Compassion in World Farming animal sentience conference
anon | 18.03.2005 08:57 | Analysis | Animal Liberation | Ecology
Primatologist Dr Jane Goodall calls for end to vivesection and urges parents to educate children about food choices.
ONE of the world’s leading primatologists today called for greater awareness in how we treat farmed animals and branded vivisection “morally wrong”.
Dr Jane Goodall told an international conference in London that parents needed to teach their children about the “horrific” suffering of intensively farmed livestock and added animals were not our “slaves”.
In her keynote speech, she told 600 delegates at the two-day Compassion in World Farming Trust conference on animal sentience it was vital for the future of the planet that children learn about the choices available in their food.
Dr Goodall, a UN Messenger of Peace, said she herself had become vegetarian after reading philosopher Peter Singer’s 1970s book, Animal Liberation, which made her realise the “terror” imbued in the meat on her plate.
She begged for animals to be given a chance and urged society to put right the “injustice of cruelty”.
She said: “We are not the only creatures on this planet with minds and feelings. Yes, we are unique, but so are pigs, cows and chickens – they are not our slaves.
“We are not telling everyone to go vegetarian, but at the moment we are just not teaching our children about the choices that are out there.
“We need to persuade them to buy free range eggs and free range chickens.
“There’s cruelty and greed in our world and if we feel it in our hearts, then we have to do something and put the injustice right – that’s the greatest hope for the future,” she added.
“Let’s give animals the benefit of the doubt and answer their appeal for help.”
At a press conference, Dr Goodall, who has worked with primates for 45 years, said thinking on animal sentience had other far-reaching implications.
She said vivisection was morally wrong and called for an end to the practice.
“It’s morally wrong to exploit animals for vivisection,” she said.
“The animal rights movement has made great strides over the years, but they have often been given the cold shoulder by profitable industries and policy makers who support these tests.
“Let’s get together and find a way to end these experiments, most of which are nothing to do with human health anyway.”
Dr Jane Goodall told an international conference in London that parents needed to teach their children about the “horrific” suffering of intensively farmed livestock and added animals were not our “slaves”.
In her keynote speech, she told 600 delegates at the two-day Compassion in World Farming Trust conference on animal sentience it was vital for the future of the planet that children learn about the choices available in their food.
Dr Goodall, a UN Messenger of Peace, said she herself had become vegetarian after reading philosopher Peter Singer’s 1970s book, Animal Liberation, which made her realise the “terror” imbued in the meat on her plate.
She begged for animals to be given a chance and urged society to put right the “injustice of cruelty”.
She said: “We are not the only creatures on this planet with minds and feelings. Yes, we are unique, but so are pigs, cows and chickens – they are not our slaves.
“We are not telling everyone to go vegetarian, but at the moment we are just not teaching our children about the choices that are out there.
“We need to persuade them to buy free range eggs and free range chickens.
“There’s cruelty and greed in our world and if we feel it in our hearts, then we have to do something and put the injustice right – that’s the greatest hope for the future,” she added.
“Let’s give animals the benefit of the doubt and answer their appeal for help.”
At a press conference, Dr Goodall, who has worked with primates for 45 years, said thinking on animal sentience had other far-reaching implications.
She said vivisection was morally wrong and called for an end to the practice.
“It’s morally wrong to exploit animals for vivisection,” she said.
“The animal rights movement has made great strides over the years, but they have often been given the cold shoulder by profitable industries and policy makers who support these tests.
“Let’s get together and find a way to end these experiments, most of which are nothing to do with human health anyway.”
anon