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Who agrees with inhumane laws?

Re: Animal protection a worthy cause, Saturday Beat, June 11.

To the Editor,

Re: Animal protection a worthy cause, Saturday Beat, June 11.

Some time ago I heard that the Canada Revenue Agency guidelines state that “an activity or purpose is only charitable when it provides benefits to humans” and “to be charitable, the benefit to humans must always take precedence over any benefit to animals.”

I dismissed this news since it sounded like something from the Dark Ages and since my correspondence with the Minister of Justice assured me that Canada’s animal protection laws will be improved every year.

When I read Toby Gorman’s article, I was shocked to read that Canada would indeed impose such inhumane laws on its animals and make the existence of animal protection groups even more difficult.

We know that humanity has caused great destruction to our planet and horrendous suffering to animals. We may, in fact, be close to the point of no return unless we start to respect life in all its forms.

Communities with vision around the world, have drafted documents in recognition of the Rights of Nature which resulted in the recent United Nations “Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth.”

Most of us recognize the need to protect the Earth and its ecosystems by treating them in a respectful and compassionate way. To say that “the benefit to humans must always take precedence over any benefit to animals” not only enables further cruelties to animals but such unfair laws support the worst among us.

How often must we tell our ‘leaders’ that we need to live in harmony with nature and all its sentient beings?

Are our politicians not aware of the horrifying treatment animals receive in factory farms, in medical research facilities, fur farms and even in the wild? Is it fair to maintain these gruesome conditions and make the lives of animals even more painful?

Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras said: “What man does to animals will come straight back to man.”

Sure enough, factory farms may provide much meat, but it’s the meat of sick and suffering animals full of antibiotics and hormones, especially cortisol. Factory farms are responsible for much of the greenhouse gases and the pollution of air, land and water, which are poisoning our planet.

The same goes for fur farms. Where are Canada’s moral values? Should we make those suffer who cannot defend themselves?

“The greatness and moral progress of a nation is reflected in the way its animals are treated,”  (Mahatma Gandhi).

Inge Bolin

Nanaimo