Animal Rights 9

Animal Rights by Leonardo Giraldo

Rights are all about respect.   Animals are a big part of human society, they provide us with food, clothes, and in a lot of cases they are a work force that helps us in our daily life.   When you think about animals and their part in your life, you can´t help feel trapped between two positions:   kill them for food or take care of them because they are living beings, and this apply to every case in which animals are involved and we get to the question Are we going to exploit animals like every other natural resource or we are going to respect the fact that they are living beings just like us? Which is the better way to reach a balance between these two questions?   Obviously we need the food but we don´t want to hurt them, here is where animal rights get its importance, laws in favor of animals can ensure the protection they need to have a good life and guarantee them the best possible treatment while we cover our needs.

There are institutions struggling for animal rights in every country like the ADA here in Colombia.   They are aware that people and animals have a close relationship and each has their own specific needs, these institutions exist to create and protect the balance between humans and animals.   In example we can see some of the principles and objectives from the ADA: 1. Respect for life and dignity of every individual, without distinction of race or species. 2. No living being should be enslaved, abused or exploited. 3. All animals are equal in rights. Legislation should ensure compliance.   As well as some of their objectives: 1. Create awareness about the suffering of animals caused by abandonment, disease and abuse, in order to reduce as much as possible, with a view to eradication. 2. Participate as promoter of laws that advocate for the defense and protection of animals and the environment. Disseminate and enforce existing standards.

On the other hand there are cultures and governments that see animals as...