The world is not in a good place these days. War, hate, terrorism, crime, famine, eco devastation are rising, and the climate crisis and systemic, extreme animal abuse are devastating our world. The Liberal and left Boomers and Generation X were, and are well meaning, helped change our world, and still lead the fight against these ills, but faced with the far right/far left/hate threat we are facing, we have yet to be largely effective.
This does appear to be changing as veganism and animal rights battles challenge our perception of our commitment to animal welfare, and resistence to the far right and left is growing both politically and socially. We have won alot of battles but the world is still strongly in the grips of hate and control based policies such austerity, poverty, and racism. Support for genocidal and extremist ideology and illogical and extremist thinking is rising and winning and still the world eats, wears and abuses animals in work, captivity and entertainment.
Millenials and Gen Z are more engaged and informed than many past generations but informed by social media more than any other source, and are very vulnerable to fake news and extremist, harmful and wrongful attitudes. They also are not, those over 18, hugely informed voters, and while most define themselves as left of center, they have the lowest group number in terms of voter turnout. So it’s leftism wasted and especially now in this era of life or death politics.
We still have alot to be grateful for, including a beautiful, healthy, green planet, diverse and loving communities, and a society that still more or less adheres to traditional and modern morality and attitudes. We also live with an abundance of amazing, adorable, beautiful and majestic animal species that fill our world with bird song, wolf cries and wonder and joy. Most of us find alot to cherish in the world, but life has taught us some very cruel lessons, ones we don’t seem to be learning or learning fast enough.
We are a symbiotic world and we have always thrived when we lived at peace with both the planet and it’s many species. But lately it’s sin in all it’s fury that has been ruling and leading us. Wrath, greed and pride, hate and skillful propaganda are intermeshed into a political, and social power force that is diminishing us all, our lives, and driving nature, our planet and wildlife species to, and tragically sometimes over, the brink.
Coexistence is a joke to them and ignorance and disrespect towards the sturdy yet delicate balances of life is the standard. There is no way that putting sin over substance, love of money and power over the tangibles which sustain all life on earth, will ever be a good, sustainable or even survivable thing.
My hope is that we the older and younger generations of today, the Boomers, Gen X and Millenials, will step up and do what’s right, now and always. That doing what’s right will become the cool and norm again. That we do end the problems, face and deal with the challenges, implement the solutions and learn to say no to unlimited greed, ego, hate and the quest for power.
I hope we do quell the evil forces that arose in the 1980s with austerity, intolerance, misogeny and racism. Implement great, big fix-all solutions such as UBIs, porportional representative voting, clean energy and veganism. Free Palestine,and end the genocide and occupation. Free other nations and peoples in the grips of colonialist, hate, politics and ego created policy, poverty and war. Educate, learn and grow as we discover the easy answer of the past aren’t always right, or right anymore, and there is always room for growth and progress.
I hope we deal with homelessness, poverty and mental illness so everyone can have a full and equal life, and create a future where no child suffers abuse, goes hungry or is lost to bullying, addiction, or undiagnosed mental illness and disorder. And I hope we create a society where respect for each other, ourselves is the norm, and crime and violence is not. A world without war, and the leaders who wage ego wars based on racism and hate. And a green, clean vegan world where all animals have rights and have nothing to fear from humanity.
Our children, the future generations deserve a better world where everyone has a full equal chance at success, and everyone truly matters. Where kindness, peace and love rules and people are free because everyone knows and respects the limits of decency, respect and fairness towards other humans, all animals and our beautiful planet.
As a left liberal, animal rights activist, I am dedicated and committed to this idea of a better world. It’s not difficult at all fighting for it. It’s as easy as being an activist and advocate online and in person, in my work, voting wisely and strategically when necessary, living green and vegan and treating others with care and respect. Being a basic nice, kind, responsible adult who cares and gives my best. This is what society should aspire us to, can create and desperately needs.
What is life? It’s simply humans, animals and our planet. To fix and save ourselves, care, understanding, love and respect for all three is the direction we need to go in. With a committed, mature population we can get the work done, and maintain and better our world, and bring to life, the very real and realistic promise of peace, plenty and justice for all.
