We found ourselves in a tiny village - three guesthouses, a farmer’s garden, and one path that either led back where we came from or forward to the next stop. There was, quite literally, nothing to do. So Amanda and I sat in the sun, gazing up at the mountains, and started talking.
One of those conversations turned into a deep spiral of reflection - something about stillness seems to invite it.
Aren’t we supposed to be the smart ones?
We started wondering: Why does the human race have consciousness, while most animals seemingly do not?
Is that fair? Is that how natural evolution was supposed to go? It made me think about balance - or rather, the lack of it.
Where is our balance?
When I look at nature, I see it being exploited by the human race.
Burned for farming.
Chopped for paper.
Trashed for tourism.
All done by humans. With consciousness.
Why is it that we, who have the capacity to understand consequences, do not think about the influence it has on the eco systems and the future of the world? Why is it that we, who have the capacity to reflect, still take more than we need? More land, more money, more power - never enough.
In the animal world, there's a balance. For example, when deer populations rise, wolves follow. When deer decline, so do wolves.
Even without predators, when the habitat can't support the deer, the grass runs out - and nature resets.
It’s harsh, but it works. It’s balance.
But humans? We seem to have written ourselves out of that system. We invent solutions to extend life, to expand populations - especially in the developed world. Without a natural enemy and a conscious that seems self-serving, when is it ever going to be enough?
When will we ever reach our balance?
Is this what consciousness is for?
To create systems that benefit the few, while ignoring the cost to the many?
A double standard
Animals are labeled pests when they overpopulate, so we are allowed to shoot them for sport - while calling it "balance". How does that line up with the fact that the human population is the largest on the planet? We, the largest population on the planet, are exempt from the same judgment.
Why is it that when there's a pandemic, all countries go into lockdown to save lives. But when our chickens catch a virus, they all have to be killed instantly?
Is that hypocrisy?
Would animals have done things differently if they had our consciousness?
And aren’t we supposed to be the smart ones?
Does our conscious make us selfish?
We have been given the ability to think, decide, reflect and improve. We have been given the opportunity to know better and act accordingly. Though, it seems that people are more focused on their own personal gain, rather than doing what’s best for the (rest of the) world.
For example: the Nepalese government is currently building roads through the mountains - tearing down the trees, destroying natural paths and reducing the need for local guides and porters. The goal? Accessibility to all hotspots for mass-tourism.
The guides told me that they are anxious about how this decision will influence their day-to-day lives. By making everything accessible, is the Nepalese government doing the right thing for its nature, or for its locals? Is this progress or are they after gaining more wealth for the “corrupted” government?
Would money outweigh your principles?
Amanda, one of the girls I’m traveling with, has plans to move to Australia. One option she’s considering is a well-paying job in the mines. Even though she is tempted by the incredible paycheck, she does have second thoughts. Mining has consequences, especially for the environment, and she’s the kind of person who cares about that. At the moment she doesn't know much about the topic, but would her conscience be clear, if she did decide to go and work there?
She said she would look into it more before committing. But we both wondered aloud: Would staying unaware make the decision easier?
If you don’t know the impact, it’s easier to take the money.
And someone’s going to do it anyway… so why not you?
But then again, do you want to support companies that profit by plundering the earth?
Do you want to look away? Or does money have such an influence that we are happy to turn a blind eye?
Is ignorance truly bliss?
Maybe it is - for a little while.
But ignorance often brings short-term peace at the cost of long-term damage.
So what if we all stopped to think for just a moment longer?
What if we all looked past the short-term rewards and asked harder questions?
Would our world look different?
