World Animal Day
A time to pause and think about what caring for
animals really means
Every year on October 4, World Animal Day is observed all over
the world.
This observance falls on the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the
great 13th century Italian saint. He was an animal lover and his
teachings emphasised respect and compassion for all creatures. Because
of his great love for "our humble brethren", Saint Francis of Assisi
was chosen as the patron of animals and his feast day as the most
appropriate date on which to celebrate World Animal Day.
Around October 4 each year, vegetarian societies, humane societies
and societies for the protection of animals organize activities
designed to promote consideration for animals and improve our attitude
towards non-human species.
At a mainstream level, however, sadly many of the activities focus
on companion animals and allow us to do the easy bits - confirm
our love of and concern for the animals we see as pets. For example,
one of the best known events is the Blessing of the Animals, a church
service in which people are invited to bring their pets and have
them blessed. Though commendable as an appropriate way to celebrate
World Animal Day, this event falls short of being a celebration
for all the animals. Most of the people taking part in it go home
to partake of their habitual fare of animal-derived foods.
As long as animals are seen as food, not friends, this will inevitably
result in widespread suffering, exploitation and degradation of
animals. Activities promoting compassion and care for animals, or
aimed at stamping out cruel practices not related to food production
are important, but while animals are part of the 'food machine',
such activities can only touch the 'tip of the iceberg', while suffering
and degradation on an unimaginable scale continues. Conversely,
through the widespread adoption of a plant-based diet which does
not rely on animal-derived foods, the majority of animal suffering
would automatically be wiped out.
It's not enough to take your cat to the vet, or give your dog
a pat and a doggie treat, and then tuck into a ham sandwich
- or cry out about saving the whales, then tuck into a tuna salad.
If we are serious about compassion, ethics, and respect for life,
we, as a society, must examine our attitudes more deeply and become
conscious of the contradictions we are habouring and the realities
we're ignoring.
We can stop the machine!
There is one foolproof and simple way to care for animals: don't
eat them!
Every person who becomes vegetarian spares the lives of thousands
of animals. It is estimated that Australians on average consume
around 17 cows, 92 sheep, 15 pigs, 1000 fish and 1171 chickens during
their lives.
Vegetarianism is a movement which is growing on a massive scale.
Despite the political and financial clout of powerful lobby groups
set on "selling" animal products, more and more people all over
the world are perceiving, like Tolstoy, that taking the lives of
animals is not only unnecessary, but immoral - out of concern for
the environment, for health, and out of concern for animals and
respect for the inherent value of life.
The immense market forces which drive the economy and turn animals
into commodities seem beyond our control. But at bottom, they are
driven by consumer demand. The demand for meat drives the breeding
and killing machine, sustains its distortions and manipulations,
maintains its economic viability. Going vegetarian is something
that each one of us can do. We can stop the machine, and each person
can contribute, immediately and positively. In the words of Peter
Singer:
"Becoming a vegetarian is not merely a symbolic gesture. Nor
is it an attempt to isolate oneself from the ugly realities of
the world, to keep oneself pure and so without responsibility
for the cruelty and carnage all around. Becoming a vegetarian
is a highly practical and effective step one can take toward ending
both the killing of nonhuman animals and the infliction of suffering
on them."
World Animal Day offers an opportunity to reflect on our treatment
of animals, the roles they have played in our history as well as
in our current lives, and the contradictions inherent in our attitudes
towards them. Friends or food? It is time to decide.
What's
happening on World Animal Day?
World Animal Day is marked around the world with a variety of events
including World Vegetarian Week and World Farm Animals Day. Find
out more about how it all started and how it is celebrated. More
information and links.
References
for this article
Previous I World
Animal Day around the world 
Go vego on October 4!
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