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Twelve millennial mantras
Boulder Camera - December 19, 1999
By Marc Bekoff and Jane Goodall
Guest Columnists
http://www.bouldernews.com/opinion/guest/ebmarc.html
The millennium is here. Let us take stock of who we are and where we are
going. Is it acceptable to weep not only for human suffering but also for
the rampant misery of other animals with whom we share the planet? Can we
shed tears for sissy, the severely beaten elephant at the El Paso Zoo, the
kicked and abused elephants and chimpanzee, Trudy, at the Chippenfield
Circus in England? Can we also weep for the millions of animals in
laboratory prisons, the billions of animals tortured and slaughtered for
food and clothing? Can we sincerely mourn the destruction of the natural
world, the vanishing forests, wetlands, savannas and bodies of water?
We hope these twelve mantras will make a difference for future
generations:
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One: Compassion and empathy for animals beget compassion and empathy for
humans. Cruelty towards animals begets cruelty toward humans. |
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Two: All life has value and should be respected. Every animal owns her or
his own life spark. Animals are not owned as property. All living
creatures deserve these basic rights: the right to life, freedom from
torture, and liberty to express their individual natures. Many law schools
offer courses in animal law. If we agree, we would interact with animals
in rather different ways. We shall need compelling reasons for denying
these rights and ask forgiveness for any animal we harm. |
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Three: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Imagine what it
would be like to be caged, trapped, restrained, isolated, mutilated,
shocked, starved, socially deprived, hung upside down awaiting death or
watching others slaughtered. Biological data clearly show that many
animals suffer physically and psychologically and feel pain. |
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Four: Dominion does not mean domination. We hold dominion over animals
only because of our powerful and ubiquitous intellect. Not because we are
morally superior. Not because we have a "right" to exploit those
who
cannot defend themselves. Let us use our brain to move towards compassion
away from cruelty, to feel empathy rather than cold indifference, to feel
animals' pain in our hearts. |
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Five: Human beings are a part of the animal kingdom not apart from it.
The separation of "us" from "them" creates a false
picture and is
responsible for much suffering. It is part of the in-group/out-group
mentality that leads to human oppression of the weak by the strong as in
ethnic, religious, political and social conflicts. Let us open our hearts
to two-way relationships with other animals, each giving and receiving.
This brings pure and uncomplicated joy. |
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Six: Imagine a world without animals. No birdsong, no droning of nectar
searching bees, no coyotes howling, no thundering of hooves on the plains.
Rachel Carson chilled our hearts with thoughts of the silent spring. Now
we face the prospect of silent summers, falls and winters. |
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Seven: Tread lightly. Only interfere when it will be in the best
interests of the animals. Imagine a world where we truly respect and
admire animals, feel heart-felt empathy, compassion and understanding.
Imagine how we should be freed of guilt, conscious or unconscious. |
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Eight: Make ethical choices in what we buy, do and watch. In a
consumer-driven society our individual choices, used collectively for the
good of animals and nature, can change the world faster than laws. |
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Nine: Have the courage of conviction. Never say never. Act now. Be proactive, prevent animal abuse before it starts. Dare to speak out to
save the world's precious and fragile resources. Live as much as possible
in harmony with nature, respecting the intrinsic value of all life and the
wondrous composition of earth, water and air. |
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Ten: Every individual matters and has a role to play. Our actions make a
difference. Public pressure has been responsible for much social change,
including more humane treatment of animals. "Whistle blowers" have
courageously revealed intolerable conditions in laboratories, circuses,
slaughterhouses and so on, often at the expense of their jobs:
Henry Spira organized peaceful demonstrations that led to the abolishment
of the Draize test in which rabbits were harmed to learn about the effects
of eye shadow. His efforts also led to the formation of centers devoted to
the development of non-animal alternatives, sponsored by the cosmetic
companies themselves.
Public pressure greatly reduced veal consumption and led to Sears,
Roebuck, and Company ending their sponsorship of Ringling Brothers Barnum
& Bailey Circus.
Helen Steel and Dave Morris took on McDonald's in the longest trial in
British history (the McLibel case) and showed that they exploit children
with their advertising and are "culpably responsible" for cruelty
to
animals. |
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Eleven: Be a passionate visionary, a courageous crusader. Combat cruelty
and catalyze compassion. Do not fear to express love. Do not fear to be
too generous or too kind. Above all, understand that there are many
reasons to remain optimistic even when things seem grim. Let us harness
the indomitable human spirit. Together we can make this a better world for
all living organisms. We must, for our children, and theirs. We must
stroll with our kin, not walk away from them. |
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A millennial mantra: When animals lose, we all lose. Every single loss
diminishes us as well as the magnificent world in which we live together. |
Jane Goodall, author of many books including "Reason for Hope," is
known
for her work with the chimpanzees of Gombe National Park in Tanzania, now
in its 40th year, and for conservation education world-wide.
Marc Bekoff
is Professor in EPO Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and
author of many books including "Strolling With Our Kin."
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