The value of life - or: why soils, plants and animals have dignity

Abstract

People are responsible towards future generations simply because they carry the incipient burden of the continued existence of the human race. And this is not just about bare survival. It means ensuring that future generations will have the same comfortable lifestyles as we do. They should be able to tap into natural resources, breathe clean air and drink pure water while breeding and husbanding resistant and regionally adapted animals. Instead of chasing after destructive ideas like “higher, faster, further, more”, there must be a return to the dignity of soils, plants and animals and the beauty of cultivated landscapes. Only if their intrinsic value is recognized and mindfully adhered to, will it be legally possible to guarantee the dignity of humankind. It is not difficult to practice this imperative of mindful, protective, life-promoting, unhurried interaction with all living entities. Many communities worldwide have been successfully practicing this approach, regardless of their religious beliefs, be they Buddhists, Moslems, Christians, or indigenous peoples or those following the criteria of veganism or sufficiency.