CLARIFICATION

[Guest guest]

Dear AAPN members,

I have not copied my response to Dr Chinny

Krishna's message to this list since I felt some of the issues that I

touched upon in my reply were not appropriate for this group. As for my

work to encourage people to be more compassionate to animals, the

organisations with which I work can testify to what I do or have done. But

that is not the important point. Controversial issues call for civilised

debate and knee jerk or sarcastic reactions only serve to obfuscate the

issue(They can be very enticing though). I have been informed that no

sarcasm was intended in Dr Krishna's message and am willing to accept

that.Uncomfortable issues will not disappear by skirting them or shutting

people up. I don't know about being 'excellent', but as a journalist, I am a

spokesperson, for both animals and humans(Balancing ethics is an integral

part of the profession). I can quote any number of people who work for

animal welfare who are not vegetarians. Non vegetarianism does not make them

less sincere for the cause. I believe that the information I have provided

on ethical dilemmas surrounding animal rights(especially great ape

rights) since I posted the interview cements my case. Also one of the

principal conservation programmes in place presently is the Darwin

Initiative that tries to address the problem of bushmeat in West Africa. The

Darwin Initiative consists of some of the best conservation biologists in

the world and does question the ethics of blaming people who have no other

choice but to eat animals for subsistence. I remember interviewing Mrs

Virginia McKenna of the Born Free Foundation about a year ago and asking her

for her opinion on 'human rights versus animal rights'. She replied that she

was involved in several human welfare projects and appreciated the

importance of speaking out for people who were marginalised in society. In

Kolkata, too, there have been admirable efforts to integrate underprivileged

people with animal welfare efforts by an animal welfare organisation. As for

organisations that insist on gimmicks and extremism, the pointers are

obvious and need no elaboration. However if anyone wants details, I would be

happy to oblige on a personal level.

Best wishes and kind regards,

 

Yours sincerely,