Ideas Programme on Human-Animal Studies (by William Lynn)
On 09 December the “Ideas” programme on New Zealand’s National Radio prodcast a programme focussed on Animal Welfare, including interviews with NZCHAS (New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies) International Associate Jonathan Balcombe and NZCHAS co-directors Annie Potts and Philip Armstrong. You can download the podcast at http://www.radionz.co.nz/podcasts/ideas.rss.
Annie Potts and Philip Armstrong are the newest members of the Practical Ethics family, and will soon be joining the Practical Ethics Blog. I will post their biographies shortly. In the meantime, enjoying the program as summarized below. Thank you Annie and Philip for this summary.
Cheers, Bill
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9 December 2007 - Get Out of It, Trevor!
A Radio New Zealand National programme about Human-Animal Relations.
Inarguably, New Zealand’s identity and economy owes much to our agricultural background. As the saying goes, this country’s prosperity was built “off the sheep’s back”. And of late, New Zealand has acquired a reputation as a country that works hard to save its endangered animal species, and supports moves to protect similarly endangered animals overseas. But as our environmental awareness has changed over time, is it correct to assume that our treatment of our less exotic animals has changed as well? Agriculture, which continues to be hugely important in our economy and culture, also accounts for the majority of all animal testing in New Zealand. And while we are enthusiastic pet-owners, our record of cruelty towards them is the equal of anywhere in the Western World.
This contradiction in our attitudes has been charted in a recent study conducted by the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies at Canterbury University. The study records the emergence of a group of people who identify themselves as cruelty-free consumers. They reject the picture of intensive farming, meat-eating and wearing animal products, and what they consider to be the false image of New Zealand as a “clean, green” paradise, and significantly, they are spending their money elsewhere.
Is this growing sense of disquiet highlighting a division in this country between traditional values and an emerging culture of animal ethicists? Could our treatment of animals have wider implications for the nature of our society? Why have some of us stopped riding on the sheep’s back?
Part One:
Producer Justin Gregory meets Hugo and Hades, two reluctant stars of the SPCA’s <http://www.spca.org.nz/general/home.htm> annual List of Shame.
Part Two:
Animal Behaviour Researcher Jonathan Balcombe <http:// www.pleasurablekingdom.com/> says our attitudes toward animals formed a long time ago.
Part Three:
Cruelty-free consumption is an emerging cultural force in New Zealand, according to Annie Potts and Philip Armstrong from the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies <http:// www.nzchas.canterbury.ac.nz/> .
Part Four:
Psychologist Rob Hughes is the winner of the 2007 Three R’s Award for Humane Animal Research http://www.rsnz.org/news/releases/scihonours2007.php .
Part Five:
Peter O’Hara is the chairman of the National Animal Welfare Committee http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animal-welfare/overview/advisory/nawac .
Produced by Justin Gregory.
William Lynn :: Jan.08.2008 :: Environmental Studies, Ethics, Human-Animal Studies :: No Comments »