Animals, Ethics and Trade The Challenge of Animal Sentience

About this book

The complexities of animal behaviour revealed in the last few decades are astonishing, but what are the implications? In this book, internationally respected contributors are brought together for the first time, to debate and attempt to answer these questions. The first sections discuss scientific and ethical perspectives on the consciousness, emotions and mental abilities of animals. Later sections address how human activities, such as science, law, farming, food production, trade, development and education respect or ignore animals' sentience and welfare, and review the options for changes in our policies, our practices and our thinking.

Contents

Part I: Animal sentience - evidence and interpretations; * Sentience of chimpanzees; * Capacity for sentience in the animal kingdom; * Why animal sentience matters; * Role of science in animal welfare; * Part II: Ethics, law and science; * Educating scientists about ethics; * What prevents us from recognizing animal sentience; * Sentiency and rights; * Entitling animals to fundamental legal rights; * Animal welfare legislation in China; * The evolving animal rights and welfare debate in China; * Islamic philosophy and animal rights; * The ethical matrix as a decision-making tool; * Part III: Implications for farming and food production; * What do we owe to farm animals?; * Animal sentience in US farming; * The welfare of animals bred for their fur in China; * The implications of agricultural globalization in India; * Sustainability and animal welfare; * Part IV: Animal sentience in international policy; * Animal protection progress in the EU; * Why China is waking up to animal welfare; * Animal welfare and economic development; * The international animal welfare role of the World Organization for Animal Health; * Achieving access to ethical food; * Conclusion.

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Biography

Jacky Turner is a freelance researcher and writer working on animal welfare. Joyce D'Silva is the former Chief Executive and current Ambassador for Compassion in World Farming Trust and is the co-editor of The Meat Business, also published by Earthscan.