Glenn's blog

Several years ago I saw a film by Emir Kustrica called Underground. The first scene of the movie depicts the bombing of a zoo.

Very often in wars animals suffer even though they have no part in our conflicts. Not only are animals killed as uncounted and unconsidered "collateral damage," but they are also often used in wars.

This Remembrance Day (November 11th for you Americans), I am going to be thinking of them.

Animal Aid, a UK animal protection group, has published a booklet detailing some of the wartime use of animals. (Download a pdf of the booklet.)

From Hannibal's historic campaign using elephants in Roman battles to 'Roborats' - rats with electrodes wired into their brains by scientists keen to harness their acute sense of smell - animals have suffered throughout history in human conflicts.

Valued for their outstanding abilities and forced into wars not of their making, animals have often been treated as little more than disposable tools, kept alive only for as long as they are useful, and then killed or abandoned to fend for themselves.

In Animals: The Hidden Victims of War, we remember the animals used as messengers, in detection, scouting and rescue, as beasts of burden and on the frontline. We remember the animals taken from the wild and used as mascots, for companionship in the trenches and all those who continue to be subjected to warfare experiments in laboratories.

Wikipedia has a page about military use of animals, which details some of the disturbing ways we have used animals as transport, communications, or weapons. It's not enough that we kill and maim our own kind, but we must force other species into our fights, battles which they had no part in making and likely have no interest in pursuing.

Animal Aid has produced a purple poppy that can be worn on Remembrance Day:

Throughout history, animals have suffered and died as a result of human conflicts. Remember the animal victims of war this year by wearing a PURPLE poppy.

War should never be celebrated - and we should be remembering those who died without choice. Let's remember the innocents dragged into conflicts that were not of their own choosing. Let's remember the victims of war.