Could there be unintended consequences? Sure. Though I hope we would be able to see what does and doesn't make sense and not worry about birds flying over borders. (Although I also think humans should be able to freely cross borders.)
Humans don't always treat other humans well, even in principle, but I think it would be a mistake to wait until they do before trying to improve conditions for other organisms.
As a small aside, I like this exchange in Mary Poppins:
Bert: Let's sit down. You know, begging your pardon, but the one my heart goes out to is your father. There he is in that cold, heartless bank day after day, hemmed in by mounds of cold, heartless money. I don't like to see any living thing caged up.
Jane: Father in a cage?
Bert: They makes cages in all sizes and shapes, you know. Bank-shaped some of 'em, carpets and all.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~
I haven't seen that.
Could there be unintended consequences? Sure. Though I hope we would be able to see what does and doesn't make sense and not worry about birds flying over borders. (Although I also think humans should be able to freely cross borders.)
Humans don't always treat other humans well, even in principle, but I think it would be a mistake to wait until they do before trying to improve conditions for other organisms.
As a small aside, I like this exchange in Mary Poppins:
Bert: Let's sit down. You know, begging your pardon, but the one my heart goes out to is your father. There he is in that cold, heartless bank day after day, hemmed in by mounds of cold, heartless money. I don't like to see any living thing caged up.
Jane: Father in a cage?
Bert: They makes cages in all sizes and shapes, you know. Bank-shaped some of 'em, carpets and all.
"If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind."
~John Stuart Mill~