I often think about, the way in which some people treat nature, how they have so little regard for the natural world and all her inhabitants. So much of the injustices we see within the world stem from this, the fact that people have such a disconnect with nature.
I recently wrote about a dog that we rescued, he had been living in horrible conditions. Then there is the Donkey, that I fell in love with, but who is always tied up with hardly any rope to roam and never has water, until I bring him some. I also recently discovered 7 horses that are living in horrible conditions as well, who really see the sun and barely have space to turn around.
There are some laws in this country to protect animals, but there is no one to enforce them. Animal welfare is so bad here and I really struggle with that. Most of the goat herders are dependent on their dogs to help them with their herd and yet most of the dogs look half starved. And they always look unhealthy.
It breaks my heart to see this kind of animal abuse and to feel so helpless in what I can do. Even if I managed to rescue the animals, they would just be replaced with more. But I have to do something, so me and my eldest daughter carry dog food with us, to feed neglected dogs we come across and I try and make sure the horses and Donkey at least have water.
But how can people be so cruel, how can they think it is okay to treat another being like that?
This week the EcoTrain community have asked ....
"If you could ask God ONE question and God would give you an immediate answer, what would the question be and what answer would you want to hear?"
I am not a believer in God, I do not identify with any religion. So I chose to look at the question in another way, to ask the universe itself to help me understand why some people can be so cruel and not even recognize their behavior as being that way. Knowing that the answer must come from within.
The way that animals are treated, is also a reflection of how our natural world is treated, it is all connected. It is a question that has been contemplated by Deep Ecologists for a long time now. At the root of it all, lies the disconnect we have with ourselves. That we could hold life itself, on such a low regard.
There are many things that influence this type of mindset, from the way in which those individuals have been treated themselves, for if you have never known love, how then can you begin to love another.
There comes a point in our lives, when we get to choose who we will become, whether we go along with what we are told, follow the leads of others, or we walk alone for a while and face the person we are. This is where we gain more insight. But it is perhaps the least taken track.
On top of that, is this belief within some religions, that the earth was created for humankind. That humans are at the top and everything else is placed beneath them, giving them the right to treat it and it's inhabitants as they please. Growing up with this mentality, that humans are above all other animals, means that they see nothing wrong with the abuse they are causing. It's just the way things are, the way things have always been.
There are many reasons why people are so disrespectful and disconnected, so what sort of an answer would I expect to hear back from the universe. A answer that would perhaps allow me to be a little more understanding or dare I say it, be more sympathetic towards them.
There is no straight answer to this question, there is just a number of events that have happened, that happen to each individual that causes them to think and live in such a way. This is not about acceptance or understanding, it's about what can we each do, to create a better way for all living things. Because sometimes it's not about words, it's about actions and if I don't do something, that who will!
