Because without being at peace even with "the suffering experienced by the trillions of living things on our planet" one cannot efficiently target one's actions. Look at all those altruists who pour billions in money and effort into world problems, accomplishing essentially nothing. As I said previously, peace is only the underlying condition. The emotional landscape does not change (though it may shift slightly), it only does not cloud one's reasoning. In other words, in times of crisis it's of no use to be e.g. hysteric or panicking. Yes, it erases the boundaries between good and evil, but it also reveals the causal logic of inherent morality. Seriously, try to be at peace with the world as it is right now. Even a short moment, a split second, will do ;)