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Swiss Grant Rights to Animals, Consider Same for Plants - Liberalize Abortion Laws
LifeSiteNews ^ | 4/29/08 | Michael Baggot

Posted on 04/29/2008 4:10:40 PM PDT by wagglebee

SWITZERLAND, April 28, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The nation that liberalized its abortion laws in 2002 is now giving unprecedented protection to animal and plant life.

In an effort to respect the needs of "social species," the Swiss parliament passed legislation last week that threatens its citizens with punishment for not providing various animals a fit environment in which they can interact and flourish.

Enjoying the most extensive protection under the new laws, dogs proved to be the Swiss parliament's best friend.  Prospective dog owners will now be required to complete a course in canine treatment that will include both theoretical and practical elements.

Due to concern over recent studies suggesting the pain experienced by fish, anglers are now subjected to a preparatory course on humane fishing.

The new laws will also dictate how farmers treat their livestock and even stipulates the proper treatment of rhinoceroses.

"The aim is not only to ensure treatment of animals appropriate to each species, but also to decrease the risk of attacks by dangerous dogs.  Inappropriate treatment could lead to behavioural disorders," explained Hans Wyss, head of the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office.

In addition to tending to the animal kingdom, the Swiss government has also been busy wrestling with how best to treat the nation's plants.

The Swiss federal government's ethics committee on non-human biotechnology has been working to determine what kind of research respects "plant dignity" enough to be eligible for government funding.

"Plant dignity" considerations stem from the 2004 Gene Technology Law's requirement to take "the dignity of creatures" into account during any research.

Researchers are eagerly awaiting clarity on the notion of "plant dignity", which will decide whether or not they receive important funding to continue their work.

"At the moment not even authorities who decide on grants know what the 'dignity of plants' really means," committee member Markus Schefer said.

The committee has outlined guidelines to protect plant dignity, but the licitness of many particular practices is yet to be determined.

Most committee members consider interference with a plant's reproductive functions undignified, making some plant geneticists concerned that the committee could greatly hinder traditionally accepted genetic engineering, such as commercial seedless fruits or the hybridization of roses.

The added protections afforded to plant and animal life stand in sharp contrast to the Swiss government's recent disregard for the life of the nation's unborn. In June 2002, the country decided to allow women to abort their children during the first trimester, provided a doctor determines that she is in an ambiguously defined "state of distress."

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

If Only Babies Were Pigeons: A Swiftian Vision
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/apr/08041609.html

Swiss Vote to Legalize Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/jun/02060304.html



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; envirowhackos; europe; moralabsolutes; prolife; switzerland
Reason has been TOTALLY ABANDONED!
1 posted on 04/29/2008 4:10:40 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; narses; 8mmMauser

Pro-Life Ping


2 posted on 04/29/2008 4:11:14 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: 230FMJ; 50mm; 69ConvertibleFirebird; Aleighanne; Alexander Rubin; An American In Dairyland; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]


3 posted on 04/29/2008 4:11:46 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

...though they claimed to be wise they became fools...


4 posted on 04/29/2008 4:18:55 PM PDT by dschapin
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To: wagglebee; Bender2

I just hope my dogs don't read this.

5 posted on 04/29/2008 4:25:54 PM PDT by big'ol_freeper ("Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words". ~ St. Francis of Assisi)
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To: wagglebee
Only evil people would approve murdering baby humans .

The Swiss have been subverted by evil,foolish self-hating humans.

6 posted on 04/29/2008 4:40:38 PM PDT by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a creditcard?)
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To: wagglebee

Are you SURE this isn’t satire?


7 posted on 04/29/2008 4:48:18 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: metmom

Positive.


8 posted on 04/29/2008 4:51:48 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: wagglebee

I thought the Swiss would be about the last people on earth to go insane. Obviously I was wrong.


9 posted on 04/29/2008 5:33:44 PM PDT by Wilhelm Tell (True or False? This is not a tag line.)
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To: wagglebee
"Prospective dog owners will now be required to complete a course in canine treatment that will include both theoretical and practical elements."

1. Feed Dog daily;
2. Don't kick dog

That about does it. They flourish in just about any environment so long as rules 1 & 2 are followed.

10 posted on 04/29/2008 5:40:31 PM PDT by joebuck (Finitum non capax infinitum!)
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To: wagglebee

Maybe the government led genocide against cannabis and papaver genuses will finally stop.


11 posted on 04/29/2008 6:50:36 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine (Is /sarc really necessary?)
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To: wagglebee

Idiots


12 posted on 04/29/2008 7:21:21 PM PDT by YHAOS
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To: wagglebee
Pinged from Terri Dailies

8mm


13 posted on 04/30/2008 3:46:18 AM PDT by 8mmMauser (Jezu ufam tobie...Jesus I trust in Thee)
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