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Activists set cats on their way to market free
Legal experts in China have proposed a ban on eating cats and dogs. The recommendation will be submitted to China's parliament, the National People's Congress, in April as part of a draft bill to deal with animal abuse, the London Times reports.
As far back as ancient times, dog meat has been considered a delicacy in China. Many people believe it has warming properties making it particularly popular as a winter dish. Less popular is cat meat because of a superstition the cat will return at night to ‘wreak revenge,' the Times notes. Still cat meat is very popular in the south in Guangdong province.
In recent years, the emergence of a growing pet-loving Chinese middle class, has fueled opposition to eating cat and dog. Online petitions against eating cats and dog have attracted thousands of signatures, according to the UK Guardian. In addition, animal rights activists have staged protests at markets where animals are bought and sold for their meat as well as for their fur. Activists also have attempted – at times successfully - to block trucks carrying hundreds or even thousands of cats to meat markets in the south. (See China animal welfare growing despite many challenges.)
Initial attempts to draft a bill to guarantee the better treatment of animals were dropped after public complaints that human rights should be perfected first. China Daily reports that this new bill proposes that people caught eating dog or cat meat will be detained for no more than 15 days with a fine of 5,000 yuan ($732). Any unit or group found violating the rule will be fined between 10,000 yuan ($1,464) to 500,000 yuan ($73,239). Whether the National People's Congress will adopt the ban is not certain.
Comments
It's great news, but whether it will change much is another story. For a start, it has to be enforced properly. Korea has recent animal welfare laws but they are next to useless because there are no articles of punishment and no significant enforcement. Also, in China, the provinces are saying they will go their own way and ignore the law. We've got a long to go yet.
I don't get it. People are starving and there is an over abundance of dogs and cats. Why shouldn't they be able to eat them?
If you eat a cow or a lamb or a chicken or a pig, why would you balk at a dog or a cat?
In many places they eat possum and bunnies, snakes and deer. If you are going to eat an animal for pleasure I would think it's hard to draw a line. Draw it for yourself of course, but not for anyone else.
Would the world be much better off if no one ate animals at all? There is a huge argument to be made for that. Economically, environmentally, ethically and for health reasons we might all be better off eating fruits, veggies and grains and nuts.
I think the most exciting aspect of this proposal is the apparent shift in attitudes and mind-set. This is something we never thought we would see, or thought it was at least 100 years away.
If China can start to question their beliefs and habits it gives promise that one day Americans might start to do the same.
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