China has come far in terms of liberalisation, a fact manifest by a Nanjing University professor’s success at tabling an animal rights motion at this year’s “Two Sessions” in Beijing. Yet, he has an 84 year-old astronomer to thank for the achievement.
中国在自由化方面已经取得了长足的进步，南京大学教授在今年北京的“两会”上成功提出动物权利议案就证明了这一点。然而，他的这一成就要感谢一位 84 岁的天文学家。
Cui Xiangqun is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and an academic with Chinese Academy of Sciences. This year, Cui has brought a proposal unrelated to his own professional field, namely Animal Protection Law, and entrusted it to Su Dingqiang for presentation at the Two Sessions. Su was a representative of the 8th and 9th National People’s Congress (1993-2003), is a fellow academic with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Nanjing University.
崔向群，全国政协委员、中国科学院院士。今年，崔提出了一个与自己专业领域无关的提案，即《动物保护法》，并委托苏定强在两会上进行汇报。苏先生曾任第八、九届全国人大代表（1993年至2003年），中国科学院院士，南京大学教授。
The Professor is also a well-renown astronomer in China who now happens to be 84 years old. For a long time, Su has called for increased animal rights, having campaigned several times during his tenure with the National People’s Congress for animal protection legislation.
这位教授也是中国著名的天文学家，现年84岁。长期以来，苏一直呼吁增加动物权利，在全国人大任职期间多次呼吁动物保护立法。
- Dog Slaughtered by Nanjing Man but Canine off the Menu
- Zoo Location has Citizens Up in Arms over Threat from Virus
- Left-Behind Cats; Volunteer Group in Wuhan Saves Stranded Pets
For Su, modern science has increasingly proved that other animals and humans are not only anatomically similar, but also physiologically and emotionally. He believes the way in which human beings treat animals reflect humanity’s moral principles and the degree of civilisation of a country.
对于苏来说，现代科学越来越证明其他动物和人类不仅在解剖学上相似，而且在生理和情感上也相似。他认为人类对待动物的方式反映了人类的道德准则和一个国家的文明程度。
“More than 150 countries and regions in the world have introduced laws and regulations on the protection of ordinary animals, but China has not yet had a universal animal protection law, which is not commensurate with China’s international status”, said Su to The Paper.
“世界上已有150多个国家和地区出台了保护普通动物的法律法规，但中国尚未有一部普遍适用的动物保护法，这与中国的国际地位不相称。”苏向澎湃新闻表示。
On 8 April, China’s Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs released its updated list of animals that are permitted to be raised as livestock. For the very first time, dogs have been omitted. The Ministry referred to dogs as a “special companion animal”.
4月8日，中国农业农村部公布了最新的允许饲养牲畜的动物名录。这是第一次，狗被排除在外。该部将狗称为“特殊伴侣动物”。
This gave hope to Su. “Can animal protection legislation go one step further? [Can we] expand the scope of protection from wild animals to ordinary animals?”, he asked. “How many children have been raised by milk and dairy products only?
这给苏带来了希望。 “动物保护立法能否更进一步？能否将保护范围从野生动物扩大到普通动物？”他问道。 “有多少儿童仅靠牛奶和乳制品养大？
- T Rex Fossil Discovery Underscores Celebrating Museum in Nanjing
- Belts, Roads & Botanical Threats to Biodiversity
- Over 100 Dogs Rescued from Illegal Dog-Meat Truck
The Professor also cites the almost countless other ways in which animals assist humans; from farming to pulling carts, from security to disaster relief. Su said that animals have emotions, that they feel maternal love and pain. “When a young lamb sees its mother dragged out to slaughter, how painful will its heart be? Likewise, when the lamb is slaughtered, how sad will the mother be?”
教授还列举了动物帮助人类的几乎无数其他方式；从种田到拉车，从治安到救灾。苏说，动物有情感，能感受到母爱和痛苦。 “当一只小羔羊看到它的母亲被拖出去宰杀时，它的心会多么痛苦？同样，当小羊被宰杀时，它的母亲会多么悲伤？”
Su is fond of retelling a story shared with him by a friend who had served as the vice president of a famous university. Their family had to sell a cow which they had had for 25 years for economic reasons. When the cow was brought to market and given to the cattle dealer, the cow knelt down and shed two tears.
苏喜欢讲一个曾担任著名大学副校长的朋友告诉他的故事。由于经济原因，他们一家不得不卖掉养了25年的一头牛。当牛被带到市场交给牛贩时，牛跪下来流下了两滴眼泪。
The animal rights motion tabled at the Two Sessions also calls for military horses and police dogs to not be slaughtered, and to instead be provided with life-long care. For pets, it should be emphasised that they must not be abandoned, while stray animals should not be abused.
两会上提出的动物权利动议还呼吁不要屠宰军马和警犬，并提供终身照顾。对于宠物，要强调的是不能遗弃，流浪动物也不能虐待。
