An animals' charter

AN ANIMALS' CHARTER

[Seal] CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IS AN ENEMY TO PROGRESS

Science, in demonstrating the common origin and kinship of mankind and the sub-human species has thereby discovered for itself the law of the unity of life on which is founded the statement, the truth of which is established by the witness of experience and history, that "Cruelty to Animals is an enemy to Progress."

Ethics teach that cruelty and oppression are as degrading to the oppressor as they are harmful to the helpless victim.

Religion constrains us to treat others as we would ourselves be treated, and to reverence the life in all God's creatures, and teaches that as a man soweth so shall he also reap.

The lnfliction of Suffering on animals for any purpose other than their own individual benefit is thus indicated as a violation of the claims of kinship, justice and compassion, and inimical to the spiritual and material advancement of humanity. It therefore behoves us to seek to minimise their sufferings and promote their welfare as we seek to minimise the suffering and promote the welfare of human beings.

From this it follows that the aim of an Animals' Charter should be to establish by declaration the rights of animals to justice and the joy of life, to encourage legislative action and administrative control which shall secure the legal and social recognition of these rights, and to promote methods of education which shall evoke a more chivalrous attitude towards animals, the natural outcome of which will be the abandonment of all practices which involve the exploitation of sub-human beings without due regard to their feelings and welfare.

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[Stamp] SURPLUS-1 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DUPLICATE

It is recognised that the full application of the principles laid down in this Charter to the habits, customs and practices of daily life can only be realised gradually. Among the aims of the Charter, which it is hoped to realise in the immediate future, are:

(A) The encouragement of a more humane diet and dress.

(B) The assurance by legal enactment and administrative action, that so long as man continues to take the life of animals in connection with the supply of food and clothing, or in protecting himself against their depredations, or for any purpose whatever, it shall be taken in the most humane way possible.

(C) The prohibition of methods of transport of animals which entail more than the minimum of discomfort or suffering, and of the use of traps and other means employed in the capture of animals which cause avoidable suffering.

(D) The prohibition of the infliction of pain or suffering on animals in the pursuit of physiological or other knowledge.

(E) The abolition of sports and amusements which involve the hunting, killing or maiming of animals and of methods of training animals to perform which subject them to pain and suffering.

(F) The discontinuance of the use of animals in warfare and in preparation for war.

(G) The employment of mechanical power wherever the conditions of service impose upon animals undue strain or suffering, as, for example, in mines, and for heavy transport in congested traffic on unsuitable road surfaces.

(H) The discontinuance of the practice of the imprisonment or chaining of animals for purposes of education, amusement, convenience or for profit.

NOTE.--For the purposes of this Charter, the term "Animals" shall be taken to include all Sub-Human Creatures.

The above Charter was approved by a Conference convened by the National Council for Animals Welfare, May 3rd, 1927.

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ANIMALS' WELFARE, [Struck through] 36, GORDON SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.1. 32, QUEEN'S AVENUE LONDON. N.10.

W.P. 1079-233

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ANIMALS WELFARE,

WP. 1070-233