Humanising animals, civilising humans - culling live animal exports

Of course, cruelty is not species specific and Australians who derive their livelihood from the live export industry should not be left to starve. The cessation of live exports should be gradual and involve compensation to those affected and assistance in helping them transition to the chilled meat industry.

In any event, ultimately, some forms of barbarity are so depraved that they are beyond economic salvation. It demeans Australians to continue to turn a blind eye to the shame that is live animal export.

Animals hurt in the same way as humans. There are not different types of suffering, only different degrees and intensities. The physiological process by which pain is generated and felt is the same in humans and animals.

The intensity with which animals feel pain or distress is no less than in humans. Anyone who has seen the cowering of a dog in response to a raised fist can be left in no doubt of that.

The fact that an entity can experience suffering terminates all questions regarding its moral standing. The only commonality shared by humans, who command our concern and respect, is that they can hurt. The capacity to sense pain gives humans, no matter how marginalised, or behaviourally maladaptive, moral status. Animals command our moral standing for exactly the same reason.

The inability of animals to use words to communicate to us about their level of suffering is no excuse for ignoring their terrified screams. To the contrary, this places a higher burden on supposedly morally enlightened communities to hear their screams and redress them.

It's time that as a community we stepped up and repudiated preventable suffering in all its guises – banning live exports is an important non-negotiable step in this direction.