Last year, an article in the Guardian focussed on the genetics discovery that humans and chimpanzees are 99.4% genetically identical in the most 'critical DNA sites'.
Interestingly, when we humans first classified chimpanzees in 1775, we classified them under the same genus as ourselves - Homo. It appears as though we decided to arbitrarily separate ourselves from our chimp cousins and created the genus "Pan" in 1816 to place the chimpanzee species under.
Through genetic science-technologies, we have been able to redetermine our closeness to our animal relatives, forcing us to acknowledge our own animal nature and to raise our respect for and the rights of the chimpanzees. We are now considering bringing the chimpanzees back into the Homo genus.
I feel that this is only appropriate, especially if it is genetically accurate. I am of the spirit of the Native American people's belief that we are ALL relatives and should treat all our relations with love, respect, and compassion. This includes plants and trees, the Earth itself, and of course all creatures. Why we would presume to be distinct and separate is really only a phase of our development as beings. I feel that we are growing out of this and 'scientific' discoveries such as these are only reflections of our own return to the Circle of Life. The only question I have remaining is, how much will the Human race have to change before it can live peacefully with itself and the rest of the Planet and Cosmos?
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That is the million dollar question, isn't it Michael? We are certainly barreling down a very perilous path at present. It is estimated that we will lose over 50% of animal and plant species in the next hundred years. Climate change and resource depletion threaten the survival of not only our own species, but much of life on Earth.
How far does this crisis have to progress before we awaken from the dark slumber that has brought us to this point? How can we accelerate this awakening so that it occurs before the degradation becomes irreversible? Who will lead the way? Which of our political leaders will have the courage to take a stand? How can we, as individuals, contribute to the massive transformation of consciousness and behavior that always precedes widespread change?
I get excited thinking about the potential of living in such a world... where we exist in harmony with our environment and each other, where all people have enough food, water and shelter, where equality and peace are the norm rather than the exception.
The possibility exists, but time is running out.
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