(Thailand) Consideration for other creatures

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http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/08/27/opinion/opinion_30012072.php

 

Sun, August 27, 2006 : Last updated 0:10 am (Thai

local time)

 

EDITORIAL

Consideration for other creatures

 

Teaching the public of the need to protect animals'

welfare should not be difficult if done properly

 

People in this predominantly Buddhist country like to

think that compassion for all living things is very

much part of their social norm and one of the positive

attributes that distinguish them from other societies.

The problem is that there is little correlation

between such self-praise and everyday reality. Too

many people do not give much thought to the importance

of animal welfare in general, or specifically the need

for humane treatment in the use and exploitation of

animals as food, beasts of burden, scientific

experiments and entertainment.

 

One has only to visit a fresh market to see the

general lack of awareness about cruel treatment of

live animals that are sold for food. Fish wriggle in a

thin layer of water all day, frogs are skinned alive

and then left quivering to a slow death as an

advertisement of their freshness. Many people find

such sights disturbing but decide that there is

nothing anyone can do to change the tradition. Even

though such traditions starkly contradicts Buddhist

teachings, which, while advocating mutual

co-dependence between humans and animals, also require

humane treatment and responsible use and consumption

of animals.

 

But old habits die hard.

 

Animal-welfare advocates, who have spent years trying

to persuade an apathetic public that Thai society must

shed this unsavoury aspect of its culture, felt there

was a need to bolster their campaign with tough new

laws to compel people to change their behaviour and

deter would-be offenders.

 

The country's first comprehensive legislative package,

recently completed by the Thai Society for the

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) and Mahidol

University's Faculty of Veterinary Science, offers

hope that protection of animal welfare and humane

treatment of animals can become more widely accepted

in this country.

 

The legislation, which covers domesticated, wild,

commercial and laboratory animals, provides harsher

punishment for people who torture animals or fail to

meet minimum standards of welfare for animals in their

care. People found guilty of such offences could face

fines of between Bt10,000 and Bt100,000 and/or a jail

term from six months to five years.

 

This is a great jump up from the puny penalties of a

maximum of one month's imprisonment and/or a fine up

to Bt1,000 currently prescribed by Articles 381 and

382 of the Criminal Code.

 

For the first time, torture of animals as a criminal

act is being defined. It includes beating, forcing an

animal to work or perform tasks beyond its physical

capacity, neglecting to provide medical treatment when

sick and confining animals in tight spaces, causing

pain, disability or death.

 

In addition to detailed and specific definitions of

torture, experts involved in the drafting of the law

also provide a general guideline for animals' welfare

and protection against torture based on the " five

freedoms " . These are freedom from hunger and thirst,

freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and

disease, freedom to express normal behaviour and

freedom from fear and distress.

 

Children must be taught in their tender years to be

sensitive to animal welfare and take responsibility

for their pets. Market stall-keepers have to be

persuaded to adopt more humane practices in handling

live animals and preparing them for sale, without

causing unnecessary pain and suffering.

 

These are big steps for a society that has hitherto

been quite unaware of such concepts and there will be

a lot of adjusting to do in terms of attitude and

practice.

 

Well-meaning animal-welfare advocates need to make

sure that whatever public awareness campaign they have

in mind to sway public opinion must be well thought

out. Thai people have proven time and again that they

are quick learners, quite sensible and receptive to

new ideas. Persuading them to be kind and more

attentive to the needs and welfare of animals should

not be too difficult. After all, it needs to be

pointed out that animals and all living things have

their rightful place in the environment and the world.

And for the privilege of making use of other species,

we humans have the obligation to ensure good

stewardship of animals.