Despite all our protestations to the contrary, we are animals. With a more complex consciousness I concede, but basically animals. And, as scientists have agreed for many years, we are all of one species – Homo sapiens. As such, with no sub-species, or any other scientific division, we are all the same. Irrespective of superficial features such as skin colour, hair and eye colour, or height, weight, sex or age, we are all members of one species, and equal.

Historically, there have been many attempts to re-classify some of us as different animals, as less than fully human, as less needy of attention or respect. Many societies have deemed some of their citizens less worthy, unequal and in many instances, such as by Nazi Germany, only fit to be exploited and even exterminated. At other times and in various countries, humans have been, and still are, divided into a hierarchy of classes, with some regarded as superior to others and the inferior ones largely excluded from society or tolerated as long as they carried out the menial tasks. None of these invidious divisions, or accompanying value judgments have any basis in biology or any other scientific discipline.

Similarly, there is no scientific reason to downgrade or devalue individual humans on the basis of sex, gender, age or physical characteristics. Despite religious dogma and other beliefs, economic circumstances, nationalism and cults, we are all human and all equally entitled to respect, sustenance and security. When leaders claim difference and superiority for their followers, it is they, the leaders, who are less than human.

As animals, we need to learn from other species. A cow is a cow no matter its colour, and dogs recognise and react instinctively to other dogs regardless of breed, size, sex, age or circumstance of meeting. Any superiority we claim or practice when in contact with other humans is the result of false belief arising from history or education. It is time to stop believing and start thinking.