Senaka Weeraratna

A just God must give a hearing to the prayers and cries of all species

Prayers are offered by believers on the assumption that these prayers will be heard by God (or Providence) and  accordingly will be responded with relief.

With what assumption do animals in slaughter houses scream prior to death?

If God is meant to hear the cries of only humans and concomitantly ignore the cries of all other species, how just is such a God?

Aren’t  the screams of dying animals in slaughter houses the moral equivalent of prayers of human beings, seeking relief to their problems? 

Do animals have moral rights? Do they have a legal or even a moral right to protect their precious lives when confronted with death at the hands of humans?

There are millions of various species in this planet and more so in the  cosmos.

Is God as interpreted by humans listening exclusively to the prayers of only one species i.e. humans, and ignoring the terrified cries  of all other Siyalu Sathwayo ?

Natural Justice requires all to be heard and not the prayers of only one predatory species i.e. Human beings.

‘ Justice for Animals and Nature’ is the next big challenge for lawmakers all over the world. 

Likewise the future lawyers of the world must fight for Justice not only for human beings but also for the rights of other species trampled by human beings.

Visit a Zoo and see the suffering of the victims of humanity. It is a Jailhouse for lifetime for non  – humans who have done no wrong to anyone. 

If a human has a conscience then his ( or her) conscience must be pricked at such a shameful sight. 

Animals who are suffering at the hands of humans have a right to advocacy. This principle must be accepted as a start say begining with the larger animals such as Elephants.

Abuse of animals under the pretext of carrying out of religious ritual is no longer acceptable.

This issue can no longer be ignored even as a point of discussion in law schools.

What is the use of legal education if the sight of an animal suffering at the hands of humans does not evoke a response from the legal fraternity at least on moral principle to stop it ? 

The legal systems of the Occident in the past ignored the human rights of the ‘other’, i. e., Black, Brown and Yellow Races, slaves, women, members of non – Abrahamic faiths and so on. Now there has been progress though much more needs to be done.

Animals are standing in this very same queue waiting for emancipation from man’s inhumanity.

The Natural Rights of Animals is a subject worthy of study in law schools.

Senaka Weeraratna