Well said, Kimberly. Everything we eat comes from living things. The Earth is good enough to provide for us, and there would be plenty to go around if we all knew how to share. We need to be thankful. I feel that respect and understanding are the keys, not only towards other humans but also towards other life, even forms of life that are less comprehensible to us.

I also believe that the plants and the Earth have spirits, and obviously animals do. They all feel, even if not in the same way that we do. They all deserve respect. This does not mean that we shouldn't make use of their gifts - just that we should not waste or destroy for no reason, and we need to be good stewards.

Wendy