Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: On Saturday, the Goa Animal Liberation Movement organized its annual march in Panaji, highlighting the intrinsic link between animal liberation and human liberation.
The event, which started at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Park and concluded at Azad Maidan, drew animal rights activists from across the country who rallied to raise awareness about the plight of animals and the need to eradicate speciesism.
Participants in the march included activists who painted their bodies to symbolize animals exploited for human purposes, underscoring the urgent need to stop unnecessary torture and exploitation of sentient beings. Gemini Xettigar, an activist and organizer of the event, emphasized the ethical imperative to protect all sentient life.
“Every being, whether human or non-human, has the right to live freely on this planet. It is our moral duty to ensure they are not deprived of this fundamental right. The question is not whether they can talk or reason, but whether they can suffer. Animals, just like humans, experience complex emotions such as joy, pain, and sorrow, and they deserve our compassion and justice,” Xettigar explained.
The march aimed to educate the public about the arbitrary divide created between humans and non-human animals, which leads to discrimination against animals that are capable of feeling emotions similar to those of humans. The event also drew parallels with the recent celebrations of Goa Liberation Day, which commemorates the state’s freedom from Portuguese colonial rule.
Trisha Bene, a volunteer with the Goa Animal Liberation Movement and a member of The Vegoan, compared the struggle against speciesism to historical battles against other forms of oppression. “Just as slavery was once deeply ingrained but eventually abolished, we can achieve positive change even when oppression seems pervasive. We must work together to eliminate the suffering inflicted on animals through our choices,” Bene urged.
Daniel Thomas, a co-organizer, stressed the importance of recognizing the exploitation of animals as a form of oppression. “If you believe that oppression is wrong, then you must be vegan. Veganism is not just a diet; it is a stance against exploiting animals for any purpose. It involves avoiding not only meat, eggs, and dairy products but also leather, wool, silk, fur, and other products that harm animals.”
Thomas shared his personal journey, transitioning from a non-vegetarian lifestyle to veganism after realizing the immense suffering caused by human actions. “Being vegan is about ensuring that our actions do not harm animals. It is a commitment to respect and protect all sentient beings, just as we would want for ourselves.”
The march and the ongoing efforts of the Goa Animal Liberation Movement serve as a reminder of the need for a more inclusive and compassionate society, one that recognizes the rights and dignity of all living beings.
