The human relationship with nature: rights of animals and plants in the urban context

Animals have been crucial to the development of human civilizations, playing major roles in transportation, warfare, fashion, religion, entertainment, communication, companionship and sustenance. For example, the bodies of animals have yielded: fat for soaps, perfumes and cosmetics and flesh, bone, sinews and feathers for food, medical and religious purposes. We have used skins for clothing, book binding, bags, shoes, drums and furniture; and sinews, bone, teeth, feathers and wool for tools, pens, jewellery, musical instruments, blankets and paintbrushes (Wolch et al. 2003). Animal muscle power has tilled fields, drawn carriages, and hauled timber and stone. In many ways, our cities are founded on animals.