| Chapter Twenty-Two of Pax Americana: The Military Industrial Complex and the War On Terror by Danny Quintana |
There are no whales, dolphins, eagles, insects banana trees or grapes on any of the planets in the inner solar system. We have a variety of
life. There might be small life forms consisting of bacteria. But complex beings like mountain gorillas or cobras exist only on Earth. Humans
have been very successful in reproducing. Other animal species have not. Again, the problem is overpopulation. In a mere two hundred
years humans have increased from one billion to over six billion. And as our population has exploded as a result of better agriculture,
urbanization and improved medical practices, the numbers of the various other creatures on our small planet has substantially decreased.
life. There might be small life forms consisting of bacteria. But complex beings like mountain gorillas or cobras exist only on Earth. Humans
have been very successful in reproducing. Other animal species have not. Again, the problem is overpopulation. In a mere two hundred
years humans have increased from one billion to over six billion. And as our population has exploded as a result of better agriculture,
urbanization and improved medical practices, the numbers of the various other creatures on our small planet has substantially decreased.
Global warming is a reality. But nature does not care what politicians believe or do not believe. Nature doesn't care how hot or cold it gets.
The various species will adapt or die. That is evolution. What matters is a temperature range which allows survival of species we approve of
as masters of the planet. Temperature determines growing cycles and has a dramatic impact on food supplies. And with higher water levels
from a rising ocean, this will allow for the migration of disease that will kill off millions of people. Unchecked, global warming will have a
profound effect on life on our very small planet. Humans will not be the only creatures who will be impacted from this massive climate change.
According to Global Warming, Early Warning Signs:
The various species will adapt or die. That is evolution. What matters is a temperature range which allows survival of species we approve of
as masters of the planet. Temperature determines growing cycles and has a dramatic impact on food supplies. And with higher water levels
from a rising ocean, this will allow for the migration of disease that will kill off millions of people. Unchecked, global warming will have a
profound effect on life on our very small planet. Humans will not be the only creatures who will be impacted from this massive climate change.
According to Global Warming, Early Warning Signs:
The Earth and all of the ecosystems, complex food chains and natural environments are perfect. There is a natural balance between
predators and prey. The only imperfection is humans. Lions kill enough to eat and once full do not slaughter every last animal within their
territories. Once fed, other creatures can walk right up to them and not be bothered in an understood natural contract. Humans kill every last
animal and plant in an ecosystem for short term pleasure or comfort. If you go to a city, any city anywhere on Earth, there is an abundance of
humans. But very little else other than “pets” and favored plants.
But why did humans have so little respect for the plants and animals that exist only on this small planet? (The reason I say “did” is we are
much more aware of environmental issues today then previously). One explanation is theological. Under Western Christian thought, humans
are at the peak of God’s creation and the Earth is viewed as a resource to be exploited and utilized to man’s sole advantage.
predators and prey. The only imperfection is humans. Lions kill enough to eat and once full do not slaughter every last animal within their
territories. Once fed, other creatures can walk right up to them and not be bothered in an understood natural contract. Humans kill every last
animal and plant in an ecosystem for short term pleasure or comfort. If you go to a city, any city anywhere on Earth, there is an abundance of
humans. But very little else other than “pets” and favored plants.
But why did humans have so little respect for the plants and animals that exist only on this small planet? (The reason I say “did” is we are
much more aware of environmental issues today then previously). One explanation is theological. Under Western Christian thought, humans
are at the peak of God’s creation and the Earth is viewed as a resource to be exploited and utilized to man’s sole advantage.
It is this misguided view of Christ and the message of peace that has caused so much harm to nature. In The Historical Roots of Our
Ecological Crisis, Lynn White, Jr. observes that:
Ecological Crisis, Lynn White, Jr. observes that:
"Global temperature in 1998 was the hottest in the historical
record, and the temperature increase over the 20th century is
likely to be the highest of the past millennium. Global average
temperatures have warmed about one degree Fahrenheit
(0.6°C) since 1900. The ten warmest years on record have
occurred since 1987, seven of them since 1994." 1
record, and the temperature increase over the 20th century is
likely to be the highest of the past millennium. Global average
temperatures have warmed about one degree Fahrenheit
(0.6°C) since 1900. The ten warmest years on record have
occurred since 1987, seven of them since 1994." 1
White’s insightful essay and Rachael Carson’s Silent Spring started the intellectual framework for rethinking the effects of industrialization and
modern technology and man’s role in nature. But it is not so much theology that has caused our present difficulties. A modern technological
state and a healthy environment are completely compatible. It is over-population, consumerism and conspicuous consumption that are at the
heart of “environmental problems”. The pressures on other species came about after the world’s population added an extra five billion people
in the last two hundred years. These extra five billion people have outgrown the ability of the Earth to provide the natural resources of fish
stocks, wild sources of animal proteins like buffalo and elk or zebras. This is why we clear cut forests, log in tropical jungles, kill wild cats,
gorillas, whales and fish cod to near extinction. It is a reason why we kill elephants for their tusks. If it comes down to the monkey eats or the
human eats, the monkey is either going to starve or the human is going to eat the monkey. Wildlife poaching is a total and complete disaster
Respect for nature means that when we explore the oceans and outer space we look to the preservation of these other life forms because
they have the inherent right to exist simply because they cannot be found anywhere else in the universe. Plants and animals are a special
part of God’s creation. While Copernicus was right about location of the Earth in relation to the universe, he was mistaken about importance.
Since we clearly know there is no meaningful life outside of the Earth, at least in this solar system, we need to preserve our diverse life forms
and eventually take them with us to the other planets. They will be there to share in our existence. Over several centuries we can make Mars
more habitable and maybe 500 years from now bring life to that empty planet. Transforming a lifeless planet to one that supports Earthly
plants, animals, insects, birds, and humans will be an undertaking of epic proportions. Just like exploration of the non-European world was a
monumental task 500 years ago.
We know now from study and observation that animals have feelings like fear, sex for pleasure, anger and excitement.2 Part of the reason
for the conclusion that other animals have clear feelings of love, anger, and jealousy is under the veneer of skin coverings the brains and
DNA of humans and other primates are very similar. Animals are our evolutionary cousins. We share approximately 98.5% of the same DNA
as a chimpanzee. 3
modern technology and man’s role in nature. But it is not so much theology that has caused our present difficulties. A modern technological
state and a healthy environment are completely compatible. It is over-population, consumerism and conspicuous consumption that are at the
heart of “environmental problems”. The pressures on other species came about after the world’s population added an extra five billion people
in the last two hundred years. These extra five billion people have outgrown the ability of the Earth to provide the natural resources of fish
stocks, wild sources of animal proteins like buffalo and elk or zebras. This is why we clear cut forests, log in tropical jungles, kill wild cats,
gorillas, whales and fish cod to near extinction. It is a reason why we kill elephants for their tusks. If it comes down to the monkey eats or the
human eats, the monkey is either going to starve or the human is going to eat the monkey. Wildlife poaching is a total and complete disaster
Respect for nature means that when we explore the oceans and outer space we look to the preservation of these other life forms because
they have the inherent right to exist simply because they cannot be found anywhere else in the universe. Plants and animals are a special
part of God’s creation. While Copernicus was right about location of the Earth in relation to the universe, he was mistaken about importance.
Since we clearly know there is no meaningful life outside of the Earth, at least in this solar system, we need to preserve our diverse life forms
and eventually take them with us to the other planets. They will be there to share in our existence. Over several centuries we can make Mars
more habitable and maybe 500 years from now bring life to that empty planet. Transforming a lifeless planet to one that supports Earthly
plants, animals, insects, birds, and humans will be an undertaking of epic proportions. Just like exploration of the non-European world was a
monumental task 500 years ago.
We know now from study and observation that animals have feelings like fear, sex for pleasure, anger and excitement.2 Part of the reason
for the conclusion that other animals have clear feelings of love, anger, and jealousy is under the veneer of skin coverings the brains and
DNA of humans and other primates are very similar. Animals are our evolutionary cousins. We share approximately 98.5% of the same DNA
as a chimpanzee. 3
I personally doubt that disastrous ecologic backlash can be avoided simply by applying to our
problems more science and more technology. Our science and technology have grown out of
Christian attitudes toward man's relation to nature which are almost universally held not only by
Christians and neo-Christians but also by those who fondly regard themselves as post-Christians.
Despite Copernicus, all the cosmos rotates around our little globe. Despite Darwin, we are not, in
our hearts, part of the natural process. We are superior to nature, contemptuous of it, willing to use
it for our slightest whim. [Ronald Reagan,] The newly elected Governor of California, like myself a
churchman but less troubled than I, spoke for the Christian tradition when he said (as is alleged),
"when you've seen one redwood tree, you've seen them all."
To a Christian a tree can be no more than a physical fact. The whole concept of the sacred grove is
alien to Christianity and to the ethos of the West. For nearly 2-millennia Christian missionaries have
been chopping down sacred
groves, which are idolatrous because they assume spirit in nature. What we do about ecology
depends on our ideas of the man-nature relationship. More science and more technology are not
going to get us out of the present ecologic crisis until we find a new religion, or rethink our old one. 1
problems more science and more technology. Our science and technology have grown out of
Christian attitudes toward man's relation to nature which are almost universally held not only by
Christians and neo-Christians but also by those who fondly regard themselves as post-Christians.
Despite Copernicus, all the cosmos rotates around our little globe. Despite Darwin, we are not, in
our hearts, part of the natural process. We are superior to nature, contemptuous of it, willing to use
it for our slightest whim. [Ronald Reagan,] The newly elected Governor of California, like myself a
churchman but less troubled than I, spoke for the Christian tradition when he said (as is alleged),
"when you've seen one redwood tree, you've seen them all."
To a Christian a tree can be no more than a physical fact. The whole concept of the sacred grove is
alien to Christianity and to the ethos of the West. For nearly 2-millennia Christian missionaries have
been chopping down sacred
groves, which are idolatrous because they assume spirit in nature. What we do about ecology
depends on our ideas of the man-nature relationship. More science and more technology are not
going to get us out of the present ecologic crisis until we find a new religion, or rethink our old one. 1
 | |  | |  |
| Respect for All God's Creation "Murderers very often start out by killing and torturing animals as kids." Robert R. Kessler, FBI Serial Killer Profiler |
Researchers and pet owners having vast experience around non-humans have observed a variety of emotions among a vast array of
animals. In The Smile of a Dolphin edited by University of Colorado biologist Marc Bekoff 50 researchers who have spend their careers
studying animals from cats, dogs, bears, chimps, whales, elephants and various other creatures, have legitimized research on animal
emotions. 4
Clearly the researchers have observed chimps die from grief and elephants express joy at reuniting with family groups. 5 Our words cannot
properly express what these other creatures are feeling since we do not share the same communication. Animals have their own complex
communication. We just don’t fully understand how this communications take place or their meanings. Some research is taking place
worldwide on what elephants say to each other when they send low frequency waves that humans cannot hear. We know from observation
that dolphins work and play together in groups. They make various types and frequencies of sound many beyond the human ear. We don’t
yet know what these sounds mean. But with time and research we will learn and some researchers are making progress. In an excellent CNN
story, “There is More to Animal Communication Then Meets the Ear”, correspondent Rusty Dornin talked with various researchers in this area
and observed:
animals. In The Smile of a Dolphin edited by University of Colorado biologist Marc Bekoff 50 researchers who have spend their careers
studying animals from cats, dogs, bears, chimps, whales, elephants and various other creatures, have legitimized research on animal
emotions. 4
Clearly the researchers have observed chimps die from grief and elephants express joy at reuniting with family groups. 5 Our words cannot
properly express what these other creatures are feeling since we do not share the same communication. Animals have their own complex
communication. We just don’t fully understand how this communications take place or their meanings. Some research is taking place
worldwide on what elephants say to each other when they send low frequency waves that humans cannot hear. We know from observation
that dolphins work and play together in groups. They make various types and frequencies of sound many beyond the human ear. We don’t
yet know what these sounds mean. But with time and research we will learn and some researchers are making progress. In an excellent CNN
story, “There is More to Animal Communication Then Meets the Ear”, correspondent Rusty Dornin talked with various researchers in this area
and observed:
Kangaroo rats, for example, communicate by stamping their feet. Recordings of their
syncopated toe-tapping suggest to researcher Jan Randall that there is more there than
just a congenital sense of rhythm. "It doesn't have pitch," Randall said, "but the animals can
modify it so it's different, so it has the components of a language." Researchers have
distinguished when a ratis drumming for territory, drumming for a mate or drumming to warn
off its worst enemy, the snake. "What the rat is saying it when it foot-drums an alert is 'I'm
alert ... I see you ... go away.'" Bio-acoustical engineer Bernie Krause has gone from the
equator to the Arctic Circle, eavesdropping on the animal kingdom. He believes animal
communication is quite complex. "I'll see evidence of creatures having exchanges between
one another ... behavior that kind of relates to vocal communication that's astounding."
Killer whales with accents Krause says killer whales have detailed chats when on the
attack, and that the accent of one pod might be different from that of others.
"There may be groups in the area that have the same language and articulation," Krause
said, "but each pod or group of animals has its own vocal accent which is unique to that
pod." Ornithologist Luis Baptista says sparrows sing different dialects in each region. He
says birds can also give more than one danger call. "A little one means 'Watch it!'" Baptista
said. "But if it's very serious, they say 'Very, very careful!' And some birds have a danger
signal that says 'a hawk is overhead.' So some birds have danger signals for 'above' or 'on
the ground.'" Another researcher says that prairie dogs bark differently depending on the
predator. There's one bark for coyotes, one for hawks and one for humans. The
researcher claims there's even one for a human carrying a gun. Some scientists scoff at
such interpretations and say animals are capable of only the simplest alert calls. But a
growing number agree that talk amongst the animals is anything but dull. 6
syncopated toe-tapping suggest to researcher Jan Randall that there is more there than
just a congenital sense of rhythm. "It doesn't have pitch," Randall said, "but the animals can
modify it so it's different, so it has the components of a language." Researchers have
distinguished when a ratis drumming for territory, drumming for a mate or drumming to warn
off its worst enemy, the snake. "What the rat is saying it when it foot-drums an alert is 'I'm
alert ... I see you ... go away.'" Bio-acoustical engineer Bernie Krause has gone from the
equator to the Arctic Circle, eavesdropping on the animal kingdom. He believes animal
communication is quite complex. "I'll see evidence of creatures having exchanges between
one another ... behavior that kind of relates to vocal communication that's astounding."
Killer whales with accents Krause says killer whales have detailed chats when on the
attack, and that the accent of one pod might be different from that of others.
"There may be groups in the area that have the same language and articulation," Krause
said, "but each pod or group of animals has its own vocal accent which is unique to that
pod." Ornithologist Luis Baptista says sparrows sing different dialects in each region. He
says birds can also give more than one danger call. "A little one means 'Watch it!'" Baptista
said. "But if it's very serious, they say 'Very, very careful!' And some birds have a danger
signal that says 'a hawk is overhead.' So some birds have danger signals for 'above' or 'on
the ground.'" Another researcher says that prairie dogs bark differently depending on the
predator. There's one bark for coyotes, one for hawks and one for humans. The
researcher claims there's even one for a human carrying a gun. Some scientists scoff at
such interpretations and say animals are capable of only the simplest alert calls. But a
growing number agree that talk amongst the animals is anything but dull. 6
As we learn more from our studies of plants and animals it becomes clear that these complex evolutionary cousins need protection from
humans to survive. If animals have “feelings” and exist nowhere else in our inner solar system, do we have the moral right to kill them just
because we have the ability? Laws are evolving to reflect the change in view of man’s relationship with nature. The present Western Christian
view is animals are chattels and people have property rights in these living breathing creatures. As Gary L. Francione, law professor at
Rutgers states:
humans to survive. If animals have “feelings” and exist nowhere else in our inner solar system, do we have the moral right to kill them just
because we have the ability? Laws are evolving to reflect the change in view of man’s relationship with nature. The present Western Christian
view is animals are chattels and people have property rights in these living breathing creatures. As Gary L. Francione, law professor at
Rutgers states:
“The problem is that human interests are protected by rights in general and by the right to
own property in particular. As far as the law is concerned, an animal is the personal
property, or chattel, of the animal's owner and cannot possess rights. Indeed, it is a
fundamental premise of our property law that property cannot itself have rights as against
human owners and that, as property, animals are objects of the exercise of human property
rights."7
own property in particular. As far as the law is concerned, an animal is the personal
property, or chattel, of the animal's owner and cannot possess rights. Indeed, it is a
fundamental premise of our property law that property cannot itself have rights as against
human owners and that, as property, animals are objects of the exercise of human property
rights."7
Some of the extreme animal rights groups want this view to change and consider non-human creatures “companions”. 8 We must be careful
to not to be anthropomorphic in our studies, but clearly we have a difficult time measuring human emotions much less the various feelings of
animals. Those of us who have dogs know they get jealous, angry, happy and like to play. They have a full range of emotions and the
intelligence of a two year old children. They don’t care what happens during the day at your office. Dogs are pure happiness. They don’t care
what is on the news, the latest political scandal or what the stock market is doing. All they are concerned with is they want attention. There are
millions of pet owners in the United States and worldwide.
Having pets and plants adds to the mental health of the public. When nursing homes have pets available the happiness and health of the
residents improves. This holistic approach to society makes for a healthier and happier public. Respecting God’s creation ultimately results in
benefit for humanity. There is theological guidance:
to not to be anthropomorphic in our studies, but clearly we have a difficult time measuring human emotions much less the various feelings of
animals. Those of us who have dogs know they get jealous, angry, happy and like to play. They have a full range of emotions and the
intelligence of a two year old children. They don’t care what happens during the day at your office. Dogs are pure happiness. They don’t care
what is on the news, the latest political scandal or what the stock market is doing. All they are concerned with is they want attention. There are
millions of pet owners in the United States and worldwide.
Having pets and plants adds to the mental health of the public. When nursing homes have pets available the happiness and health of the
residents improves. This holistic approach to society makes for a healthier and happier public. Respecting God’s creation ultimately results in
benefit for humanity. There is theological guidance:
And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl
that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and
every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and
every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be
fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the
evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living
creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was
so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing
that creeps upon the earth after his kind:and God saw that it was good. 9 GENESIS 2: 20-25
Or this passage from Ecclesiastes 3:19-21:
Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the
other. All have the same breath, man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is
meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust and to dust all return. Who knows if the
spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth? 10
that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and
every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and
every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be
fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the
evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living
creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was
so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing
that creeps upon the earth after his kind:and God saw that it was good. 9 GENESIS 2: 20-25
Or this passage from Ecclesiastes 3:19-21:
Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the
other. All have the same breath, man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is
meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust and to dust all return. Who knows if the
spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth? 10
| Our American armada can destroy any nation on Earth. Our air force can bomb any nation back to the stone age. Our armies can decimate any armed forces brought against us. And now that we have achieved global dominance, we have a moral choice; use that power with wisdom to protect the plants and animals which exist only on this planet or holocaust. |
2. The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis by Lynn White, Jr. online at:www.siena.edu/ellard/historical_roots_of_our_ecologic.htm
3. Humans, Chimps Not as Closely Related as Thought? By John Pickrell for National Geographic News September 24, 2002 online at
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/09/0924_020924_dnachimp.html
4. The Smile of a Dolphin Remarkable Accounts of Animal Emotions Edited by Marc Bekoff Discovery Books, New York, October 2000
224 pages; 120 illustrations; $35 ISBN 1-563-31925-X
5. Ibid. There are several very good stories about animals that have literally died of grief. Jane Goodall talks about a chimp that is so
depressed on the death of his mother that he waits by her body until he dies.
6. There’s more to animal communication than meets the ear by Rusty Dornin, September 11, 1997 online at:
www.cnn.com/TECH/9709/11/animal.communication/
7. Animals, Property and the Law Gary L. Francione is Professor of Law and Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Scholar of Law and Philosophy at
Rutgers University--Newark, NJ. Online at:www.animal-law.org/books/aplad.htm
8. 7 Things You Didn't Know About PETA by the Center for Consumer Freedom online at:www.consumerfreedom.com/peta_7things.cfm
9. In a very interesting web site about the various beliefs about animals and their role in creation see:4higgins.com at:
http://4higgins.com/souls.htm
10. Ibid.