Loving Life Enough to Save it.

Artist credit:  Eva M. Sakmar-Sullivan

"We are at the beginning of that path that can lead humankind to humanity." ~ Sviatoslav Zbeelin, Russian environmentalist ~

Some of the words attributed to the Aquarian Age that's upon is are:  altruistic, humane, enlightenment, consciousness, truth, compassion, spirituality, and love.  That doesn't mean these have not existed.  I simply believe they will become more the norm and we'll see a more commonly held belief that we each have a responsibility, it not a moral duty, to treat ourselves and all species humanely and with respect.

Over the years, Japan has earned a well deserved reputation for being whale and dolphin killers with little regard and with a stubborn defensive stance in claiming to protect their cultural rights to hunt them.  They also seem to have little regard for the exploitation of the fisheries industry and seem to have a short term mind set versus considering the long term consequences of their actions.  So instead of accepting responsibility that they have played a role in the depletion of various species of fish in the sea, they blame the dolphins and the whales for the lack of said fish in the sea. This makes little sense to me personally.  Cetaceans need the fish and plants in the oceans for their own survival.  Japan claims the same.  So going to war against the dolphins and whales only makes sense to them.

Obviously, Japan is a seafood nation.  But their practices and choices are currently not sustainable.  But they are not the only country guilty of this.  Denmark, for instance, continues to slaughter pilot whales.  Norway as well.  And the USA is complicit in this hypocrisy.

I'm not trying to be judgmental here.  However, it deeply concerns me that with our planet teetering ever closer to the point of no return, that we have yet to set a course for sustainability and a mutually beneficial human/species relationship.

I'm reminded of this Cree prophecy that I've shared here in the past:

When all the trees have been cut down,
when all the animals have been hunted,
when all the waters are polluted,
when all the air is unsafe to breathe,
only then will you discover you cannot eat money.

Are the times changing?  Based on this article from the Japan Times, it gives me some hope:  Wars Over Whaling

It's the first article from inside of Japan that I can personally recall as being the most level headed and articulate.

And this article offers up a solution to end whaling:  Save the whales .. going once

I especially like this line:  "To see a whale up close, or to hear its song, is to recognize the presence of an alien intelligence."

If you want a reminder of why we all need to show more gratitude for the gifts our Earth give us every second of every day, please re-read my previous blog post Fly Away.

"Will humanity love life enough to save it?" ~ E. O. Wilson ~

I remain hopeful ... 


Mahalo,

Dolphin