COVID-19 can be seen as feedback for anthropocentric social, economic and environmental decision-making that disrespects other living systems. The paper makes a case that respects for multiple species, and the onus of beneficence should be applied to all living systems of which we are a strand. Human beings are not exceptional insofar as they are able to communicate, make decisions, demonstrate a sense of community and show empathy or to make political calculations. What does this mean for the way we live our lives? Respect for persons needs to include animals, plants and the earth. It is time to rethink rights and responsibilities to protect habitat. Goodall stresses that the loss of habitat leads to species that have never been in contact before (and thus without any resistance) causing cross species infections. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Communication and culture: A multispecies endeavour within a shared habitat