모든 동물들은 지각 있는 존재들이다

뉴질랜드에서 는 (인간 아닌 다른)동물들이 인간처럼 감정이 있는 지각있는 존재들이라고 인정했다.

이것은 돌고래, 오랑우탄과 침팬지 외에도 모든 동물에게 확대되어진 개념으로

이것으로 인해 앞으로는 동물에 대한 학대행위가 더 엄중하게 다루어질 것으로 보인다.

여기에는 동물실험, 사냥, 야생동물의 포획과 함부로 다루는 것을 포함한다.

통증과 고통을 포함해 긍정적이고 부정적인 경험한다는 것을 명확히 함으로서

동물복지의 새로운 발걸음을 내디는 좌표라고 할 수 있으며  또한 사회에서 이전에는 수용되었던 관습들이

더이상 받아들여지지 않는다는 것이며 동물의 위치에 대해 사람들의 다른 태도를 나타내는 것이다.

의식이 상승되는 긍정적인 변화다.

A landmark decision by the Kiwis sets a precedent that other countries should follow.

A laughing owl. Flickr, by merec0

New Zealand has just set a great example to the world by recognizing what animal lovers have known forever- that our furry friends are as sentient as we are, and (obviously, dur) they have feelings just like we do. It’s a theme we have covered time and again here at True Activist, but this landmark ruling by NZ is the first time this shift in perception and policy has been extended to all animals, not just chimpanzees, orangutans, or dolphins.

The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, passed last month, aims to make it easier to prosecute people in animal cruelty cases, as well as banning animal testing and research, and making all hunting, capture or ill-treatment of any wild animal illegal.

Animal rights activists have celebrated the decision. “To say that animals are sentient is to state explicitly that they can experience both positive and negative emotions, including pain and distress,” said Dr Virginia Williams, chair of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee. “The explicitness is what is new and marks another step along the animal welfare journey.”

New Zealand Veterinary Association president Dr Steve Merchant said the bill greater clarity, transparency and enforceability of animal welfare laws, according to the country’s regional newspaper the Nelson Mail.

“Expectations on animal welfare have been rapidly changing, and practices that were once commonplace for pets and farm stock are no longer acceptable or tolerated,” he said. “The bill brings legislation in line with our nation’s changing attitude on the status of animals in society.”

You can read the entire Bill here. Let’s hope the rest of the world follows suit!

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Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/new-zealand-now-recognizes-all-animals-as-sentient-beings/