If you’re like most people, you have never heard of Jainism, which is a sect typically folded within “Hinduism”, and in which all life is sacred. They believe all life is sentient, even plants. Different types of life have a different number of senses. Plants, if memory serves, have one, which is quite consistent with Cleve Backsters finding. They are not oblivious to the world around them. They can’t see, and can’t think, but they can feel. Just think back to Backster’s initial finding, in which the plant more or less got excited when it was watered, in a manner not entirely unlike dogs when they are about to go for a walk.
The ultimate act of charity in this creed is to starve yourself to death, so that you do not live at the expense of ANY other form of life. Their holy men sweep the roads ahead of them, lest they inadvertently kill an insect.
You can read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/
Maybe take a break from the news for a bit. Learn something new.