What does YOUR idea of 'done' look like in terms of law that governs the human-animal relationship?



2022 is the bicentenary anniversary of Martin’s Act 1822, Britain’s first animal protection law that shaped animal law around the world. ALAW and UFAW have put together an impressive array of presenters giving their views on 'what we have achieved, and ask where do we go from here to strengthen animal law'? 'Animal Law: Visions for the Future' Conference, 18-22 July 2022, https://lnkd.in/dbRWSUeR



Do attend if you can but, for now, the conference's objective raises the question 'What are YOUR 'essentials' to achieving YOUR 'done' vision? What do YOU think are (at least 3) essential features of any animal law pathway/model forward? For example, you might consider 3 or all of the following:



1. RIGHTS OR RESPONSIBILITIES? While mankind continues to be in that position of 'dominion', is the end goal better served with 'rights for animals or responsibilities for people'?

2. EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION? Would it serve both animals and people (given the inseparable human-animal relationship) to work alongside the established system of law reform and decision-makers or rally against existing systems of law and decision making?

3. PRACTICAL OR PAPER? What proposed pathway forward delivers real-world benefits to the life experience of animals nationwide, sooner rather than just 'some time', and in real-world practice?

4. HUMAN-ANIMAL RELATIONSHIP REALITIES: The relationship between people and animals has been described as inseparable and interdependent. So does the animals OR people, or the animals AND people, approach deliver your 'done' picture more efficiently and effectively?

5. 'SOME' OR 'ALL' SENTIENT ANIMALS? Does your 'done' vision of an applied model of animal law focus on just selected animals, or selected roles of animals - or are you wanting to deliver nationwide change to all sentient animals?

6. HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE? Some proposals have already taken decades in discussion and piecemeal steps forward while others have been implemented in less than 36 months. The realities clearly indicate that reform isn't something where 'soon', 'someday' and 'it's slow' is good enough because we've got 2030 and 2050 animal-related calamities on the doorstep. So how is your 'done' going to be delivered in years rather than decades?

7. MODERN WELFARE OR PERPETUATED ANTI-CRUELTY LAW? Modern welfare science validates that sentient animals experience pain AND pleasure (negative AND positive states). So does your 'done' perpetuate the anticruelty model commenced by Richard Martin 200 years ago - or does it update the model and implement modern science, modern knowledge and deliver 'done' in a way that's fit for modern world needs?



P.S. The website of the Sentient Animal Law Foundation will likely provide you with further valuable considerations for your own 'essentials' list. www.sentientanimallaw.org

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