The aliens have landed. Their ship settles down into a valley near Mexico City, billowing clouds of dust and leaves. The president of Mexico and the United Nations secretary general jostle discreetly to be at the front of the welcome party: to be the first to greet them, to star in what will instantly become the most famous photograph ever taken in the history of the world. Behind these two leaders stand all the smartest experts in the human sciences to help the work of translation and mutual understanding: linguists, anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists. (And behind them, just in case, are ranks and ranks of armed soldiers.)
But to the humans’ utter astonishment, the aliens disembark without a word or a gesture to the greeting party. They ignore it completely. No coming in peace, no aggression, nothing. It’s like the humans aren’t there at all.
>"Conferring personhood on non-humans could help us build a more vibrant and egalitarian world."