(CN) Animal rights movement on the rise

[Guest guest]

Sunday, March 18, 2007

South China Morning Post

http://china.scmp.com/chimain/ZZZVOKC0CZE.html

 

We should listen more to nature's voices, says NPC delegate, one of

several to champion the cause

 

by NG TZE-WEI

 

The government work report presented at the annual National People's

Congress may have focused on improving people's welfare, but for some

delegates the welfare of animals is just as important.

 

" Protecting the rights of animals needs to be done at the same time

as protecting the rights of people, " said Sima Xiaomeng , a delegate

to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference who has

proposed ways to save homeless animals, which authorities in some

parts of the mainland kill to stop the spread of rabies and other

diseases.

 

" Without a change in our mentality towards animals, our quality as

people will not improve and we will not be able to keep the fruits of

our economic growth, " said Ms Sima.

 

The mainland has seen a year of rising public awareness of animal

rights. Hundreds of dog owners took to the streets of Beijing last

year protesting against the government's cull of large dogs in the

capital under the so-called " civilised dog-keeping " campaign.

 

A rescue mission last year to Tianjin to save 400 cats from being

sold for their meat and fur prompted Hu Qiheng , one of those who

took part, and other CPPCC delegates to call for laws against cruelty

to animals and to safeguard animal welfare.

 

" As quality of life improves, we should listen more to nature's

voices, " said NPC delegate Zhou Ping , who has called for the

abolition of bear farming, in which the large animals are locked in

tiny cages for live extraction of bile, used in traditional Chinese

medicine.

 

Ms Zhou, supported by about 20 other NPC delegates from Sichuan ,

said that this practice violated animal welfare and seriously damaged

the image of traditional Chinese medicine and the nation.

 

" The existence of the bear farming industry is in total violation of

the spirit of harmony between man and animals as required by the

`Green Olympics', " said Ms Zhou, referring to the slogan adopted for

the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

 

Peking University president and NPC delegate Xu Zhihong called for a

ban on the eating of shark's fin to end to improve the nation's

environmental reputation and to discourage lavish spending.

 

Animal rights advocate Zhang Luping hoped that laws on animals rights

would be introduced soon, especially in the light of the approaching

Olympics.

 

" There is an obvious, growing voice [for animal rights protection]

among the general public, especially among the younger generation and

the intellectuals; it's now up to the government to make the

decision, " said Ms Zhang, founder of a Beijing pet shelter, who has

collected more than 300,000 signatures since October for the

introduction of an animal rights law.