But none of these breakthroughs will bring back a single endangered species or end deforestation or enlighten those who partake in the standard American diet and now have the standard American diseases. Single issues are not the path to a more sane culture. We need a far more holistic view of radical activism and that cannot happen until most of us recognize the connections between humans and animals, humans and nature.
Let me provide one example: Between 50 and 100 million sharks are killed each year around the world, for their fins or simply as "by-catch" (the marine version of collateral damage). Sharks are apex predators that help ensure ocean diversity. The human-induced loss of sharks has led, for example, to their sudden absence from coral reef ecosystems. As a result, large predatory fish like the grouper increase in abundance and feed on the herbivores. This reduction in herbivores, in turn, leads to an increase in macroalgae. Coral cannot compete with the algae dominance and the survival of the reef system is in question. Why does that matter? Coral reefs have been called "rainforests of the sea" and are home to a quarter of all marine fish species. Coral reefs also buffet coastal regions from strong waves and storms. When threats to coral reefs is coupled with sea level rise"well, you get the idea. Perhaps most importantly, coral reefs are invaluable carbon sinks and play a role in the earth's surface temperature range. Not a bad reason to start caring about sharks, huh?
Lesson for the Left: Industrial civilization is the enemy. Not this particular president or that particular gender or those particular laws. The Left's absence on issues of animal rights, veganism, and darker shades of green is not just inexcusable. It's suicidal.
For those who still choose to hide behind the "there's too much human suffering for me to focus on animals" canard, I'll close with the words of Peter Singer: "Everyone has a limited amount of time and energy, and time taken in active work for one cause reduces the time available for another cause; but there is nothing to stop those who devote their time and energy to human problems from joining the boycott of the produce of agri-business cruelty. It takes no more time to be a vegetarian than to eat animal flesh. When non-vegetarians say 'human problems come first,' I cannot help wondering what exactly it is that they are doing for humans that compels them to continue to support the wasteful, ruthless exploitation of farm animals."
Mickey Z. is probably the only person on the planet to have appeared in both a karate flick with Billy "Tae Bo" Blanks and a political book with Howard Zinn. He is the author of 9 books--most recently Self Defense for Radicals and his second novel, Dear Vito; he is a regular writer for Planet Green and can be found on the Web at http://www.mickeyz.net. He will be participating in a panel called, "Speciesism, the Forgotten Oppression: Why Should the Left Care?" at the Left Forum on March 21.
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