The Five Freedoms; An Active Set Of Animal Rights

Five Freedoms – An Active Set of Animals Rights

Name

[Institutional Affiliation(s)]

Author Note

Five Freedoms – An Active Set of Animals Rights

Saying that animals have no rights and humans do, is a statement that cannot be perceived as correct under any circumstances ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"apq6sa4c6j","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)","plainCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1014,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"itemData":{"id":1014,"type":"article-journal","title":"Updating animal welfare thinking: Moving beyond the “Five Freedoms” towards “a Life Worth Living”","container-title":"Animals","page":"21","volume":"6","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Mellor","given":"David"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (D. Mellor, 2016). It has been a debate whether animals have rights, and what is the meaning of animal rights. Animal rights represent that killing or hurting animals is ethically wrong ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"asb5e3k9u2","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)","plainCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1014,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"itemData":{"id":1014,"type":"article-journal","title":"Updating animal welfare thinking: Moving beyond the “Five Freedoms” towards “a Life Worth Living”","container-title":"Animals","page":"21","volume":"6","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Mellor","given":"David"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (D. Mellor, 2016). Hurting and killing animals in immoral way is ethically wrong ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"apq6sa4c6j","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)","plainCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1014,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"itemData":{"id":1014,"type":"article-journal","title":"Updating animal welfare thinking: Moving beyond the “Five Freedoms” towards “a Life Worth Living”","container-title":"Animals","page":"21","volume":"6","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Mellor","given":"David"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (D. Mellor, 2016). Therefore, animals have rights to be protected and saved from such human beings that cause damage to them. They have rights to be treated well however, they can be killed or used for livestock and other related purpose.

Five Freedoms

Five features of animal wellbeing under human control are outlines for their security. Five freedoms were established as a reaction to a report in 1965 on livestock husbandry ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"a5erfnb35o","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(D. J. Mellor, 2016)","plainCitation":"(D. J. Mellor, 2016)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1015,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/VLASMPHE"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/VLASMPHE"],"itemData":{"id":1015,"type":"article-journal","title":"Moving beyond the “five freedoms” by updating the “five provisions” and introducing aligned “animal welfare aims”","container-title":"Animals","page":"59","volume":"6","issue":"10","author":[{"family":"Mellor","given":"David J."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (D. J. Mellor, 2016). These freedoms clearly defined security and welfare of animals and are accepted by the World Health organization for animals and the American society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. These five freedoms are:

Freedom from hunger or thirst through access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor.

Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Freedom to express normal behavior by providing sufficient space, proper facilities, and company.

Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Societal ethical principles and economic development have increased customer demands for livestock husbandry. Certain policies that define animal rights are essentially important in this case to defend animals ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"apq6sa4c6j","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)","plainCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1014,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"itemData":{"id":1014,"type":"article-journal","title":"Updating animal welfare thinking: Moving beyond the “Five Freedoms” towards “a Life Worth Living”","container-title":"Animals","page":"21","volume":"6","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Mellor","given":"David"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (D. Mellor, 2016). Similarly, climate change has improved certain policies regarding animal protection such as immune-castration in pigs ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"ap50ptpkvk","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Rachels, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Rachels, 2017)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1016,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/A558NXZK"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/A558NXZK"],"itemData":{"id":1016,"type":"chapter","title":"Why animals have a right to liberty","container-title":"Animal rights","publisher":"Routledge","page":"57-66","author":[{"family":"Rachels","given":"James"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Rachels, 2017). Some of husbandry practices are being banned in industrialized countries to protect animals. Certain legislative policies endorse forthcoming rearing practices to support and favor animals. These policies have also defined rearing practices particularly in poultry and pigs industries. These animal rights are defined to protect animals and for their welfare. However, there are trade controversies worldwide and in the global market. These five freedoms are widely accepted principles among all countries to protect animals.

Convincing Arguments

Animals do not behave morally and therefore, they do not deserve ethical treatment from human beings. This is true in a way that animals do not behave in a moral manner and are selfish ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"a2o733j412","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Rachels, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Rachels, 2017)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1016,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/A558NXZK"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/A558NXZK"],"itemData":{"id":1016,"type":"chapter","title":"Why animals have a right to liberty","container-title":"Animal rights","publisher":"Routledge","page":"57-66","author":[{"family":"Rachels","given":"James"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Rachels, 2017). Jane Goodall was a famous expert on Chimpanzees who has spent years with them. He has reported that animals sometimes show completely altruistic behaviors towards humans.

It has been assumed that animals have no souls. This argument has no strength to be justified as animals are living beings and have a right to live in comfort. In some Christian societies, rights are given to those who have souls ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"aqtuur54no","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)","plainCitation":"(D. Mellor, 2016)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1014,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/CM8RXSCV"],"itemData":{"id":1014,"type":"article-journal","title":"Updating animal welfare thinking: Moving beyond the “Five Freedoms” towards “a Life Worth Living”","container-title":"Animals","page":"21","volume":"6","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Mellor","given":"David"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (D. Mellor, 2016). However, animals are not dead as they have souls and are living beings therefore, they deserve rights.

Animals are not conscious and cannot think. Biologically, animals are not robots. They have senses since they feel, observe, and think. Animal rights are based on their welfare to support and defend themselves in the environment ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"an14aj7gke","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(D. J. Mellor, 2016)","plainCitation":"(D. J. Mellor, 2016)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1015,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/VLASMPHE"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/VLASMPHE"],"itemData":{"id":1015,"type":"article-journal","title":"Moving beyond the “five freedoms” by updating the “five provisions” and introducing aligned “animal welfare aims”","container-title":"Animals","page":"59","volume":"6","issue":"10","author":[{"family":"Mellor","given":"David J."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (D. J. Mellor, 2016). Giving pain and harm to animals as they cannot think is wrong. They have feelings and can respond.

Animals have right to live with comfort, to eat, to express and to be protected from damage or injury or pain ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"an14aj7gke","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(D. J. Mellor, 2016)","plainCitation":"(D. J. Mellor, 2016)"},"citationItems":[{"id":1015,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/VLASMPHE"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/p8kwKNoG/items/VLASMPHE"],"itemData":{"id":1015,"type":"article-journal","title":"Moving beyond the “five freedoms” by updating the “five provisions” and introducing aligned “animal welfare aims”","container-title":"Animals","page":"59","volume":"6","issue":"10","author":[{"family":"Mellor","given":"David J."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2016"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (D. J. Mellor, 2016). Animals indeed have rights to live a comfortable life whether living as pets or in wildlife. Certain human activities, such as deforestation, urbanization, and livestock husbandry have created several problems for animals and therefore, animal right movements and organizations have designated policies in favor of animals to support and protect them.

References

ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Mellor, D. (2016). Updating animal welfare thinking: Moving beyond the “Five Freedoms” towards “a Life Worth Living.” Animals, 6(3), 21.

Mellor, D. J. (2016). Moving beyond the “five freedoms” by updating the “five provisions” and introducing aligned “animal welfare aims.” Animals, 6(10), 59.

Rachels, J. (2017). Why animals have a right to liberty. In Animal rights (pp. 57–66). Routledge.