Desmond Tutu Takes Stand on Animal Welfare

[bananas]

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2014/01/02/desmond-tutu-takes-stand-on-animal-welfare/

Desmond Tutu Takes Stand on Animal Welfare
by Lindsey Little January 2, 2014

Anti-apartheid champion and Noble Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu has spoken out against many social injustices throughout the years, including the fight against AIDS, poverty, racism, homophobia, and sexism, among others. Now the retired Archbishop is using his influence to speak on behalf of animals.

In a forward to “The Global Guide to Animal Protection,” a newly released compilation of more than 180 articles chronicling the worldwide exploitation of animals, Desmond Tutu urged readers to fight for justice for all of God’s creatures.

He wrote:

<snip>

It is a kind of theological folly to suppose that God has made the entire world just for human beings, or to suppose that God is interested in only one of the millions of species that inhabit God’s good earth.

Our dominion over animals is not supposed to be despotism. We are made in the image of God, yes, but God – in whose image we are made – is holy, loving, and just. We do not honour God by abusing other sentient creatures.”

“Even when faced with urgent human problems,” he continued, “we should not overlook the issue of justice to animals. . . . This ‘Global Guide’ reflects a growing worldwide sensitivity to animals and a developing sense that–as a matter of justice–they deserve our compassion and respect. It has my warm support.”

This forward is Tutu’s first definitive statement on the issue of animal welfare.

<snip>

[freshwest]

1. Excellent. That book will be a useful tool. nt

[bananas]

2. Noam Chomsky touched on this recently

in an interview posted here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017150117

At 21:35, Chomsky is asked if we've made any progress as a civilization, and he points to how there's been a slow expansion of the moral sphere, how it wasn't long ago that animals could be subject to any kind of experimentation, but now there are ethical restrictions.

"Noam Chomsky: The Singularity is Science Fiction!"

[shenmue]

3. I applaud this

Yay!