Panel Talk on Interspecies Justice: The Planets & its Inhabitants

Under its efforts of advancing the UN SDGs, CBS organized a panel session on “Interspecies Justice” rooted in SDG 14: Life below water & SDG 15: Life on Land. Held on October 3, 2024 to commemorate World Animal Day, the event was a multi-collaboration with renown organisations: WWF-Pakistan, Charity Doings Foundation, Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan, Virsapur, Animal Welfare Society of LUMS (AWS) and LUMS Environmental Action Forum (LEAF). 

The guest of honor and keynote speaker at the event was Feryal Ali Gauhar, a prominent figure with an illustrious career as a novelist, lecturer, animal rescuer and activist, filmmaker and advisor. The session was moderated by Altamush Saeed (cofounder at Charity Doings Foundation & Managing Partner at EARC). The expert panel included Dr. Uzma Khan (wildlife biologist from WWF-Pakistan), Mian Ahmad Farooq (Founder of Virsapur), Khadija Aftab (President of AWS-LUMS) and Ammara Imran (President of LEAF). 

 
The talk explored the deep interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment, emphasizing the ethical and ecological importance of recognizing the rights and needs of all living beings. The discussion focused on the idea that justice must extend beyond human societies to include animals and the ecosystems they inhabit, as their well-being is intrinsically linked to ours.

The panelists highlighted how human activities such as deforestation, pollution, and industrial farming not only harm animals but also disrupt ecological balance, leading to broader environmental consequences like climate change and loss of biodiversity. The session emphasized the need for legal frameworks and policies that protect the rights of animals, alongside human rights and environmental protections, as a way to promote sustainability and preserve ecosystems.

The panelists stressed that achieving interspecies justice requires a fundamental shift in how we view our relationship with nature, advocating for a more compassionate and ethical approach to resource consumption, land use, and wildlife conservation. By recognizing the interconnectedness of all species we can foster a more just and sustainable world for present and future generations. The session concluded with an excerpt reading by author Feryal Ali Gauhar from her book “An Abundance of Wild Roses”.