Jain Spirit 2002 06 No 11

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 11

GLOBAL NEWS
BRITISH MP'S CAMPAIGN
VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA AND SALLEKHANA
ontinuing the fine tradition of the
annual Rooplal Jain Lectures, Dr. Christopher Key Chapple presented an exciting and informative lecture on 7 March 2002 at the
University of Toronto Professor Christopher Chapple entitled Jainism, Bioethics
and the End of Life. Dr. Chapple, Professor of Theological Studies and Director of Asian and Pacific Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, opened his lecture with a fascinating historical overview of the sacrament of sallekhana (deliberate fasting to death, usually undertaken at an old age). Explaining the religious meaning of this ceremony within its earliest cultural contexts, he then continued with an elucidation of the significance underlying several contemporary examples of the custom. This was followed by a detailed examination of the questions and concerns raised in contemporary medical bioethics over such issues as religious fasting to death and both passive and active euthanasia.
To paraphrase Dr. Chapple, the current bioethical dilemma is that Western social institutions must somehow come to terms with Eastern religious perspectives. For example, the rite of sallekhana is not and should not be considered as an act of suicide or active euthanasia - acts to be discouraged. However, as an extremely significant religious form of spirituality and divinity, it is an act that ought to be supported within the contemporary medical community. In other words, sallekhana is just one example of what could be called a 'good' or 'wise death, an act that could be utilised in the West to successfully guide those near the end of life through the process of death and into the next birth. The lecture concluded with an animated discussion by an audience of about seventy over the 'pros' and 'cons' of sallekhana within the contemporary Western environment
INDIA. STOP CRUEL
TRANSPORT OF ANIMALS
PETA CowsAreCool.com MPs (from left to right): Piara Khabra (from Punjab), Jeremy Corbyn and Lynn Jones
potesting before the Parliament lanking a PETA 'cow holdingsee British MPs defending India's R a banner reading, "India: Stop
animals." Jains are involved in such 1 Cruel Transport of Animals",
efforts. Ms. Pramoda Chitrabhanu is several Members of Parliament
a director of PETA, India. Visit gathered opposite the British
www.PETAIndia.com Parliament in London on 12 March
It is illegal to beat, kick or 2002 to protest against the cruel
overload animals; transport them in transport and slaughter of Indian
vehicles that cause suffering; deprive cows, buffaloes, goats and other
animals of food, water and shelter; animals killed for leather. In
sell abused animals or kill an animal defiance of the Indian law, corrupt
in an inhumane manner. The skin-traders march cows, buffaloes
transport and slaughter of cows, and other animals for days and cram
buffaloes, goats and other animals in them into overcrowded lorries,
India violate all these laws, yet which causes many to suffer broken
abuses are rampant. Bribes bones and suffocation. Those who
encourage police officers, collapse from exhaustion or injuries
politicians, veterinarians and other have their eyes smeared with chilli
officials to look the other way. The peppers and their tailbones broken in
Indian government has pledged on an effort to keep them moving. At
both local and national levels to abattoirs, the animals typically have
address the cruelty, suffering and their throats hacked in full view of
corruption, associated with the one another and are often
illegal transport and slaughter of dismembered and skinned alive.
animals for leather. But this is on England is the third biggest importer
paper only and in reality nothing is of leather from Indian animals.
being done to prevent this cruelty to PETA's boycott of Indian leather has
animals. Recent reports indicate that been joined by dozens of top
cattle, goats and other animals retailers worldwide, including
continue to be trucked across India at Lambert Howarth, Buffalo Boots
breakneck speed by what people and Clarks, costing India an
describe as the meat mafia. The estimated US$40 million in lost
animals are still deprived of water, contracts.
food and rest, and the lorries are so "It's time for the Indian government
overcrowded (three to four times to wash the leather industry's blood
more than the legal limit) that the off its hands," says PETA's European
animals fall and suffocate and their coordinator Dawn Carr. "Mahatma
horns gore each other throughout the Gandhi would have been pleased to long journey.
June - August 2002. Jain Spirit
9