By Deepa BHOOKHUN

The right to life. Yeah, let?s talk about this sanctimonious theory that many are prepared to defend as far as human beings are concerned. The same people who would, however, not even raise an eyebrow where animals? rights are concerned. The selective right to life, more like.

We will most certainly not get into the debate of whether it is right or wrong to eat our poor friends the animals; it would be a waste of time.

This particular debate is not relevant because there are many animal lovers even amongst those who eat meat, contradictory though it may sound. I would love to see their reactions to an article that was published in Saturday?s edition of l?express concerning the capture and breeding of monkeys on our soil.

It seems this kind of activity brings in a lot of money these days. So obviously everybody wants to catch monkeys. And do you know what they do with these monkeys? They send them to a breeding centre and they are eventually exported to Europe and the US for experiments. Medical experiments. To save our lives. And, in the process, they are brutalised, they are cut, their organs are removed. In brief, they are tortured. In the name of science. Oh but it?s to save our lives, isn?t it?

The name for this barbaric activity is vivisection. I did not know how to react when I read that Mauritius was getting known for the quality of its breeding. Shame Mauritius! Shame! Quality of breeding? And we?re meant to be proud. What is being done to those poor animals is a crime and I feel a deep sense of shame for my country. And do you know what else? When I hear that e-mails are being sent to people the world over with a photo of a bleeding, tortured monkey with the caption ?that?s the way they treat monkeys in Mauritius?, I have to admit I?m glad. Ooh! I can already hear people call me unpatriotic. Whatever. At least I?m honest. Unlike the hypocrites, who say, ?We should be careful about the image of our country; it could affect our tourism industry.?

Well, do you know what? If you really cared about your country and its image, you would not condone such barbaric activities. End of story.

The rights of animals, like those of Jews and Blacks before them, have always been treated with disdain. But the times change and, at least in some countries, the lobbies of some sensible people have started to show results. Here, on the other hand, we treat animals as if they weren?t even worthy of a thought, as if they were mere commodities.

Why go any further? Look at the way man?s best friend is treated in this country. The way a society treats its animals is very significant, I have been told. Which is why, I suppose, the new government is saying they will give active support to animal welfare. Let?s hope it is because they have realised the mysticism behind a most simple fact: that dog spelt backwards is? God.