LONDON, U.K., May 12, 2003: Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), a British group which accepts that farm animals will be killed for their meat but argues they should be treated humanely, is holding a conference in London on May 10. Understanding animals, animal awareness, emotions and intentions is the theme of this year’s conference. The concept that animals are sentient beings — possessing a level of conscious awareness, and able to have feelings — was recognized by the European Union in 1997. [HPI adds: Hindus and most others of the human race arrived at this same conclusion several thousand years ago.] In a briefing paper CIWF says, “There is evidence that some animals do have some level of morality and some concern over other animals. Living within a group requires a moral code of behavior…Most animals that live in communities exhibit similar moral codes to humans.” CIWF’s chief executive Joyce D’Silva says, “The whole climate over whether to accept sentience has changed hugely in the last 15 years. It has huge implications for all the ways we use animals. It implies all farm animals are entitled to humane lives and deaths — and millions are denied them.”
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