Joseph Collinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1871-11-11)11 November 1871 |
| Died | 24 August 1952(1952-08-24) (aged 80) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Spouse | |
Joseph Collinson (11 November 1871 – 24 August 1952) was an Englishhumanitarian,journalist andanimal rights campaigner.
Collinson was born atWolsingham.[1] He became interested in humanitarian issues, prison reform punishments, vaccination, vivisection and cruelties of the seal fishery. He took part in activism which led to the rejection of the Flogging Bill in 1900.[1] In 1906, Collinson campaigned to outlawbirching in theRoyal Navy.[2] He was honorary secretary of theHumanitarian League's Criminal Law and Prison Reform Committee for thirteen years.[2]Henry Stephens Salt described Collinson as a "north-countryman, self-taught, and full of native readiness and ingenuity, who at an early age had developed a passion for humanitarian journalism".[3]
Collinson was an opponent ofvaccination andvivisection.[2] He married Jessie Humble in 1896.[1]
Collinson was an advocate of animal rights who supported improvinganimal welfare legislation.[4] In 1896, he commented that "in the sense that men have rights, animals have their rights, though in a smaller degree". This included the right of a "restricted freedom", so that animals can live a "natural life in harmony with the requirements of the community".[4] He criticized the selective nature of animal welfare legislation, suggesting that "it is inconsistent to include some animals within the pale of protection, and not certain others, quite as intelligent".[4]
Collinson was a member of theAnimals' Friend Society and authored pamphlets on animal rights and welfare issues.[2][5] In 1900, he denounced cruelty against turtles where they were hung over burning leaves to remove their shells.[6] In his 1902 pamphletThe Cruel Treatment of Fish, he commented that there is "no justification whatever for such wanton treatment of fish – not even the base one of utility... humane treatment would financially benefit the trader".[2]
Collinson was secretary of the Indian Humanitarian League. In 1907, he sent a letter to John MorleySecretary of State for India complaining about the torture of buffaloes, goats and sheep during religious ceremonies.[7] In 1910, he authoredHow Sealskins Are Obtained which compared the suffering of seals to animals in Chicago slaughterhouses where "there seems to be no doubt that pigs are scraped alive".[8]
In 1911, Collinson authoredThe Hunted Otter, the first pamphlet solely based on exposing the cruelty ofotter hunting.[9] He described otter hunting as a "brutal and disgusting sport".[10] Part of the pamphlet was published by theLeague Against Cruel Sports in theirCruel Sports magazine in 1929.[11]
He pushed for legislation to protectskylarks from slaughter, stating that thousands were being killed in the countryside to satisfy the appetite of greedy consumers. He argued that the only way to end such "barbarous butchery" was to the extend the Wild Birds Protection Act.[12] In 1912, Collinson wrote a letter to the Press calling attention to the "selfish and cruel spirit of the gunner and collector" who were killing British birds for thetaxidermy market.[13] In 1915, he advocated for a vegetarian diet consisting of beans, cheese, eggs, lentils, oatmeal, peas, potatoes and rice.[14]
