Buddhism Reasonings on the Protection of Animal Rights - Essay Example

Essay, English Topic: Annotated bibliography Warrior, Princess. Yahoo! Contributor Network. Some Buddhism Reasoning’s on the Protection of Animal Rights; April 16, 2007 Cruelty to animals is barred as a religious practice as well and such practice has profound meaning from the point of view of protecting Nature. Human beings need to show compassion and mercy to other species. All religions have some constructive revelations about showing kindness to animals. In many communities, during birthday celebrations, meat or any other type of non-vegetarian food is not served. During such occasions, when the gathering of people is in a happy mood, delicious vegetarian food is served. The question is if vegetarian food is good for one day, why the same food should not continue on an ongoing basis? “When a new born arrives: it is a new soul coming to the family. Killing another creature for celebration will bring "bad karma" to the family and therefore, it is not a good practice. It is best to celebrate the birth of a child without fleshes of animals.”(Warrior) Some people believe that killing animals as sacrifice to gods and goddesses during specific festivals will be auspicious. This is hypocrisy of the highest order as blood-letting and causing intense suffering to any animal or bird can never bring happiness to the viewers or anyone. Similarly when we invite some guests to celebrate some happy occasion, should we invite them to show to them the skills of the butcher? Behind every non-vegetarian dish prepared, the curse and anguish of the animal killed is bound to be there. The points elucidated in this article are true and revealing and it is the duty of human beings to show kindness to all animals and birds. 2- Williams, Erin E. Why Animals Matter: The Case for Animal Protection. Prometheus Books, 2007 Most of the Americans wear masks as for the treatment of animals. Their approach is contradictory. On the one hand, they spend lavishly on their pets, and their support for non- vegetarian food of different types is difficult to understand. Birds and animals are used for food, medical experiments and similar activities and the killing process is appalling. The author has dealt with this subject well, and shows how the industries dealing in animals, with their goal to maximize profits, use procedures that cause untold miseries to the animals. Humane treatment of animals is not only the right of the concerned animal; it is the right of the humankind. Leave aside the ethical and philosophical reasoning. Abuse and exploitation of the animals must stop. Some of the animals and snakes are skinned alive, put in boiling water, before being killed, for the reason that meat produced after such procedures is tasty and will fetch more prices in the market. The author has taken a realistic and balanced look at the problem and has emphasized the need to establish a better relationship with animal and bird kingdom, as they are part of Nature and serve a cause for harmony and human happiness. Humankind is yet to know the intricate working of Nature and how, cruelty to animals will affect our lives. The author has done well to highlight the subjects of animal welfare, the environment and social justice, and how they are mutually connected. The younger generation must read such books and shape their outlook as per the valuable suggestions provided therein. 3- Saunders, Deb Bowen. Stop the annual Taiji dolphin massacre, make your children proud. The Japan Times COMMUNITY Web: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120911hn.html, Accessed on May 21, 2013 This is an article by Deb Bowen-Saunders to stop the annual Taiji dolphin massacre. He makes this appeal to the mayor of Taiji and to the people and appeals to them to make their children proud, by putting an end to this mind-less cruelty on the poor, beautiful creatures, the dolphins. The author of the message is from Keperra, Australia. He recalls the calamity of natural disasters undergone by Japan recently and how the humankind all over the world came to the rescue of the people. He gives the analogy of a large group of family members suddenly ambushed by some strangers who began to hit, stab and kill them, for no fault of theirs. They have no way to escape as they are encircled by the attackers from all ends. All are killed in the most brutal manner and this killing goes on for months together by the groups of blood-thirsty strangers, and they are not willing to listen to the sane advice from anyone. This is how the dolphin-slaughter is being carried out. They are herded and killed ruthlessly. The author appeals to put a halt to this meaningless tradition. In Australia whales and dolphins are treated with all kindness and a tourist industry is being developed for viewing their free movement. In that country Kangaroos are killed no doubt, but that is done only in exceptional cases, but the killing process is humane and with no suffering. That is not done for amusement purposes. Australian wildlife is well-protected. The author’s appeal to put an end to the barbaric practice of slaughter of dolphin needs to be supported from the right thinking people and animal lovers all across the world. 4- Hendry, Erica R. Five Species Likely to Become Extinct in the Next 40 Years. Smithsonian magazine, July-August 2010, Web: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/Five-Species-Most Likely-to-Become-Extinct-in-the-Next-40-Years.html#ixzz2TtclOxoK, Accessed on May 21, 2013 It is a sad state of affairs that the humankind is at war with the animal world on a permanent basis, and boasts itself as the crown of creation. Erica R. Hendry in the article in the Smithsonian magazine has given details about five species likely to become extinct in the next forty years. They are Rabb’s Fringe-Limbed Treefrog from Panama. It is facing the threat from a fungal disease. Only one remains in the wild, though some live in captivity. Specie of Tortoise from Madagascar, at present numbering about 400 are the targets of poachers for illegal pet trade and their second problem is fragmented habitats. The numbers of Hirola Damaliscus hunter from Kenya-Somalia border are rapidly declining on account poaching and cattle farmers taking over the habitat of antelope. Baiji Lipotes vexillifer from China is extinct since 2006 and dams and water pollution are responsible for the destruction of the habitat of this dolphin. Just 59 Cat Ba Langur remains on this Planet Earth and they are from Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. They are hunted for manufacturing a traditional balm. The unjust treatment meted out to animals and birds and the cruelties inflicted on them has adverse effect on ecological balance, which ultimately will impact humankind. It is in the best interests of the human beings to treat the birds and animals with consideration and they should not indulge in the acts of killing for pleasure. Poaching, illegal smuggling of animals and birds, using animals for making medicines, polluting the natural habitats of animals, all these acts must stop forthwith. 5- Eilperin, Juliet. Shark Callers: The Daring Spiritual Practice Of Papua New Guinea...Huff Post Religion, 26 Aug 2012... Web: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…hotos_n_1828134.html, Accessed on May 21, 2013. Juliet Eilperin gives an interesting as well as disturbing article titled, “Shark Callers: The Daring Spiritual Practice Of Papua New Guinea”. Sharks are viewed with fear. But in some parts of the world like Papua New Guineans, sharks are religious symbols, and their existence is linked with creation story. The people of this region boast of a special skill called shark calling and they claim that no other civilization knows this art. Sharks are lured from their deep habitats in the ocean to catch them by employing snares. Now the question is, is this a divine procedure or a cruel act? There is a procedure to hypnotize human beings, but thank God, this is only an art of entertainment and not to kill the human beings. The subtleties of the art indicate what human beings can do, but the important question is should the human beings do that? Lure the sharks and hack them to pieces? After trapping the shark, the process in which the trap around the shark’s neck is tightened, the sharks struggles to its utmost to free itself, does not succeed in its escape attempt, and when it is exhausted, the catcher pulls it to surface, pierces the shark in the eyes and bludgeons it into compliance. Even with traditional or religious sanctity behind it, this barbaric practice must be stopped and the author needs to be thanked for bringing before the public an informative write-up relating to cruelty to sharks in the garb of traditional practices. 6- Li, Peter. Dog Killing Has No Place in a Modernizing China. Humane Society International, June 8, 2009. Web: www.hsi.org/…news/2009/06/dog_killing_not_modern, Accessed on May 21, 2013. The article by Peter Li, HIS China Specialist, published on behalf of Humane Society International is mind-boggling. One wonders whether China’s integration in to the modern world is possible when it still indulges in such barbaric practices. Millions of dogs are killed in the most brutal manner, their fur is skinned alive, they are mercilessly clubbed, all this for serving the humankind faithfully. The recent action taken by the Yangxian authorities, in China, for whatever reason, is blood-chilling. The authorities are targeting the street dogs, and have issued orders to the dog owners to kill their pets forthwith or surrender them to the military police to shoot them to death or else and pay a fine of $16 each. Special dog squads have been constituted to eliminate dogs in the specified districts. During this killing campaign, some 20,000 dogs have faced a brutal death. This action is being taking notwithstanding the strong public opinion. An online opinion poll shows that 71.12% people oppose such slaughters. Dog killing is the legacy of Mao to the people of China and during his regime “Mass dog killing campaigns”, were celebrated to divert the attention of an impoverished society. Today pet ownership is, however, legal. There are humane procedures to control the dog population in the areas needed, like encouraging sterilization. Government-civic collaboration is one of the suggested methods. Mass killing as per the whims of the authorities is no solution to the problem. 7- Oceanic, Presevation. Oceanic Preservation Society. Dolphin Slaughetr In Taiji, 2011. Web: 2012. Read More