Animal Industries and the Animal Trade

Human-Animal Relationship ANTH 2301 Animal Industries and the Animal Trade In the last 200 years, a growing number of Western nations have embraced a perspective that sees animals not as unique human beings but rather as resources or raw materials. In a number of sectors, including entertainment, fashion, industrial farming, and laboratory testing, animals are sometimes viewed as little more than commodities to be used for financial gain. This view's conceptual foundations may be found in the Cartesian paradigm, which maintains a rigid dualism between the mind and body and, consequently, between people and animals. Western attitudes towards animals have been greatly impacted by René Descartes' view that animals are machines that are devoid of awareness and souls. The Industrial Revolution, which placed a strong emphasis on efficiency, mechanisation, and the exploitation of natural resources—including animals—to support economic growth and societal advancement, has further strengthened this anthropocentric viewpoint. On the other hand, a lot of Indigenous communities still have connections with animals that are built on mutual respect, reciprocity, and interdependence. For example, animals are seen as instructors and relatives in many Indigenous cultures, and they have their own soul and agency. For example, the Lakota people refer to all living things as "wamakaskan," or animals, acknowledging them as essential components of their spiritual and ecological communities. Similar to this, the Ojibwe word "manidoo" acknowledges a kinship that cuts over species boundaries and refers to spirits that inhabit all aspects of nature, including animals. According to these viewpoints, hunting and fishing are revered activities that call for thanksgiving, ceremony, and a dedication to sustainability rather than just being acts of resource extraction. This fosters a profound feeling of duty and stewardship. Western civilizations, which view the world and nature more as consumers than as coequals, have been confronted with serious environmental, socio-emotional, and resource-related issues on a growing basis. A disconnection from the natural environment is encouraged by the consumerist mentality, which results in actions that put immediate profit ahead of the sustainability of the ecosystem. Widespread environmental damage, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, is the obvious effect. For example, the industrial agricultural system leads to soil erosion, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the annual misery of billions of animals. Because of this system's concentration on monocultures and chemical inputs, ecosystems are less resilient and are more susceptible to diseases, pests, and extreme weather events that are made worse by climate change. The monetization of nature and animals has also profoundly impacted people's feeling of social and emotional alienation and detachment in Western society. People's direct encounters with and comprehension of the natural environment have been weakened by their physical and psychological alienation from it, which is made possible by urbanisation, technology, and the industrialization of food agriculture. Research has indicated a correlation between this detachment and elevated levels of anxiety, sadness, and other psychological problems. These links are examined by the emerging subject of ecopsychology, which contends that human wellbeing depends on having a positive relationship with nature. As evidence of the innate desire for a connection to nature, techniques like nature therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and wilderness immersion are becoming recognised as successful therapies for enhancing mental health. Animal commercialization encompasses cultural and moral aspects as well. Concerns concerning the ethical treatment of sentient animals are brought up by factory farming and the usage of animals in entertainment settings like zoos and circuses. There is a rising movement supporting animal rights and welfare as a result of the recognition of the moral wrongfulness of the suffering caused to animals in these environments. This movement advocates for changes that acknowledge the sentience and inherent worth of all living things, challenging the laws and societal conventions that allow the exploitation of animals. Legislative initiatives, for instance, have started to address the welfare of animals used for entertainment, research, and farming in a number of nations, indicating a progressive transition towards the humane and ethical treatment of animals. Problems with resources are yet another important effect of seeing animals as commodities. One of the main causes of environmental deterioration is the unsustainable use of animals for food, clothing, and other things. For example, overfishing has caused marine ecosystems to collapse, and the demand for meat and dairy products has contributed to deforestation, especially in the Amazon rainforest where pastureland and soy-based animal feed are grown. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are on the rise as a result of the extensive use of antibiotics in cattle farming, which poses a serious risk to public health. These problems draw attention to the connections between the health of people, animals, and the environment, highlighting the need for more morally and sustainably conducted business. On the other hand, Indigenous perspectives on animal connections provide insightful guidance on how to tackle these issues. Indigenous traditions encourage sustainability and resilience because they acknowledge the interdependence of all living forms as well as the significance of reciprocity and balance. For example, among the Anishinaabe people, "minobimaadiziwin" means "the good life," which includes coexisting peacefully with the natural world and all of its inhabitants. Hunting, fishing, and harvesting methods are guided by this ideology, which makes sure that they are carried out sustainably and with consideration for the animals and ecosystems involved. Indigenous knowledge systems, often known as Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), give valuable insights into resource and land management that are sustainable and serve as workable substitutes for the exploitative methods that are common in Western society. In addition, Western legal and ethical systems are beginning to acknowledge animals as sentient entities with inherent worth and rights. The idea that animals can have legal personality is being investigated; several countries have given animals the ability to exist without needless suffering. Scientific evidence of animal consciousness is also impacting public opinion and policy, resulting in more support for plant-based diets and alternatives to animal products as well as stricter legislation protecting animal welfare. In conclusion, the way that many Indigenous civilizations relate to their animals contrasts sharply with the way that the West treats animals as commodities. Numerous environmental, socioemotional, and resource-related issues have been brought about by this consumerist mentality, underscoring the necessity of a fundamental change in our relationship with animals and the natural world. Western civilizations may create more ethical, compassionate, and sustainable lifestyles that acknowledge the inherent worth of all living things and the interdependence of all things by taking inspiration and knowledge from Indigenous ideas and behaviours. This change is essential for resolving present issues as well as guaranteeing a more equitable and peaceful future for all people on Earth.