trachsel-kk                        DEUTSCH

Bernhard Trachsel

Animals have long been used – but what is necessary, what is dispensable?

Whether humans may use animals and for what purpose it may be justifiable is a question I deal with in my professional life. It is crucial for me that our ancestors began to use and domesticate animals thousands of years ago. Animals and humans have developed together and to their mutual benefit which indicates to me that using animals is part of human nature. But what we require from animals has increased continuously, and increasing use implies more pain, suffering, harm, and fear for animals. I therefore advocate a restrained use based on a careful harm-benefit-balance. I reject uses that exploit animals or that cannot be justified – regardless of how developed or how similar to humans a species may be. More…