Cattle Slaughter And Self-Immolation

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By Laksiri Fernando -May 29, 2013 

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

From a long term perspective, cattle slaughter or animal slaughter in general is something that not only Sri Lanka but also the whole world should get rid of while finding sustainable alternatives for protein or nutrient intake in human diet. There is more awareness in the world today on the subject of animal rights or animal cruelty than any time in the past, for example two decades ago. Sri Lanka and India are best positioned to embrace this understanding than many other countries thanks to their Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions. But this understanding should not be applied superficially or for narrow political purposes.

One of my granddaughters, just nine years old, was showing me recently the similarities between the human face and the faces of many other animals highlighting that we all have similar face parts such as two eyes to see, a nose in the middle and a mouth underneath and two ears on both sides and asking me the question whether the animals do have a brain behind. My answer was instinctively affirmative. This was just few days before the dramatic self-immolation of the Buddhist monk, Bohowatte Indraratna thero, demanding the prohibition of cattle slaughter in Sri Lanka.

Consumption and Restrictions

Cattle Slaughter and Self-Immolation by nelvely