By Garda Ghista
Two hundred years ago Europeans enslaved millions of black Africans and brought them to the Americas on ships. And millions died on those ships, from disease, malnutrition, starvation and justs plain cruelty. Today, most people understand that this was wrong, and that black Africans have equal human value as white-skinned people. However, we need to now move one step further, expand our mind a little more. Animals also have rights. Animals also do not want to suffer. They want to be treated humanely. They want to receive love and affection. And they certainly want to live out their natural life. They do not want to die or be killed before their natural end. This is also their right. The great activist and writer, Taslima Nasrin, describes in her autobiography, Meyebele, the occasion of a festival, as follows:
