the food and medicine required for the animals you take in, you simply need to provide a safe place and loving kindness.
An even better act of kindness would be to serve as a foster parent for a human child or children...but far fewer of us have the resources required to participate in that. Believe me...I would be a foster parent before I will have children of my own, as soon as I have the means to do so. Human suffering is just as important as the suffering of all those animals...and there are countless children without homes, without loving families.
As for plants...I also consider their lives, and thank every one for giving themselves. Many plants you don't need to kill in order to get food from them...we eat seeds, or leaves, and fruits. Plant life is still life, and shouldn't be treated carelessly. Seeing deforestation, countless trees destroyed, also makes me sad. When I am able to, and have the land to build a home, I will chop down as few trees as possible, hopefully none. There are plenty of alternative building methods that don't require such massive waste of life. Sandbags, cob, strawbale construction...passive solar heating and solar and wind power...as I said earlier, we have all the means at our disposal to live completely comfortably and sustainably, in harmony with our environment. The only block to this is in our perception...of ourselves, our world, and "the way things are".
We resist change, but it is inevitable. Just because things have stayed the same for as long as we can remember, does not mean it will always be that way. Our memories are rather short, and our species hasn't really been around all that long, relatively speaking. Who knows what may change, and what is possible?
The argument that "this is just the way things are" is not a good argument.