(05-27-2012, 02:05 PM)Mantis Wrote: Because they're cute, and we're as a society taught to love them, along with many other domesticated pets. It makes me think of the sensationalist controversy created about dolphins. It's sad what happens sometimes, but much worse things happen to different animals that face extinction, but because they're not "beautiful" they are ignored. I also heard that the dolphin farming that went on actually increased their population, but I guess I'm derailing the topic here. It's relevant however since the fact of the matter really is about favouritism.
Does the west even have a right to police nations for their actions? China is often made to look far worse than it is.
Animals have gone extinct every day since before we started recording animal extinction. Over 90% of life that has existed is already extinct and we are constantly finding new stuff.
I think no country has any right to "police" other nations for trivial maters like that. If however a country is building weapons of mass destruction or are plotting to invade someone or our allies, or are genociding their own people, yes I think they should be stopped, if not by the west, by anybody! But like I think you said, self righteous westerners are the ones who condemn dog eating.