Decapods as food, companions and research animals: Legal impact of ascribing sentience

This commentary provides an overview of the practical implications of attributing sentience to protect decapods as food, companion and research animals in the UK context. Recognising their capacity to suffer has implications for humane slaughter in farming and fishing sectors. It should also place a greater duty of care on owners of captive decapods, considering their needs and avoiding unnecessary suffering. The recognition of decapod sentience should also have an impact on their protection as research animals, although research with a potential to cause suffering may be needed to better understand decapods’ capacity to suffer

The relationship between corruption and economic development : lessons from Zimbabwe’s public enterprises

Abstract: This research sought to understand the lessons that can be drawn from Zimbabwe’s public enterprises on the relationship between corruption and economic development. The researchers adopted a qualitative design based on purposively sampled state enterprises. Data were collected using focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews from the various stakeholders that included the government, civil society, academia and the private sector in Zimbabwe. Four FGDs were conducted while 14 key informant interviews were done face-to-face with the respondents. Data obtained from interviews and FGDs were analysed thematically. The paper affirms that, indeed, corruption does not only disadvantage the poor but strangles economic development, reduces social services and diverts investments in organisations important to the survival of the nation. In addition, the paper makes a valuable and unique contribution to the different stakeholders’ understanding of how their different concerns and interests are represented and negotiated for the sustainable economic transformation of any given country

The economic growth and food and nutrition security nexus in Zimbabwe : a three-decade perspective

Abstract: The causal relationship between food and nutrition security and economic growth is a hotly contested debate; that is, food and nutrition security results in economic growth, or economic growth results in food and nutrition security. This article reviews the relationship that has existed between economic growth and food and nutrition security in Zimbabwe since 1990. The research methodology used in this article is to analyse past and contemporary literature on the economic growth and food and nutrition security nexus in order to answer the following question: What has been the nexus between economic growth and food and nutrition security in Zimbabwe over that last three decades? The research findings suggest that food and nutrition security generally reflects the trajectories of the prevailing socio-political and economic environment over the last three decades. In essence, food and nutrition insecurity in Zimbabwe is not due to lack of economic growth but because the country has struggled to address its longstanding socio-economic and political woes. The persistent debt overhang, budget deficits, land reform, climate change, and post-harvest losses must be addressed satisfactorily in order to solve the food crisis in Zimbabwe. Principally, for policymakers, the research findings contribute to an understanding of the factors that promote enhanced food and nutrition security in Zimbabwe

Decapods as food, companions and research animals: Legal impact of ascribing sentience

This commentary provides an overview of the practical implications of attributing sentience to protect decapods as food, companion and research animals in the UK context. Recognising their capacity to suffer has implications for humane slaughter in farming and fishing sectors. It should also place a greater duty of care on owners of captive decapods, considering their needs and avoiding unnecessary suffering. The recognition of decapod sentience should also have an impact on their protection as research animals, although research with a potential to cause suffering may be needed to better understand decapods’ capacity to suffer

Effectiveness of poll stunning water buffalo with captive bolt guns

Practical experience has indicated that shooting water buffalo with a captive bolt gun in the front of the head does not always produce an effective stun. Slaughtermen have been claiming that the poll position is more reliable, but under present EU regulations this shooting position is not allowed for domesticated bovines. This study examined the effectiveness of shooting water buffalo with captive bolt guns in the poll region. The depth of concussion was assessed in 30 water buffalo from physical collapse, presence or absence of corneal and palpebral reflexes, normal rhythmic breathing, eyeball rotation, nystagmus and whether the animal was re-shot. All except one animal collapsed immediately. The one animal that failed to collapse was not breathing. The prevalence of a shallow depth of concussion in the poll shot animals was 53%. Two had been shot through the spinal cord, and with the exception of those plus one other in which the bolt did not penetrate the brain, the other animals were considered to be adequately stunned. Post mortem examination of the brain showed that 79% of the under thirty month old animals were shot in the midbrain or brain stem, but these regions had to be avoided in over thirty month old animals because of the risk of damaging the brain stem sample needed for BSE testing, In addition, three water buffalo were shot in the crown position and one in the front of the head. The frontal position was ineffective as the animal did not collapse, and all animals shot in the crown position resumed breathing shortly after shooting, indicating a shallow depth of concussion. It is concluded that poll shooting can be effective in water buffalo, but it produces a shallow depth of concussion compared with frontal shooting in cattle. It requires accurate placement of the gun to ensure that buffalo are not shot through the spinal cord instead of the brain. Vigilance is needed in ensuring that the animals are stuck Promptly so that none recover consciousness. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved