Why do Environmentalist go to such extremes putting animals above humans?

Question

There is a natural order to things. Its called a food chain. I have no tolerance for cruelty to animals, but giving animals more rights than humans is beyond stupid. Why do they take an important issue and blow it out of proportion? This cannot be helping their causes.

Answer 1

I understand your question and think it is a good one.  As a former environmental extremist who has now seen the light of reason I think I can answer.

When I lived out West and hung around with extreme environmentalists, Earth First! people, etc., the overwhelming theme was that they hated people in general and themselves in particular.  A majority of them came from broken homes, had been abused, etc.  They hated people to the point where they openly insulted people who had children, because they thought that bringing anymore humans into the world was evil.  (See Voluntary Human Extinction Movement link below).  

The fact that you got so many reactionary responses shows how touchy people are.  You said nothing about cruelty to animals.  These environmentalists honestly think that animals are superior to humans.

Answer 2

Because we co-exist with ann species on earth. Without them we will die.

Read the book "Skinny *****" and you will get a clue about animal cruelty in slaughter houses - most likely not eat an animal again.

Answer 3

Its because only HUMANS f*ck up the earth, not animals. Its because HUMANS are the thing that abuses animals in cruel, unnatural ways. Its because HUMANS destroy animal habitats. Its because HUMANS think they are so superior to other animals

Answer 4

There is a natural order to things.  The arrangement is that everything is connected and interdependent.  In the food chain predator and prey are of equal importance.  Each has it's role; you can't have one without the other.  In order to have a functioning ecosystem the animals and everything else in it need to be left alone.  We need an intact earth more than she needs us.

edit:

What would you call it when someone goes on and on about something of which they obviously have little understanding?

Rush said so?  Oh please.

Answer 5

They feel that the animals can not speak for themselves and because of that we do not treat them fairly. When they blow things out of proportion maybe what they are fighting for will be met in the middle and it will be a more reasonable outcome...

Answer 6

Environmentalists  do not put animals above people although i must admit that i do like a lot of animals a lot better than lot of people,

How about on equal footing as fellow earthlings ,

That is what people cannot handle.

They have always been told (which is a lie)

That Animals have no feelings (they don`t get happy or sad ) Or emotions  that they can love and hate,

No pain (it has been proved even trees and plants feel pain)

Because people are supposed to be superior beings

(if you watch Gorillas caring for their young some people will look primitive in comparison)

Or at least more privileged than animals,because we CAN  KILL THEM ALL .

If we want or need their territory

the animals must make space for us ,

this is supposed to be  just ,it  is called progress,

Whilst all of nature is a finely tuned equilibrium of many species of flora and fauna,all interrelated ,

following the laws of nature,

there only being as many as the availability of space and food allows ,

limiting their birth to maintain a healthy  order  ,

Humans feel they can breed with out restraint and all must bow before our expansion ,

In Nature an excess of any given  specie invites predators ,(they will give birth to more if the food supply allows )

or diseases develops ,

plagues of insects or

even natural disaster

to restore the equilibrium.

Humans feel they can be beyond Natures laws ,at the cost of everything else .

Every form of life has had to come to terms with Natures Law of Harmony (equilibrium).

People should grow up and do the same,But to suggest we should limit our numbers always comes across heavy flak.



The Olmecs ,Toltecs some Amazonian tribes did practice birth control ,as do and did many other primitive Native People.

We who are civilized are at times the dumbest of all.,and the most destructive in our arrogance and growth

On top of that ,

the way Animals are treated is at the least immoral and disgusting from anybody point of view .

is this how we want others to view us as a specie ,

than i rather be an Alien instead of a Human bean.

Watch Earthlings to get an idea ,But i`am willing to bet you wont see the whole movie through

http://byderule.multiply.com/journal/ite...

Richard B it is very convenient how God has  desensitized Man against Nature and Animals ,have you never stopped to think that this may have been a Man, to make it easier for the flock to exploit Natures Riches.It was Man who made Man the Boss

Find out who God really was and you will understand that better http://byderule.multiply.com/links/item/...

Zeitgeist  and

the links to Zecheria Sitchin ,Look for the lost book of Enki

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sitchi...

You are sooo wrong to say animals have no responsibilities

Bees  germinate flowers ,birds ,squirrels ,the fur on animals ,spread and plant seeds ,others are predators that keep Eco systems in balance.and so on .

All of life is interrelated ,we all depend on one another ,for our existence in Healthy balanced Eco systems,Flora exists because of fauna and vica versa and we depend on both

Even if you do not know or understand how ??

Answer 7

if they die there will be no food chain...just all humans. then where will we get meat. will we turn into canibals?

Answer 8

What animals are given more rights than humans?

And Environmentalism and animal rights are two separate issues, although they do often cross paths.

There is a natural order to things, exactly, which is why no one has ever embraced eyeglasses, electricity, synthetic fibers, or automobiles. Haha.

I mean really, we're a long way from "the natural order."

Answer 9

I am an environmentalist and believe in animal rights but at the same time do not believe animals should have any more rights as humans. They should be equal in rights not more or less.

Now as you have aptly pointed out there is indeed a natural order of things. I believe this natural entails not taking any more from nature than is needed. If we need meat for survival then it is understandable.

I however think that the majority of the world is at a place in which they could forgo meat and actually be the healthier for it. As a few important side benefits it would help to alleviate a mass amount of suffering as well as take the pressures off the environment that produces meat causes.

Now I do not know what you are referring to when it comes to blowing things out of proportion. I have heard PETA is against things like seeing eye dogs and I agree that is pretty silly. But encouraging society to make compassionate and mindful choices is anything but silly. IMO it is one step closer to enlightenment.

Answer 10

'Why do Environmentalist go to such extremes putting animals above humans?'

Most don't. Most environmentalists put humans first. However a few animal activists do put animal life above human life. A woefully small number of people such as Deep Ecologists and  Buddhists believe that all living things have equal right to life.

'There is a natural order to things'

Yes and man is not at the top of that list. We are part of the food chain, not in charge of it. We are interdependent, all connected and reliant on each other.

'Its called a food chain'

We have altered our chances in the food chain by manipulating the natural world. Try running in front of a hungry lion to see who is at the top of it. Or try to survive TB without modern medications.  

'but giving animals more rights than humans is beyond stupid'

No, not giving animals (and other living things) equal rights is beyond stupid.

'Why do they take an important issue and blow it out of proportion?'

Some animal activists do, I agree. It is usually not even an issue amongst the general public. To me it is vitally important because, basically I want to stay alive and I want human beings and all other living things to continue to thrive.  

Browse Deep Ecology and Permaculture:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ecolog...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permacultur...

http://www.spiralseed.co.uk/permaculture...

Answer 11

forgive me for injecting religion into this, but it is part of my beliefs. remember that god gave man dominion over the animals. what does that mean? it means that we are essentially the top of the chain. it also means that we have to be responsible in how we treat these animals. while cattle are good eating, we have to maintain healthy stocks. same with deer, and other game animals. but we also have to maintain healthy populations of predator animals also.  

if we can prevent an endangered species from going extint, we should do what we can. however we cannot put these animals above humans. animals have no rights, because they have no responsibilities.

all that said, i also agree that mistreating animals should be prevented as well.

Answer 12

Animals that have not given their consent need us to speak for them.  When Native American Indians went hunting, they would first say a prayer.  The essence of the prayer (tribal differences acknowledged) was that if it is permitted, may the hunt be good.  The belief was that if an animal showed itself, it had "given consent" to be taken.  Prayers of thanks were given after the animal was killed.

Do animal researchers ask the animal for consent?  Does the sealer asked the baby harp seal if they are willing to give their life?  I don't think so.

Answer 13

Putting animals above humans like this

(Warning: Don't watch these links if you are squeamish)

http://www.slaughterhousecam.com/cams/in...

Putting animals above humans like this

http://www.uncaged.co.uk/news.htm

Putting animals above humans like this

http://www.rspca.org.uk/

Putting animals above humans like this

http://www.ultimatehorsesite.com/info/ra...

Putting animals above humans like this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_...

Putting animals above humans like this

Tesco value TUNA 34p per 185g tin (an fish's life)

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Tesco_Value_Tuna__...

No Environmentalists don't go to anywhere near high enough extremes. We should at least start to treat animals as More Equal.