The images in the following
program are highly sensitive and may be as disturbing to viewers as
they were to us. However, we have to show the truth about animal
cruelty.HOST: Kind, caring viewers, welcome to Animal
World: Our Co-Inhabitants. Today on Stop Animal Cruelty we will view
excerpts from 『Humble Silence,』 (卑微的沉默) a documentary directed by Chu
Che-Hsien (朱哲賢) and produced by the Formosa (Taiwan)-based animal
protection group the Life Conservationist Association.
(關懷生命協會製作) First, we present some background information on the Association.
The
Life Conservationist Association has its roots in a type of fishing
called 『fish hooking』 that spread across Formosa (Taiwan) in 1992.
In
fish hooking, a hook without bait is cast into a pond filled with
captive fish and used to hook the animals, who are eventually released
back into the pond with cuts and scarring all over their bodies from
the hooks.
The group’s founder, Master Shih Chao-Huei wished to
stop this cruel practice and organized like-minded people, who named
their cause 『The Anti-Fish-Hooking Movement.』 (「反挫魚運動」)
Due to
the Movement’s efforts, Mr. Hao Po-Chun, (郝柏村) then-Premier of the
Executive Yuan (Branch) of the Formosan (Taiwanese) government, ordered
restrictions on businesses that offered this callous, so-called 『sport』
to the public.
Eventually fish hooking was prohibited in Formosa (Taiwan) and a victory was achieved for the fish.
Then,
seeing the need for a group dedicated to other forms of animal
protection and welfare, in January 1993 the Life Conservationist
Association was begun by many of the same people who had helped to ban
fish hooking.
The Association’s video 『Humble Silence』 depicts
the horrendous lives of some of the island’s animals, but it must be
noted that the savage conditions the animals experience are not limited
to those living in Formosa (Taiwan) but are unfortunately found the
world over.
Animals are used and abused by humans in countless
ways. Whether it is for clothing material such as wool, leather or fur;
or for food or entertainment, there are always humane alternatives we
can choose that do not involve harming, inflicting pain, or killing our
animal co-inhabitants.
The answer to stopping cruelty to animals
lies in viewing them not as property or inanimate objects but as
sensitive, intelligent, beings with a wide spectrum of emotions,
desires and needs and highly social natures.
Animals should be respected and treated as we would our own friends and family members.
Let’s now view some excerpts from 『Humble Silence.』
For more details on the Life Conservationist Association
Please visit
www.LCA.org.tw