The right to exist

In a world I aspire to, the right to exist is afforded to every human, every creature, our beautiful oceans, rivers, forests and mountains.

But rights are never absent responsibilities. Rights and responsibilities are complementary pairs. Left to right, up to down. Rights to responsibilities.

To exist as an atom is impossible. There are no single, isolated entities.

There is only community and relationship.

Without them, without our precious relationships, with ourselves, with others, with the land, our future and our past, we are hollowed to the point of missing all meaning and purpose for existence.

The right to exist is the right to co-exist.

And when we introduce the ‘co’, we enter the domain of responsibility.

My right to exist does not override your right to exist. We must find ways to coexist. 

We must consider, with infinite care, our relational responsibility to afford the same rights to others, our creatures and our planet.

I watch people all over the world insisting that their right to exist, their right to defend themselves, their right to take land, overrides the equal rights of others. The hypocrisy is staggering. 

Those who insist they have rights when others do not deny the greatest work of being human. Learning to be in relationship with their fellows and the world. 

And relationships, the quality of our relationships, how we care for each other and our precious home planet, are what make a rich and meaning filled life.

Photo Taken March 22nd 2026.  Article published March 30th 2026