February
2000
Twelve
Millennial Mantras
By Marc Bekoff and Jane Goodall
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The
“millennium” is here. So let us take stock of who we are and
where we are going. Is it acceptable to weep not only for human suffering
but also for the rampant misery of other animals with whom we share
the planet? Can we shed tears for Sissy, the severely beaten elephant
at the El Paso Zoo [see sidebar], the kicked and abused elephants and
chimpanzee (Trudy) at the Chippenfield Circus in England? Can we also
weep for the millions of animals in laboratory prisons, the billions
of animals tortured and slaughtered for food and clothing? Can we sincerely
mourn the destruction of the natural world, the vanishing forests, wetlands,
savannas and bodies of water? In answer, we offer these 12 “mantras”
to meditate on, with the hope that they will help make a difference,
both now and for future generations.
• One: Compassion and empathy for animals beget compassion
and empathy for humans. Cruelty towards animals begets cruelty towards
humans.
• Two: All life has value and should be respected. Every
animal owns her or his own life spark. Animals should not be owned as
property. All living creatures deserve these basic rights: the right
to life, freedom from torture, and liberty to express their individual
natures.
• Three: Do unto others as you would have others do unto
you. Imagine what it would be like to be caged, trapped, restrained,
isolated, mutilated, shocked, starved, socially deprived, or hung upside
down, awaiting death or watching others slaughtered. Biological data
clearly show that many animals suffer physically and psychologically
and feel pain.
• Four: Dominion does not mean domination. We hold dominion
over animals only because of our powerful and ubiquitous intellect—not
because we are morally superior. We do not have a “right”
to exploit those who cannot defend themselves. Let us use our brain
to move towards compassion and away from cruelty, to feel empathy rather
than cold indifference, to feel animals’ pain in our hearts.
• Five: Human beings are a part of the animal kingdom, not
apart from it. The separation of “us” from “them”
creates a false picture and is responsible for much suffering. It is
part of the in-group/out-group mentality that leads to human oppression
of the weak by the strong. Let us open our hearts to two-way relationships
with other animals, each giving and receiving. This will bring pure
and uncomplicated joy.
• Six: Imagine a world without animals, and take that image
to heart. No birdsong, no droning of nectar-searching bees, no coyotes
howling, no thundering of hooves on the plains. Rachel Carson once chilled
our hearts with thoughts of the silent spring. Now we face the prospect
of silent summers, falls and winters.
• Seven: Tread lightly. Only interfere when it will be in
the best interests of the animals. Imagine a world where we truly respect
and admire animals, feel heart-felt empathy, compassion and understanding.
• Eight: Make ethical choices in what we buy, do and watch.
In a consumer-driven society our individual choices, used collectively
for the good of animals and nature, can change the world faster than
laws.
• Nine: Have the courage of conviction—act now. Be
proactive, prevent animal abuse before it starts. Dare to speak out
to save the world’s precious and fragile resources. Live as much
as possible in harmony with nature, respecting the intrinsic value of
all life and the wondrous composition of earth, water and air.
• Ten: Every individual matters and has a role to play.
Our actions make a difference. Public pressure has been responsible
for much social change, including more humane treatment of animals.
Individual “whistle blowers” have courageously revealed intolerable
conditions in laboratories, circuses, slaughterhouses and so on, often
at the expense of their jobs. Henry Spira organized peaceful demonstrations
that led to the abolishment of the Draize test in which rabbits were
used to test the toxic effects of eyeshadow on their eyes. His efforts
led to the formation of centers devoted to the development of non-animal
research alternatives, sponsored by the cosmetic companies themselves.
Helen Steel and Dave Morris took on McDonald’s in the longest trial
in British history (the McLibel case) and showed that the company exploits
children with their advertising and are “culpably responsible”
for cruelty to animals.
• Eleven: Be a passionate visionary, a courageous crusader.
Combat cruelty and catalyze compassion. Do not fear to express love.
Do not fear to be too generous or too kind. Above all, understand that
there are many reasons to remain optimistic even when things seem grim.
Let us harness the indomitable human spirit. Together we can make this
a better world for all living organisms. We must, for our children,
and theirs. We must stroll with our kin, not walk away from them.
• Twelve: When animals lose, we all lose. Every single loss
diminishes us as well as the magnificent world in which we live together.
Jane Goodall, author of many books, including Reason for Hope
(Warner Books, 1999), is known for her work with the chimpanzees of
Gombe National Park in Tanzania, now in its 40th year, and for conservation
education world-wide. Marc Bekoff is Professor of Biology at the University
of Colorado, Boulder, and author of many books, including the forthcoming
Strolling With Our Kin.
