OPINION - Calling an animal Pestilence

Pestilence - A fatal epidemic disease

By definition, pestilence implies that something is fatal, terminal to existence. Often times, animals that are considered nuisances to our existence are referred to as pestilence. Animals like rats, pigeons, foxes, skunks, seagulls etc., these animals cause us distress and are given the title of pestilence. By giving them this title, it justifies our actions against them which are often cruel, inhumane, and unethical. 

For example, we have no problem laying out poison for a rat to bring back to its babies essentially killing them all. We have no problem laying out traps that inevitably kill them. We are advised against feeding animals like pigeons or seagulls because it will cause them to hang around which leads to them pooping all over the place. In Italy for example, it is illegal to feed pigeons because of the purported damage their poop does to monuments and important buildings. As I said, by labeling these animals with such an undignified title, we feel justified in the methods we use to eradicate them because they supposedly make our lives more difficult. Have we ever stopped to consider who or what the true pestilence to our existence truly was?

When you consider global warming, is it the animals that are destroying our planet? Is it the animals that are pumping massive amounts of pollution into our atmosphere? Can we blame these animals for the pollution in our oceans or the toxic fumes from vehicles or industrial businesses? The answer to these questions is simple, no. If you consider the meaning of pestilence and what it implies, would you not argue that humans are the true pestilence on this planet?

We blame coyotes for moving into our cities but fail to acknowledge our consistent tearing down of forests and wildlife areas where they inhabit to fuel our own growth. We blame skunks or rats for infiltrating our yards and garbage but fail to properly protect our trash when we dispose of it at the curb. We choose to label these animals as problems when in fact, they are only problems to us because of what we have done to them. The human race consistently shifts blame to animals to justify our actions in dealing with them without ever trying to look at the bigger picture.

Like in the case of culling as I've discussed before, when an animal becomes too abundant in our opinion in a certain ecological area, we start shooting them dead to balance out the ecosystem. For example, deer are often culled in an effort to rectify a supposed overabundance and damage to plant life in a certain area. What happened to the natural predators in those areas? Wolves, coyotes, bobcats etc., these animals are all hunted for trophy purposes or in the case of coyotes, are shot because they are deemed a nuisance but then we start shooting deer as well because they have become overabundant. Somehow, we have given ourselves the right to be the only overabundant species on this planet and continuously destroy ecosystems by interfering which trickles down and we feel the need to interfere again and again without ever acknowledging that we in fact, are the actual problem.

Another example of our privileged attitude is our abuse of farm animals. Because they lack any protections and have been given the low distinction of being nothing more than stupid animals that are bred solely for food and lack sentience, we feel justified in the way we treat them. We mass produce these animals in abhorrent conditions, treat them like absolute garbage, pollute our environment feverishly with their waste, and slaughter them without any regard for their being. Our privilege is evident in our treatment of all animals and especially in the treatment of our planet. As we continue to blame animals for our ecosystems problems, we continue to do all of the things that are destroying our planet.

Humans are the biggest pestilence of all. We are fatally destroying our planet day by day. We have world leaders (cough Trump cough cough) who choose to deny climate change and refuse to do anything about it. We have world leaders who agree to reducing carbon emissions in 10 or 15 years when in fact, it is crucial for us to do more and quickly. The fact is, we are the biggest pestilence in existence. Until we accept that we are solely responsible for all of the problems on this planet, the animals will be the ones who suffer the most. We will continue to shoot and kill deer, coyote, and foxes, we will continue to poison rats and drown skunks etc., and nothing will ever change. The only thing changing is our planet and it is changing for the worse.

Pestilence - A fatal epidemic disease.

HAPPY VEG