Earthlings

Speciesism: Being Biased In The Interest of Ones Own Species.

Earthling: Inhabitant Of The Planet Earth. The Term Earthling Does not include Sexism,Racism or Speciesism.

Earthlings is an Multi award winning Feature length documentary Directed by Shaun Monson and Narrated By Academy Award Nominee Joaquin Phoenix.

The Documentary starts of by explaining The Three Stages of Truth.

1)Ridicule

2)Violent Opposition

3)Acceptance

We As Human beings are not the only inhabitants of Planet earth. Every Human is considered as somebody and not something. The tendency of the powerful is to treat the less powerful as mere objects.

Human’s and animals although do not have all the same desires. But they do share common desires among each other.    The Desires for Food,water,shelter and companionship,freedom of movement and avoidance of pain is shared by all. Despite The Differences there is a unique sense of sameness among Humans and Non Humans.

The Documentary Is Divided into Five Parts

1)Pets

2)Food

3)Clothing

4)Entertainment

5)Science

Part 1

Pets

One of the most obvious ways in which animals serve Humans are as their companions.

This segment explains the sources from where people get their pets and the pathetic life of animals living there. Most of the pets obtained are from puppy mills. although an easy profession to get into , Most breeders are not qualified for the job. The pathetic conditions in which the animals are kept affects not only their physical health but also their mental health.

Neutering a pet somehow makes their owners feel emasculated. Resulting in overpopulation and 25 million animals becoming homeless every year (US alone). Inability to cope to the growing population of pet’s results in Animal shelters and even pet owners resorting to euthanasia killing over 60,000 animals a day.

Part 2

Food
It is a known fact that if slaughter houses had glass walls Every one would be Vegetarians.  Slaughter houses are houses of mass torture where animals  before reaching their final moments on an automated assembly line are treated in the most inhumane way as possible. Acts such as De horning of Cattle,De beaking of chicken and De feathering of Birds. Even in their final moments the animals are treated with no compassion what so ever.

Also commercial fishers are covered in this segment where the life of the ocean’s are literally drained out.  whaling despite being declared illegal by the international commission  is still being practiced in many countries due to the high demand for the exotic whale meat and oils.

Part 3

Clothing

Most of the Leather around the world comes from India and China. Poor Indian farmers are forced to sell their cattle due to unavailability of resources to take care of the cattle.   The cattle are sold on the false promise that they will be used on agricultural farms. Again emphasis has been laid on the torture that these animals undergo before meeting their gruesome end. The Harmful chemicals such as chromium which are used to stop decomposition is  extremely harmful and Toxic to People.

Part 4

Entertainment

This section Gives us an Idea about the Torture  that animals undergo in the entertainment industry. We Believe what we can see is the concept that most people believe in.   Be it the American rodeos ,The Spanish bull fighting or the ever so common animal shows/circuses .People do not know how animals are treated behind closed doors.  Zoos are valued to be educational to the common folk. But they are educational in teaching of disregard of other living things. No living creature desires to live behind caged doors, doing so is taking away its natural right.

Part 5

Science

Animals are tortured massively in the name of science ever day. Although it is a fact that despite any given product being tested on an animal ,it has to undergo testing on an actual human being before its release.  Animals are used for testing in various fields such as cosmetics ,Vehicle crash testing,Testing for cures and so on.

 

Earthling: One Who inhabits Planet Earth

 

“Talking about slaughter houses and animal cruelty will make me loose my appetite” is the general attitude towards the above subject. Ignorance is not always bliss. We as responsible people must know where we get our food and clothing from.

The Documentary is very well directed. The various scenes are put finely together ,Not to mention the numerous hidden footage which has been featured in the above.  Joaquin Phoenix does a commendable job as a Narrator. Personally i could see the pain and remorse passively passed on by the narrator in his voice.  Another notable mention has to be given to Moby , The music director for his brilliant background score.

We as Earthlings  must display compassion and responsibility while treating animals and should continue to do so in the future in an ethical manner.

9/10