Animal testing, whether it is “scientific” testing (medications or medical procedures) or consumer product testing (drain cleaner or cosmetics), whereby an animal is terrified, blinded, maimed, mutilated, sickened or killed, is an abomination and should not be allowed for any reason – even to benefit humans.
Factory farming, which is the process of mass-production of food whereby animals are crammed into tiny, filthy, dangerous and insanity-producing environments (e.g. veal pens and chicken farms) is torture and should not be allowed for any reason – even to benefit humans. Arklosophy realizes that the harvesting of animals for food is currently necessary, but that it MUST be done ethically and humanely. Arklosophy wishes for a day when no animals are killed for human food or for commercial products.
Often, unskilled (and many times skilled) sport/trophy hunters only wound the animals they shoot or arrow. These animals often go unfound and slink off into the woods to die alone in fear, pain and agony. This is not sport. This is not humane harvesting. This is an atrocity!
While capturing animals in hold and release cages (in order to move them to more hospitable/safer environments or to get treatment for wounds) is laudable – “Trapping” animals in spring-loaded, pressure-sensitive, Snare and Kill traps is the cruelty of monsters. Snare traps are often used to shackle animals until they are clubbed to death by trappers as shooting the animals would “ruin” the fur and, hence, the sale price. Snare and Kill traps shackle, wound, torture, maim and kill, more than 50% of the time, unintended animals like dogs and cats. Can you imagine an animal caught in a Kill trap that has not been immediately killed? Imagine your dog in one of those torture-chamber devices and left, for hours or days in the elements without food and water, to suffer and whimper in pain and fear. If this is not animal cruelty – what is?
Hunting and trapping animals for food and fur were long ago (but no longer) necessary for human survival. Killing animals to adorn walls with the heads of once majestic 12-point bucks or regal lions, to stuff and present as lifelike decorations or to make fur coats and other accessories is grotesque, ghoulish, and infinitely shameful. Even if hunting and trapping were necessary today for human survival – only humane (instant death) harvesting would be acceptable.
Zoos (a.k.a. animal jails) that showcase animals in cages and themed sets for the entertainment of people are cruel. Only animals that cannot survive in the wild (e.g. parents killed, wounded, etc.) should be held in captivity. Arklosophy realizes the hypocrisy of this philosophy as it relates to beloved pets like dog and cats.
Child starvation is a crime against humanity.There is enough wealth and food in this world for all children to eat – no child should go to bed hungry.
Children not receiving quality education is another crime against humanity. The future of humanity is founded on the children of today. The way children are educated (or not educated) around the globe (especially in the United States) is a tragedy that robs children of prosperous futures and robs humanity of great inventions, works of art, cures for diseases and human progress.
Ocean pollution and the excessive extraction of ocean creatures for food and byproducts will result one day in the death of billions of people.
One can always tell the lack of intellectual prowess of an individual, a community or a nation by its willingness to chop down trees – especially when done so in a non-sustainable manner. Smart people, communities and nations protect their trees. Fools tear trees down. And, fools should not be allowed to deforest the planet as trees act as nature’s air filter by absorbing pollutant gases. “Every time I plant a tree, A creature gets a home to be. Every time I plant a tree, A bird gets a perch from which to see. Every time I plant a tree, The wind blows refreshed and free. Every time I plant a tree, The water runs clean to sea. Every time I plant a tree, The earth giggles with glee. Every time I plant a tree, I say – I am the key.” Dr. Shaun P. Smith (1-12-21)
The world needs healthy, educated, children and adults. Sick and ignorant people do not build grand societies – period. It is in the self-interest of all civilizations that all people, regardless of ability to pay, have access to quality healthcare and quality education.
Arklosophy judges people not by the thickness of their wallets, but by the gold of their character. Arklosophy does not recognize the color of any person’s skin and no labels are affixed to humans. No person is labeled, white, black, brown, gay, straight, other, etc. aboard Arklosophy. Labels create artificial division. And, importantly, Arklosophy realizes that we humans are not perfect and it is often difficult to do the right thing (not wearing leather products, buying sustainable wood products, eating humanely-harvested meats, etc.), but we should all be striving to do the right thing.If we are not, shame on all of us!
