Cetaceans and Children: Revising Rights.

It is fair to say that the majority, if not all nations of the world have been accused of violating apparent human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the U.N. in 1948, is generally accepted by all members of the United Nations. Despite some issue with Muslim countries resulting in the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, the Universal Declaration has become to cornerstone to any consideration regarding the condition of a country and its people. However there are two outstanding concerns which, though initially may seen completely juxtaposed, have been worthy of coverage within the media.

  Firstly a resurgent effort to establish a Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans has been renewed in Canada. At the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Vancouver, Canada, the world's biggest science conference, a number of experts forwarded the case that Cetaceans (dolphins, whales, porpoises) deserve rights and liberties similar to those enjoyed by humans. the declaration had already been agreed in May 2010, though it now required international support and recognition.
  As this was taking place, an extraordinary story broke by the organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) that apparent entire classrooms of Somali children were being kidnapped and forced to fight by al-shabab, an Islamic extremist group. This was resulting in children, as young as 10, being killed on the front line as al-shaba engaged with forces loyal to the Somali Government. On top of this it is claimed that young girls from schools were being used as wives for the adult fighters. The report from HRW demonstrates the severe condition which Somalia finds itself in, and perpetuates its branding as a 'failed state'.

 The condition which brings these two events together is the role which humanity and rights are woven into them. The crux of the matter is that, despite our desire to be stewards if this planet, we fail to gain a balance between caring for other species and our own. When we focus on the preservation of animals such as cetaceans, we can be accused of drawing our attentions aware from the plight of our fellow humans. Likewise when we maintain attention on the welfare of those in Somalia and elsewhere, we are chastised for failing the other living creatures with whom we share Earth. There are those who endeavour to foster concern for both animal and human, however this is a heavy burden to say the least. Those that wish to see rights respected for either animal, human or both should first consider the age old maxim 'you are damned if you do and you are damned if you don't'. Though this may sound belittling to the lives of children being lost in war and the risk of extinction to a number of cetaceans species, it demonstrates the true struggle which those with a sense of moral authority face. Unfortunately the common practice of many liberal, moralism Governments is to engage with both camps. This results in, as we see today, in both sides being neglected as a result of the others support. Nations cannot resolve one and then the other, as this would result in the the latter priority being doomed. Perhaps then, as humans, we must imbrace the fact that we are no omnipotent; and accept, against between moral judgement, that we will never be able to guarantee rights to anyone unless our fellow humankind respect all forms of life.