Wrongs Beyond Number

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Wrongs Beyond Number 15X38 Pastel and pencil on paper
All over the world, misconceptions about bats have led to campaigns to eliminate bats entirely. Unfortunately, humans have developed weapons and explosives that are highly effective at doing this.
In his book The Secret Lives of Bats, Merlin Tuttle describes one method of elimination aimed at vampire bats.
As we stopped the pickup and got out, one of the men hoisted the flamethrower onto his back. It was fairly simple. A couple of fuel tanks in a special backpack were held in place with shoulder straps. A hose, pistol grip-type trigger, and nozzle were hand-held in front. When the trigger was pulled, a stream of gas would be ignited and sprayed up to 30 feet, incinerating anything in its path. I made sure I was in the rear.
- Merlin Tuttle in The Secret Lives of Bats
Not to despair, though - In that instance, and many others, just a little bit of education and outreach about bats can turn things around. Vampire bats are often confused with other species of bats. There are also more effective and specifically targeted methods of protecting livestock that do not involve flamethrowers. Once these facts come to light, misunderstandings about bats can often be resolved.
Beyond this, looking at the way we treat bats reveals deeper beliefs that we hold about nature and our power over other living things. Wrongs Beyond Number represents both hope and grief in bat conservation.
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Hairy-legged vampire bat
Wrongs Beyond Number is based on the harmonic pattern of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.
The title Wrongs Beyond Number is taken from W.B. Yeat's poem The Watch-fire, and the Book of Job from the Bible.
The Watch-fire
W.B. Yeats
This song unto all who would gather together and hold
Brother by brother;
A watch and a ward by the watch-fire of Eri, our old
And long-weeping mother.
This song unto all who would stand by the fire of her hope,
And droop not nor slumber;
But keep up the high and the mirthful proud courage to cope
With wrongs beyond number.
This song unto all who would gather and help yet once more
Eri, our mother;
And do nought that would anger the famous and great gone before
Brother by brother.
The Book of Job - Verse 18:15
Fire races through their dwelling, until nothing remains.
Burning sulphur is scattered on their home.
Image credit - Creative Commons Sulphur fire Banner