Does the belief that we are superior to other animals increase racial prejudice?

According to studies at Brock University, racial prejudice and discrimination may be associated with a strong belief that humans are superior to animals. By encouraging children to interact with animals in a thoughtful, compassionate way, you have a better chance of humanizing their response to people who appear to be different.
– Ft. McMurray’s animals and the evolution of human empathy

Hi everyone,

We all want a more peaceful world, right? No one except a few highly disturbed individuals is wishing for more division and conflict. We have long had educational programs that seek to “teach tolerance”. So why aren’t we all just “getting along” yet?

We know that high states of stress increase the propensity to stereotype and detract from receptivity on both the emotional and intellectual levels. Educational programs that do not address the collective traumatized nervous system will be limited in effectiveness. Certainly that is part of the problem.

What if believing we are superior to other animals is an additional symptom that in turn also becomes part of the problem?

What if even having sympathy for other species is a good start, but doesn’t take us far enough because too often the sympathy continues to hold arrogance within it?

What if the way we see other species is not factually based in reality, but instead, based in our conditioning, rationalization, convenience, exaggerated entitlement and privilege? In other words, what if we dominate, not because we are better, but merely because we can?

There are a lot of things in this world that need much more attention. Species-ism is one of the most fundamental and destructive, yet, it remains greatly under-recognized and unaddressed.

Tomorrow evening, please summon your courage, bring your open-mindedness, and come prepared to leave seeing the world differently. Please join us at 6:30pm, Sunday May 22, in Irvine, for A Screening of Speciesism – (RSVP).

Thanks for staying engaged,
Barbara English, LMFT, CBT, TRE® Certification Trainer
Co-founder and Executive Director, Living Ubuntu
livingubuntu.org
(949) 891-2005

[Ubuntu] n. Every human being truly becomes a human by means of relationships with other human beings

:::UPCOMING EVENTS:::

A Screening of Speciesism
Sunday, May 22, 6:30pm
Irvine

Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®) – Group Shake
Thursday, June 2, 4:00pm
Newport Beach

Living Vegan Meeting
Thursday, June 9, 6:30pm
Irvine

Orange County for Climate Action (OCCA) Meeting
Wednesday, June 15, 6:30pm
Irvine

A Screening of Love Thy Nature
Sunday, June 26, 6:30pm
Huntington Beach

Hike in Aliso Wood Canyon / Lunch at Native Foods Cafe
Saturday, July 16, 9:00am – hike, 11:00am – lunch
Aliso Viejo

A Screening of PlantPure Nation — save the date, more info soon!
(featuring vegan nutrition expert, Laura Oatman) 
Sunday, July 31, 6:00pm
Irvine

Permaculture Workshop & Visit with the Animals — save the date, more info soon!
(featuring Jessica Due of Kindred Spirits Care Farm)
Sunday, August 14, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Reseda

A Screening of Peaceable Kingdom — save the date, more info soon!
Sunday, August 21, 7:00pm
Irvine