Instead of blowing each other to radioactive smithereens, we could work out compromises for removing national debts and for eliminating poverty, depravity, pollution, and the benighted ignorance of illiteracy. Instead of being constantly entrenched in the mire of inhuman utterance, His name would only be spoken in profound humility, respect, and reverence. Intense, deep-felt tears well up in my eyes, through just thinking about it. Our planet could not exist without it. There is a lot more to intelligence than just being aware of what's going on.
Intelligence is life.
Life is intelligence. Even the plants around us possess intelligence. Watch how well they adapt to the sundry forces of nature, if you don't believe me. Who are we, as humans, to judge the intelligence, or lack thereof, of animals. It may well be that many of the animals are far more sentient than we humanoids give them credit for.