W"If a group of beings from another planet were to land on Earth, beings who considered themselves as superior to you, as you feel yourself to be to other animals, would you concede them the rights over you, that you assume over  other animals?"  George Bernard Shaw, playwright, Nobel Prize 1925

We are all familiar with the graphic images of savagery and cruelty toward animals in such barbaric sports as fox hunting, thankfully this has now been banned in the UK thanks to the to the blood sweat and tears of many caring anti-hunt campaigners in this field.  Do we ever stop and think though also about the millions of animals humans breed worldwide each year for nothing more than for our personal taste and pleasure.  For a different perspective on life and of our role as stewards toward the animal populations  let us consider their history in service, or a more accurate word,  ( enslavement ) to humankind. 

                                                          Image above: relief 800bc Assyria

Image left: Does this Chimp think we are but Demons?.

Many great men have held the opinion that any nation, religion, tribe, or people proves itself more noble when its recognizes the rights of other living beings to live in sufficient space and viable habitat to carry on their natural way of life.  Yet some people today have put forward the case that animals do not have rights, that they were born naturaly to be either the predator or the prey, however those who stand by this assumption surely do not realize that though we may think that we are the top predators on this earth our ancestors were also sometimes the prey themselves

Yes our forefathers were also little more than food for other animals if they strayed for example into a hungry Sabre Toothed Tigers territory.  Nature sees little difference between animal flesh and that of humans, therefore if we deny other non-human beings their natural rights, can we be so sure that we humans are entitled to them ourselves?.

Enslavement of others.

The act of human slavery of others is one of the most despicable pursuits that humans can ever get involved in.  It is a sad reality, but when it is man that is having his existence exploited, we see it for what it is, an evil crime against humanity!, yet we observe the unnecessary and diabolical exploitation of other animal species every day and never think anything untoward.  Most people however are prevented from reacting with due consideration for the injustice wrought upon non-humans, Why!, because they have been overcome by a subtle conditioning process going on within our society down to this very day.  Most religions and governments condition us with words that amount to little more than an ancient chant or mantra, in which we are instructed  over and over again " that humans have always captured and killed animals", so its OK be it  spiritually, morally and ethically. Mankind has profited by enslavement, and ubuse of animals from the earliest times,  but now a growing number are starting to see we must reform from our acts of abuse towards animals and they tirelessly petition for a change in the law to enforce this.

: Slaves packed in trading ships like hens in a barn

As we did with the slaves we sell mothers and their offspring, why do we never stop to think that anything else has affection for its little ones!, notice how they cling close to their mother as heartless men sell them to the highest bidder.  Those who agree with and perpetuate violent exploitive acts done to animals for whatever reason, be that for medical or commercial  research or farming, remain as Thomas Edison once said:  "as savages".  If  people do not put up any kind of resistance, they can't help but feel absolutely nothing, their hearts to use a biblical expression ( "having become little more than a piece of unfeeling fat"), unable to care enough about other species to hardly bat an eyelid when they witness animal abuse, if there is a possibility that we have somehow become like that, is this how we would like to remain?.  We are convinced that in mankinds epic quest toward living as a truly enlightened civilisation we will only continue to acheive our goal by following the noble path of Vegetarian Ethics?. 

Image above: Bantam Hen and Chicks being auctioned off.

Many goverments continue to allow animals to be treated in an inhumane manner.  Over recent years a growing number of enlightened and feeling people have thought it best to withdraw from complete support for its government or religion that does not outrightly condemn animal exploitation whether that be for ritual slaughter or vivisection, such people obey the everyday laws of common justice that keep order in the land, but follow a course of free thinking and non violence where animals, and of course humans are concerned, living now according to their own conscience and no longer in the paths of unnecessary savagery that has no place in the modern world!. 

Unlike humans that are sometimes abused e.g ( in slavery and evil concentration camps), animals cannot speak out in our language to implore us to leave them alone, so we that have seen, and understand the injustice of unnecessary captivity of other creatures, which has not been undertaken in the best interests of the animals themselves, e.g (to prevent extinction ) now have an opportunity, and some believe a duty, to help others to recognize and understand their plight.                   

A Negro slave begs for mercy.                   Exploitation of others.

        Ponies wild & free on Exmoor.    

Above, we see now that it is evil to oppress fellow humans of whatever color or creed,  yet we are conventiently blind to the oppression of other species. 

Although the Pony above is not being harmed, he has been denied his natural right to live and exist in freedom without being exploited, or enslaved unnecessarily, often merely for human fun and gratification.  Before any horse will allow itself to be ridden by a human, it first has to have its spirit broken.  However there are a few people who can gain a horses confidence so that a person may ride it without its spirit being crushed, but this can be very costly and time consuming to achieve, but only when a horse is treated with this dignity can it be said that the horse and rider are truly one. 

Our reason for recognizing the natural rights of animals is based on the fact that if we ourselves value the freedom we have, and which we have fought countless wars to protect, surely all creatures, although unable to express it themselves must feel the same way!.

Now that we humans no longer need to kill animals to sustain ourselves we have the unique opportunity to pursue the higher spiritual values in life to the full, therefore if a creature can experience pain, terror, and suffering, then any compassionate human would not want to subject such sentient creatures unnecessarily to these things.

In recent years the recognition of the rights of other creatures has entered a new and exciting phase, and it now rightly extends to considering the quality of natural life and freedom that they are entitled too, which in the case of animals is absolute.

Image right: Some mourn the passing of the old days when magnificent Horses performed tasks we were not strong enough to undertake.

Image left: Heart-warming scene of two brothers, who value each other.

C The Natural Rights of Animals.

Ongoing animal research is revealing that most animals are not only sentient, but are in fact astonishingly aware of their surroundings, many species also have complex emotions, some of which are very similar to our own, now that we have come to understand the reality of this point, why is it then that we continue  to assume that we have the right of exploitation over other creatures, and treat them just as it suits us personally ?.

The right to a natural and wild existence should not depend on such fellow beings having the ability to reason, to use an analogy, "there are many mentally disabled people who have even less reasoning ability than an animal", should  we deny them their right to live and exist unexploited because of their personal lack of understanding? of course not, "neither then should we exploit other non-humans beings". 

  Generations of animals numbering into the billions have been bred in captivity to our requirements for commercial purposes and have never experienced living under natural wild conditions, being denied their right to live as nature had intended and lacking the enjoyment of the wild social interaction due the species, therefore it is part of our ongoing policy at ULOVE to petition a ban on the breeding of animals for all forms of commercial and scientific research work, and encourage the use of alternative research technology, whatever the financial cost!.

We will tirelessly work in behalf of the earths natural habitats, and help foster the reintroduction of the native species that once flourished there. As humanity has progressed, we have for some time now had the opportunity to desist from the all forms of violence, and human and animal exploitation, that in ancient times past was viewed as a necessity, let us use our knowledge and the abilities that have come to us by way of technological advancement and human reason, to achieve a harmonious, just, and sustainable planet for all, by recognizing the natural rights of all living creatures.