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Who are the real animals in today's dog-eat-dog world? I was disturbed to learn from you paper about the suspicious circumstances under which pet rabbits and cats have been found ('Foxes and traffic blamed for spate of pet mutiliation', Observer, 24 June). Police officer Rory O'Brien is quoted as saying, "the injuries could not have been inflicted by an animal." Alas, should further investigation indeed lead to the conclusion that human will, and not fox instinct, was responsible, one can cannot but fear that the ascription of "animal" and "cage" would still be appropriate. The Green Party criticises the prevailing assumption that animals can be used for any purpose that benefits humankind. Even when animal death is caused through road traffic, we question the automatic assumption that our habitat need not be shared with other species that we could not consult when we laid the tarmac. While I am here, hot on the heels of Super Thursday, I want to applaud all those who voted Green for London. Every vote has both expressive and political weight, for the benefit of human beings and animals beyond London, too. We are here to win more hearts and minds in future. Do not despair, whatever it takes to help all electors see political sense. Dr
Shahrar Ali |
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Letter published in the Willesden, Wembley and Harrow Observers 1 July 2004. |