Published In
Rewilding Earth
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2020
Subjects
Conservation, Environmentalism, Conservation of natural resources
Abstract
Over the last twelve millennia—since agriculture first emerged—humans have increased their exploitation and efforts to control other species and to colonize the Earth. Human on human hierarchy and colonization of other humans follows on the colonization of the natural world. The task of conservation is to undo that colonial relationship. We have been causing the extinction of other life-forms, including hominid species, since we left Africa at least 60,000 years ago. In the last 50 years, or just about two human generations, nearly 68% of all vertebrate animals have disappeared due to human activity (WWF 2020). Humans go into an existing biological community and reorganize it for the benefit of the invaders. We simply take what we want—the homes and lives of others—like the British did in India, the Spanish in much of the Americas, Japan in East Asia; like Mesopotamian cities did to agricultural hinterlands, and like the Aztec did to many of their neighbors.
Rights
© 2020 by David Johns
Locate the Document
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/38117
Citation Details
Johns, D. (2021). Human Confusion: Why There Must Be Justice for Non-Humans. Rewilding Earth.