We are now the most numerous mammalian species on the planet
but unlike all the others, our ecological impact has been greatly amplified by technology.
Virtually all of modern technology has been developed within the past century,
thereby escalating both the scale and the scope of our ability to exploit our surroundings.
Resource exploitation is fuelled by an exploding consumer demand for products,
and the fulfilment of that demand has become a critical component of economic growth.
Hyperconsumption in the developed world serves as the model for people
in developing countries
now that globalization has rendered the entire world population a potential market.
Taken together, human numbers, technology, consumption and a globalized economy
have made us a new kind of force on the planet. Throughout our evolutionary past,
we never had to worry about the collective impact of our entire species
because our ecological footprint was so much lighter and nature was vast and endlessly self-renewing.
Our new status of superspecies
has been achieved so rapidly that we are only now
becoming aware of a new level of collective responsibility,
which reflects a dawning realization that taken all together,
human activity is the main cause of the current decline
in the biosphere's rich diversity and productivity that support all life on earth.¹

by David Suzuki

XXVII

Owl was reading David Suzuki's book,
"The Sacred Balance." He thought there'd be Owls in it.
But he quickly suspected a different saga was on these pages.
"We are now the most numerous mammalian species on the planet
but unlike all the others, our ecological impact has been greatly amplified by technology.
Virtually all of modern technology has been developed within the past century,
thereby escalating both the scale and the scope of our ability to exploit our surroundings."
Complicated sentences wore Owl out.

Coyoté heard the muttering before he saw Owl.
Then, in a screech, "...new status of superspecies
has been achieved so rapidly...!!"
Blue smoke fumed from speechless Owl as Coyoté came around the boulder.
Coyoté stopped, waited
for Owl to see him. Didn't want to add to this tantrum. Or become the focus of it.

Owl slowly settled, unfluffed feathers, came down
from tippy-toe. Breathing returned.
"What superspecies?" Coyoté asked
as Owl turned toward him.
A hundred expressions danced through Owl's eyes
and a dozen sounds started and dribbled away.
He just stared at Coyoté
and became - slowly - calm.

"Why do you go hungry in May," Owl asked.
"Hunters clear the game in April," Coyoté replied - puzzled.
"Exactly," Owl said, "the superspecies  clears your grocery store
before you even know its open."

"Ah," Coyoté replied, "So.... We can.... I could...."
and he fell silent, staring at Owl.

"Exactly," Owl finally said.
"What sacred balance is possible now?
Is there time to find one?"