Species Consciousness

Our best destiny, as planetary cohabitants, is the development of what has been called "species consciousness" -- something over and above nationalisms, blocs, religions, ethnicities.   During this week of incredulous misery, I have been trying to apply such a consciousness, and such a sensibility.  Thinking of the victims, the perpetrators, and the near future, I felt species grief, then species shame, then species fear. 

-- Martin Louis Amis (1949 -), British novelist, essayist, and short story writer, on the terrorist attacks of 11th September 2001, "Fear and loathing", The Guardian (18 September 2001)