This past week, the United States Supreme Court refused to consider an appeal made by California’s Central Valley farmers and water districts to pump more water to offset the ongoing drought. The reason? The delta where the pumping would take place is home to an endangered fish, the Delta smelt.

This brings about a troubling reality that can only become more common. Should our priority be protected a species from being eradicated or sacrifice that in order to help needy humans? Protect all life equally or still place mankind at the front? No matter which side of the fence you are, this is a choice that ideally we should try to avoid making in the future. For more on this court decision, click here:: Farmers in dry California decry decision involving appeal