The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated ... I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man. Mahatma Gandhi
China is a very old country with history stretching back over 4,000 years but despite all the
glorious achievements of which it is so proud, human rights are non-existent, what to speak of animal rights. The plight of animals in China again came under international scrutiny when around 55,000 dogs were murdered in mass hangings and clubbing during the government's recent "antirabies" campaign.
Barbaric doesn't even being to cover it. There is, however, a sliver of light in this monstrous dark. Pet owners, the same people who slavishly participated in the massacre, have begun to mobilize. They are protesting online and circulating petitions, in an effort to stop further killings. Here's an excerpt from an article
Howard W. French on
the story for the New York Times ...
"In fact, discussion of the issue has surpassed the bounds of a simple conversation about petsÂ’ rights, with many commentators sharply questioning a system that could order the mass extermination of dogs, whether or not they are licensed and vaccinated. The reaction of groups and individuals, often through the Internet, also provides a striking illustration of the emergence of true public opinion in China, unmediated by the official press or censors."
In this country, Bush and his fellow nazis conservatives have put animal rights groups on their terrorist watch list. China knows. In a corporate police state there is no room for compassion or rights, human or otherwise. To such governments, an act of kindness may be considered an act of civil disobedience.
"The human spirit is not dead. It lives on in secret . . . It has come to believe that compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind."
Albert Schweitzer, Nobel Peace Prize address: The Problem of Peace in the World Todaychina dogs animal rights news
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, is always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity are common themes in expressing this nationalism. It is usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often borders on xenophobia.
