An animal experiment cannot be justifiable unless the experiment is so important that the use of a brain-damaged human would be justifiable.

Why are fish the forgotten victims on our plate? Is it because they are cold-blooded and covered in scales? Is it because they cannot give voice to their pain? Whatever the explanation, the evidence is now accumulating that commercial fishing inflicts and unimaginable amount of pain and suffering.

In a situation where many national leaders do the same thing and look out for national interests, and with an issue like global warming, you’re likely to get no solution, so I think you have to have some kind of ethical trump on some of those issues.

In a sense, human nature doesn’t change much, but I think there are some factors that might be making it more ethical.

We need to get over our reluctance to speak openly about the good we do. Silent giving will not change a culture that deems it sensible to spend all your money on yourself and your family, rather than help those in greater need – even though helping others is likely to bring more fulfilment in the long run.

As we realise that more and more things have global impact, I think we’re going to get people increasingly wanting to get away from a purely national interest.