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and animal rights in last 50 years, does not go to Jains but goes generally to non-Jains, mostly from the western world. There is hardly any Jain-inspired or established (that I know of) organizations like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicines), or AVS (Anti-Vivisection Societies). A few years ago, a few of us participated in a "March for Animal Rights in Washington D.C." Out of the 30,000 plus persons taking part in the march, there were hardly any Jains (only about five to seven, at the most). In the West, non-Jains such as Hare Krishnas and followers of Swami Narayan (not Jains) have been in the forefront in making vegetarianism acceptable.
The unconditional respect for all forms of life implies that Jains should be in the forefront in the practice of ahimsa in all its shapes and forms. The scope and landscape of ahimsa is vast. Jains should be the preeminent role models for others. Unfortunately, during the last hundred years, movements including in support of human and civil rights, animal rights, eradication of child labor and sweat shops, support of women's rights and cessation of abuse, ethical and environmentally friendly investing, promotion of laws against animal torture and hunting, restriction of the use of animals in sports and entertainment, regulations to ensure worker safety and occupational and health safety, civil disabilities acts, the eradication of capital punishment, ethical bioethics, medical ethics, business ethics and legal ethics and work towards all of these are based on and related to the practice of ahimsa, but these projects have generally been started by non-Jains. Generally, Jains have been the beneficiaries but not the torchbearers for such movements and protests.
CURRENTLY THE JAIN COMMUNITY SEEMS TO HAVE DIFFERENT SET OF PRIORITIES
We are building temples for poojas (worship) but not for teaching and training in ahimsa. The Jain community is affluent, dynamic, and educated. The recent census of the
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
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