Reuters Video ".. A new Animal Rights Law" commented by a reporter from Beijing, to be viewed HERE
News Xinhuatnet 22 September 2009
In a recent international academic conference, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Chang Ji legal experts issued a "The People's Republic of China Animal Protection Law" draft expert advice to improve at home and abroad to seek the views of the public.
Animal rights community to protect the voice, but also public opinion, affirmed the right to legislate. Right to adequate protection of animal rights can be said that the forces of history, is a sign of progress toward a civilized society. Animals have a certain intellectual and cognitive abilities, but also have their own emotions and feelings, these "animal" should be respected by humans. Human beings can and should "benefit the people", to a certain extent, the social ethic extended to the relationship between humans and animals, the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Legislation to protect animals, that is a clear entitlement to the rights of animals, and be implemented through national mandatory.
Legislation to protect animal rights, began in Europe, but it is a very effective animal protection more recent matter. 1822, Ireland through "Act against abuse of domestic animals", which is the world's first one with the animal welfare-related laws. It was not until the last century, 80 years, developed countries, only a comprehensive legislation to protect animal rights, animal "living dead line of food," With the bottom-line constraints. Moreover, early animal protection legislation, mainly to stop cruelty to animals, but also very difficult to imagine that a properly implemented.
Animals were given the right to have their necessary historical conditions: first, the rise of the middle class, some animals from the draft into pets, people and animals, the emotional ties strengthened; followed by the development of material and technical conditions so that human rights have a certain degree of protection , and then before they can benefit animals; third is to protect animal rights and social consensus, there is no social consensus to protect animal rights, the law will not be universally respected. Do not have these economic and social conditions, even if the legislation ultimately on paper.
Choose a draft legislative proposals released the international arena reflects the legal experts of the "international outlook", but an international vision of legal experts may forget, China has its own national conditions. China has 800 million farmers, while farmers and animal relationships are very complex, both human compassion to animals, it was also instrumental in animals, the use of material. In the cities, people just awakening of awareness of their rights, people's awareness of animal rights is still indifferent nature.
Protection of animal rights, need for values, the legal system as a prerequisite, but the real basis or economic development level. Developed countries, the protection of animal rights and welfare, is the protection of human rights, the welfare state becomes a reality, the people's rights and welfare of the animal world's natural "overflow." China has just solve the people's food and clothing, people's employment, housing, health, travel and even the beleaguered funeral, we must also recognize and protect the rights and welfare of animals is indeed unrealistic.
The so-called laws, not human inventions, it should already exist in the social customs, habits, moral, the legislation was the law, "discovery." If the urban and rural residents to love the animals, in the last resort must be in accordance with customary to dispose of animals, though legal experts to come up with a prohibited by law to do so, then many people will be going to turn into a legal sinners. Such legislation is clearly not the discovery of the law, but an expert arbitrary will of the system be applied mechanically to the West.
This is not to say that China should not be legislation to protect animals, but said that China between urban and rural areas, career development is very uneven between, in the next longer period of time, have not issued the Code-type animal protection law, demanded too much on people's excessive. Can be for animal experiments, industrial slaughter, zoos and performing arts industries, introduced an industry first animal protection norms, conditions that can be special legislation. Cities can improve the domestic dog law and regulations can be expanded to protect the pet kennel regulations. But all of these laws must be operable. (Yang Yu-ze)