There is a growing concern with natural environments and invasive species among scientists and naturalists world wide. The argument goes that if an aggressive species (plant or animal) without predators is introduced into an ecosystem foreign to it that it will take over and force out other native species which have evolved to live in that specific area. However true this may be, the ethical issues which arise in their management become a huge issue for those people responsible for the management of these ecosystems. I say the issue is even bigger than it is presented. This extends to humans and our impact on the world we live in.
Let me share a few examples, If we are going to issue kill orders for all of a certain species in a certain area, bullfrogs in Colorado, lionfish and snakehead fish in Florida, Zebra mussels in the great lakes, etc. the list is extensive! How is this different from racial genocide? Many races of humans are migrating around the globe and forcing out or simply replacing other native races. The USA is the biggest example I can think of, however it occurs everywhere on the planet. Take the U.K for example has shifted majority race several times over its history, going back to before it was the U.K. Is this a bad thing or is this just the nature of things?
I like to see the BIG picture and I can see patterns going all the way back to the Big Bang and beyond. So in the big scheme of things who cares if the house finch in the USA migrated from Europe or Eurasian wild boar are now native in the USA. The list of animals which have become native in new lands in modern history boggles the mind. Often on purpose! Now we need to kill them all because they threaten another species which migrated there before and have become native? A good example here is the Hawaiian Goose which came to the islands as Canadian Geese and evolved into the birds they are today. Over time other animals where brought to the islands as agricultural controls, such as the mongoose intended to control the cats which where brought to control the rats which came with the sailors. Now the mongoose threatens the goose and it must be killed! I know I am abbreviating long stories here and all I wish to do is offer examples of the many ways life evolves and the ethical issues we humans create.
Land management and species control falls to the government of each country on a large scale and on a small scale it falls to the land owner. What I am sharing here is the similarity with immigration and human behavior. Why are we ordered to kill certain species when those giving the order are doing the very thing those certain species are doing? The hypocrisy humbles even the greatest activist. From the perspective of the authority advocating this killing they claim to be completely justified. My question here is are they justified? Spiritual Law states thou shalt not kill. Yet we do it every day on some level. Are their exceptions to Spiritual Law? I say not, yet there are definition distinctions which need to be understood. Killing an animal for food and with gratitude for its service does not violate thou shalt not kill. The other exception as I understand it are soldiers or police who kill to protect the higher good. As far as I am concerned this one is a very fine line which is easily crossed over. Both of these laws are vulnerable to abuse, esp. when it comes to killing for profit. I know we are entering the black hole of linguistics and so I am simply sharing my understanding or misunderstanding of this complex topic. It is important for each of us to discern their own grasp of this principle and act accordingly. In this process guilt becomes a trap not to fall into. By participating in society we become hypocrites! It is a catch 22. My advice is to forgive and forget, both yourself and others whom you see violating Spiritual Law. It is not our place to judge others, for then we have no time to love them! (paraphrasing Mother Teresa) We are each doing our best in each moment working with the knowledge and understanding we have at the time. Be Kind.
Sequoia Elisabeth
Oneness Ministry 