Animals Declared Sentient in Australia (sorry, that should read New Zealand)

[Catherine]

First, way to go Australia for being so enlightened.

By declaring animals sentient they are declaring that animals can feel, that they can experience pain and distress, fear and happiness.

This has a lot of implications. It may take years before it sorts itself out, but the way animals have been treated has to change.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/...56006.html

If Australia can do it then what about the rest of our countries.

This should also effect shipping of animals from Australia to other countries where that won't be treated as sentient. It will probably be illegal to do so. I think this is a big step towards ending much of the animal cruelty in the world. If Australia can do what is right then other countries will have to follow.

[LPC]

(05-18-2015, 04:18 PM)Catherine Wrote: First, way to go Australia for being so enlightened.

If Australia can do it then what about the rest of our countries?

Indeed. Australia has shot ahead of many other countries with this latest legislation. The rest of the world needs to copy this good move, in the right direction.

[Tobi]

It is good to hear this latest news, and I am proud of Australia for this positive move forward.

Yes, it will have implications.
It is good news indeed.

[Catherine]

It will change the whole way we treat farm animals. Factory farming is no way to treat a sentient being. That will have to change. Shipping live animals to places where they will be killed brutally, will have to become a thing of the past.

People who abuse animals will be easier to prosecute and the charges will be more serious.

This is an incredible leap forward in the merciful treatment of animals.

Australia can stand proud as a leader in animals rights.
We love you Australia.

[Catherine]

I am going to add this article to this thread although we may want to discuss it separately later on.
It seems that 1/3 of Americans polled believe that animals deserve the same rights are humans.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/ma...ights-poll

This signifies a shift in thinking. Gradually we are moving towards a world where animals are respected and treated humanely. It may be a slow shift, but you can see it happening.

[Catherine]

It seems that New Zealand has also declared animals to be sentient beings.
http://io9.com/animals-are-now-sentient-...1706070278

It is my hope that this will spread from country to country. It will wipe out cruel sports that involve hurting animals.

[platy]

Don't know what planet I've been on lately but there's been nothing of it mentioned here. Are you sure it was Australia and not Australasia?
I just can't see our current government giving a crap about anything like that. Our PM refuses equality for his own sister.

Happy to be proven otherwise of course, but I can't find anything on it.

[LPC]

platy, I just checked the original link in the first post and you are right: it is New Zealand and not Australia! See also http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/gove..._25_se&p=1

[platy]

Thanks LPC. Shame it's not here too. Will just have to keep working for it! Well done NZ though

[LPC]

I take my share of the responsibility. I read the original article and clearly overlooked the country in the headline. Sadly, I am as human as anyone else.

Catherine, I hope that you don't mind that I have altered the title of the thread a little. I have kept mention of Australia in the title of the thread, in order to retain the sense of the comments (praising Australia), but have altered the title so that anyone reading the title of this thread will not be misled.