Florence Burgat: 'When sufferings have to be endured by animals, is it simply up to us to stop them'

4th of October is 'World Animal Day'

This is the fourth of October 2009.

Because it is St. Francis Day, the 4th of October has been declared ‘World Animals Day’. One day per year. Not to remind us of the way in which humans have, during the centuries, treated animals and wonder how that has been possible. No, this is the one day per year to speak about what they have to endure every day, without any let-up, everywhere in the world and since time immemorial.

When will things ever change?

Two things did change in the dark history of animals. The first thing is that never before have so many animals been killed as today, and never have so many been exploited. Never have the conditions for animals been so harsh. Billions are imprisoned in factory farms bunkers, slaughtered at conveyor belt-rhythm, shot, poisoned or trapped, fished, captured for their fur or their “exoticism”, used in laboratories, subdued and mutilated in circuses, losing their minds because of the isolation in zoos…

The urgency grows because we have now the scientific and technical means to exploit them more and more: more meat, more milk, more scientific knowledge, more of everything ...

The world of animals is exhausted. Humans are about to eradicate the last free animals in favour of livestock, to be managed to accommodate our needs, including the most futile ones. That is the situation.

The second thing is that a global movement for the protection and defense of the rights of animals saw the day, structured and gaining momentum. It monitors, informs and invests all available energy into neutralizing the indifference or ignorance of people who mostly have no idea in what they are getting involved by buying seemingly harmless products : a piece of ham, a yoghurt, a pair of shoes, a lipstick.

When will things finally change? Often we lament our helplessness when learning what is going on in the world of human torture, crime, kidnappings. When these sufferings have to be endured by animals, is it simply up to us to stop them: by getting informed and by abstaining from buying products resulting from animal exploitation. The choice is ours practically each time; an alternative is almost always available.

Let’s put an end to walk with hanging heads, blind and deaf, despite the fact that much remains hidden so that nobody shall see or hear it.


===================

Dr Florence Burgat is a philospher and Director of Research (Inra / université de Paris I)

Author: Florence Burgat

Link: Book French 'Les animaux d’elevage ont-ils droit au bien-être? '(2001) - English translation: Do farm animals have the right to well-being?
Link: Florence Burgat: 'Our demands towards the well-being of animals'
Link: Meet The Muslim Vegetarian! And Happy World Animal Day
Link: The Status of Animals: Philosophical and Ethical Aspects