Animal
Rights and Welfare: A call to peaceful coexistence.
Animals, be it
wild or pet, food or sport, there is much humans must do to be humane towards
them. Some years back, Ghanaians were agitating for freedom and they finally
became the first sub-Saharan country to gain theirs. Other countries followed
and still are. Non-human animals sadly, have no champion, but fortunately some
humans have stood up for them in many countries. Ghana is now gaining grounds
as an online search can reveal to you there are animal right activists in the
country. Critics of animal rights argue that animals are unable to enter into a
social contract, and thus cannot be
possessors of rights, a view summed up by the philosopher Roger Scruton,
who writes that only humans have duties, and therefore only humans have rights.
One may ask, what are animal rights and animal welfare and how similar or
different are they? The simple answer to that is: Animal rights is the philosophy of
allowing non-human animals to have the most basic rights that all sentient
beings desire: the freedom to live a natural life free from human exploitation,
unnecessary pain and suffering, and premature death. This is what the animal
rights movement is about; it is not about working for equality between human
and non-human animals. Animal welfare on the other hand seeks to
alleviate the suffering of animals while they are being exploited, without
attempting to question the fundamental basis of whether it is acceptable to
exploit animals in the first place. How does humanity intend to solve
differences among its own species when it cannot learn to make peace with the
other animals on earth? Humans need to start thinking and living in terms of
co-existence, as opposed to dominance. You certainly do not have to love your
neighbors, but you should be able to get along with them. Peace begins with the
individuals who make a conscious effort to go through life making the least
negative impact possible. The
21st-century debates about animals can be traced back to the ancient world, and
the idea of a divine hierarchy. In the Book
of Genesis 1:26
(5th or 6th century BCE), Adam is given "dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Dominion need
not entail property rights, but it has been interpreted, by some, over the
centuries to imply ownership. However, Bernard Rollin
writes that "dominion” does not entail or allow abuse any more than
does dominion a parent enjoys over a child. According to Immanuel Kant, cruelty
to animals is wrong only because it was bad for humankind. He argued in 1785
that "cruelty to animals is contrary to man's duty to himself,
because it deadens in him the feeling of sympathy for their sufferings, and
thus a natural tendency that is very useful to morality in relation to other human
beings is weakened. There
is a saying which reflects how animals’ rights have been abandoned by their
neighbours (humans in this sense):
When they came for the socialists, I didn't do
anything, for I wasn't a socialist.
When they came for the Gypsies, I didn't do
anything for I wasn't a Gypsy.
When they came for the Jews, I didn't do
anything for I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me, there wasn't anyone
left
to do anything for me.
So the choice is ours. We can seek for the welfare of animals or
their rights, and it all depends on background factors, such as gender, occupation, type and level of education, religion, and one's attitude towards nature. This is
because, animals whether kept as a pet or food at least deserve:
1.
suitable
environment to exhibit normal behaviour patterns,
2.
housed
with, or apart from, other animals,
3.
suitable diet
and water
4.
and be
protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Abibimman
Foundation is therefore dedicated to promoting Animal welfare and rights in
Ghana and the World. Let’s Join hands and create an environment for peaceful
coexistence with our neighbours: animals. If you are interested, call or send
an Email to Join the Coalition of Animal
Rights and Welfare Action in Ghana. (CARWAG)
Isaac
Korku Dorgbetor
Coalition of Animal Rights and Welfare Action in Ghana. (CARWAG)
Abibimman
Foundation
P.O.BOX B1 Tema
info@abibimmanfoundation.org
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