2014年が始まり、年初に新年の"幸せ"を祈願した人も多いだろう。個人の"幸せ"を願う人もいれば、社会全体の"幸せ"を期待する人もいる。現在の"幸せ"を願う人もいれば、将来の"幸せ"を期待する人もいるだろう。"幸せ"には百人百様の個人の｢主観的幸福｣とともに、それらを実現する上で社会が共有すべき｢客観的幸福｣(社会的厚生)があり、それは時代を超えて将来世代にも及ぶ。
われわれは、将来世代への影響を考えることなく、現在の"幸せ"を求めることはできない。何故なら、エネルギー問題ひとつとっても、われわれが快適に暮らすためには多くのエネルギーを必要とするが、化石燃料を大量に使用することで地球温暖化が進行し、将来世代は異常気象をはじめとするさまざまなリスクにさらされることになるからだ。
東日本大震災で経験した福島第一原発の事故は、現代生活に必要な安定的電力供給が内包する原発リスクの大きさを痛感させた。現在世代が享受する利便性が、いかに将来世代のリスクにつながっているかである。仮に受益と負担が同一世代であれば、自らの意思決定に責任を持つこともできるが、負担が子どもやまだ誕生していない将来世代の場合、現在世代が責任を持って彼らの代弁者となることは困難だ。また、将来世代が考える"幸せ"の価値規準は現在世代と同じとは限らない。
社会保障改革のひとつである年金制度を考えても、現在世代が将来世代のために自分たちが不利になるような制度改革はできるのか。また、赤字国債を大量に発行し、そのツケを将来世代に先送りし続ける一方で、抜本的な財政再建のための予算策定は難しい。しかも、時代は少子高齢化により、利益を享受する高齢世代が制度を支える若年世代よりも大きな人口構造となっているのである。
現在世代の利益だけを追求すれば、社会の持続可能性が失われることは明白だ。いまこそ将来世代の利益やリスクを真剣に考えなければならない。人間が今日まで生存し進化してきたのは、卓越した｢種の保存｣能力に基づく行動をとってきたからに他ならない。しかし、われわれは社会を支える将来世代の人口減少が社会の持続可能性を毀損するという深刻な課題を突き付けられているのである。
今日の少子社会は、これまで子どもを産み育てる中で人が本能的に育んできた将来世代への想像力を失っていないだろうか。少子化対策には世代間倫理に関する専門的知見だけでなく、一人ひとりが将来世代の"幸せ"を慮ることが必要だ。かつて子育て中の母親が、『毎日、子どものお弁当をつくるようになり、環境問題を強く意識するようになった』と言っていたことが印象に残っている。
（2014年1月14日ニッセイ基礎研究所「研究員の眼」より転載）
楽しい子育て！ 画像集
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倍返しだ！ (credit:猪谷千香)
BUSH/GERMANY(02 of83)
U.S. President George W. Bush hands back a crying baby that was handed to him from the crowd as he arrived for an outdoor dinner with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Trinwillershagen, Germany, July 13, 2006. REUTERS/Jim Bourg (GERMANY) (credit:Jim Bourg / Reuters)
PHILIPPINES/(03 of83)
Children play along a riverbank at a slum area in Manila July 11, 2007. Home to an estimated 89 million people, the largely Catholic country has one of the fastest-growing populations in Asia with around 2 million babies born every year. REUTERS/Cheryl Ravelo (PHILIPPINES) (credit:Cheryl Ravelo / Reuters)
Cute three month old baby boy with a funny expression peeking from under a warm towel after bath(04 of83)
Cute three month old baby boy with a funny expression peeking from under a warm towel after bath (credit:Oleksiy Maksymenko via Getty Images)
baby girl with her finger up her nose(05 of83)
baby girl with finger up her nose (credit:Rebecca Nelson via Getty Images)
Squinty eyed baby with mustache(06 of83)
Baby smiling with squinty eyes with a mustache (credit:Annette Bunch via Getty Images)
surprised kid sitting at table(07 of83)
child\'s eyes widened and mouth opened in amazement. copy space for your text (credit:EvgeniiAnd via Getty Images)
Mother trying to feed unwilling baby (9-12 months), (B&W)(08 of83)
Mother trying to feed unwilling baby (9-12 months), (B&W) (credit:George Marks via Getty Images)
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お風呂あがりには、牛乳！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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温泉に行ったら、マミー！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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チョコレートなんて、食べてないよ！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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信楽焼のタヌキに触発されて、お腹をポンポコ！ (credit:猪谷千香)
CANADA/POLITICS(13 of83)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper (L) reacts as six-month-old Solomon Buster Sitar touches his nose during a visit to the Willingdon Heights Community Centre in Burnaby, British Columbia April 18, 2006. Harper held a roundtable meeting with parents to discuss his government\'s child care plan. REUTERS/Lyle Stafford (credit:Lyle Stafford / Reuters)
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真剣な表情で、宮崎監督の映画を鑑賞中。 (credit:猪谷千香)
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おむすび大好き。 (credit:猪谷千香)
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奇跡の国際交流！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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ここ一番のキメ顔です。シメジをくわえるのがポイント。 (credit:猪谷千香)
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一日遊んで帰宅したものの、玄関で靴を脱ごうとして力尽きました。 (credit:猪谷千香)
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この夏の変な顔勝負三連発！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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この夏の変な顔勝負三連発！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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この夏の変な顔勝負三連発！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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準備中です！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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クールな顔で営業中。 (credit:猪谷千香)
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アリエッティごっこが流行中。 (credit:猪谷千香)
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初めて見たゾウガメ。動くの？ (credit:猪谷千香)
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びしっ！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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携帯電話で女子トークしてるの。 (credit:猪谷千香)
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キティちゃん、大好き！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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お風呂やだなー (credit:猪谷千香)
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入りたくないなー (credit:猪谷千香)
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髪の毛切ったよ！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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アイスクリームが来たうれしさを「セントバーナード」の顔で表現 (credit:猪谷千香)
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ガーデニングに挑戦！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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おにぎりを食べる時はこんな顔になっちゃうのです (credit:猪谷千香)
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ケーキがうれしくて「セントバーナードの顔真似」 (credit:猪谷千香)
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フライドポテトの食べ方その１「大喜び風」 (credit:猪谷千香)
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フライドポテトの食べ方その２「不良少女風」 (credit:猪谷千香)
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フライドポテトの食べ方その３「変顔風」 (credit:猪谷千香)
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ワンちゃんにお手本「セントバーナードの顔真似」 (credit:猪谷千香)
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ムーミンと一緒に「セントバーナードの顔真似」 (credit:猪谷千香)
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10倍返しだ！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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かわいい帽子でしょ？（親の声「それはシャンプーハット……」） (credit:猪谷千香)
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この表情、決まったわね！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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仲良し！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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指３本だけどピース！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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ちょっとポーズ♪ (credit:猪谷千香)
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たくさん食べて、大きくなあれ！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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わたし、モデルなの♪ (credit:猪谷千香)
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かわいい顔してみました！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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何を考えているのかな？ (credit:猪谷千香)
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おにぎり大好き！ (credit:猪谷千香)
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素敵なヘアスタイルでしょ？ (credit:猪谷千香)
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似合うかしら？ (credit:猪谷千香)
恐竜が出た！(54 of83)
the two natural reactions to seeing a dinosaur (credit:followyurbliss)
スパゲティーはおいしいな(55 of83)
Joyous spaghetti child is my spirit animal (credit:thegirlwiththefrecklesandshortshorts)
撮るんじゃねーよ(56 of83)
Not this mom. I\'m getting this one framed. (credit:hereforthecats)
くまモンと一緒(57 of83)
(credit:Chika Igaya)
イエーイ(58 of83)
syrian child at protests, he has the spirit (credit:http://imgur.com/)
あたしのお気に入り♪(59 of83)
(credit:Chika Igaya)
エヘンエヘン(60 of83)
My child will definitely be seen with one of these (credit:vodoocc)
何つくろうかな～(61 of83)
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私の年収、低すぎ！？ (credit:Chika Igaya)
Asia baby girl cough(63 of83)
Asia baby girl cough (credit:leungchopan via Getty Images)
bow(64 of83)
bow (credit:Peng-guang Chen via Getty Images)
Girl portrait street fashion(65 of83)
2-year old girl posing as model with her streetfashion. (credit:krestafer via Getty Images)
1-year old toddler grimacing(66 of83)
1-year old toddler grimacing, Brussels, Belgium (credit:© Santiago Urquijo via Getty Images)
Hairdressing(67 of83)
Serious 1-year infant boy during his first haircutting (credit:morrrozzz via Getty Images)
Messy baby girl eating in high chair(68 of83)
Messy baby girl eating in high chair (credit:Gianni Diliberto via Getty Images)
Punk Rock Baby(69 of83)
Punk Rock Baby (credit:Evan Kafka via Getty Images)
Mother and Baby(70 of83)
Mother and Baby (credit:Plume Creative via Getty Images)
Surprised baby making face(71 of83)
Surprised baby making face (credit:Evan Kafka via Getty Images)
Baby making funny face(72 of83)
Baby making funny face (credit:Evan Kafka via Getty Images)
Finland, Young boy (4-5) sitting in baby seat, crying(73 of83)
Finland, Young boy (4-5) sitting in baby seat, crying (credit:Jan Strandstrom via Getty Images)
Funny Boy(74 of83)
A very funny little boy. (credit:dimafoto via Getty Images)
Twin baby girls (6-9 months), portrait, close-up(75 of83)
Twin baby girls (6-9 months), portrait, close-up (credit:Mark Hall via Getty Images)
Baby boy (6-9 months) with hand on face(76 of83)
Baby boy (6-9 months) with hand on face (credit:Eric Bean via Getty Images)
Surprised baby(77 of83)
Surprised baby (credit:Evan Kafka via Getty Images)
Mixed race baby boy eating spaghetti(78 of83)
Mixed race baby boy eating spaghetti (credit:Blend Images - KidStock via Getty Images)
Germany, Boy hands covered with chocolate dough(79 of83)
Germany, Boy hands covered with chocolate dough (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)
Baby wearing aviator goggles and making a face(80 of83)
Baby wearing aviator goggles and making a face (credit:Constance Bannister Corp via Getty Images)
Close-up of a baby boy sitting in front of a cake with icing on his body(81 of83)
Close-up of a baby boy sitting in front of a cake with icing on his body (credit:photosindia via Getty Images)
OLYMPICS/(82 of83)
A baby has a Chinese flag sticker placed on its forehead inside the Olympic Village at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 6, 2008. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (CHINA) (credit:Jessica Rinaldi / Reuters)
QUEBEC/ELECTION/(83 of83)
Action Democratique leader Mario Dumont (L) laughs during a luncheon in Delson, Quebec, March 15, 2007. Quebec voters will go to the polls in a provincial election on March 26. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (CANADA) (credit:Christinne Muschi / Reuters)
パンダの赤ちゃん
みんなですやすや(01 of20)
中国四川省成都の「ジャイアントパンダ繁殖育成研究基地」のベッドで横になるパンダの赤ちゃんたち。大半がすやすやと気持ちよさそうに寝ているが、眠れずに起きてしまった子も。中国では今、パンダの頭数や生態を調べる全国調査が10年ぶりに行われている（中国四川省成都）撮影日: 2011/09/26 (credit:時事通信社)
Panda Cub's First Set Of Teeth Close To Emerge(02 of20)
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 5: In this handout image provided by the Zoological Society of San Diego, a nine-week-old female panda cub lies on an exam table at the San Diego Zoo October 5, 2005 in San Diego, California. According to Karen Kearns, DVM, San Diego Zoo associate veterinarian, the panda\'s teeth are ready to erupt any day as four teeth on the lower jaw feel ready to emerge. The cub is also increasing strength in her front limbs as she begins to lift her upper body more. Kearns expects the cub will likely be using her rear legs to begin lifting her lower body in just a few weeks. The cub weighs approximately 7.2 pounds, a gain of nearly one pound since last week\'s exam. She measures about 1.66 feet from the tip of her nose to the end of her tail. (Photo by Ken Bohn/Zoological Society of San Diego via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Giant Panda Cub Has Her First Tooth Out(03 of20)
SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 19: In this handout from Zoological Society of San Diego, veterinarians check the San Diego Zoo\'s unnamed female giant panda cub\'s feet during a weekly exam on October 19, 2005 in San Diego, California. Turns out the cub finally has her first tooth, a left upper molar. For a couple of weeks veterinarians could feel teeth below the gums but had not emerged until now. The cub weighs 7.78 pounds. (Photo by Tammy Spratt/Zoological Society of San Diego via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Giant Panda Cub San Diego Zoo(04 of20)
SAN DIEGO - SEPTEMBER 14: Beth Bicknese, an associate veterinarian, takes a closer look at a 6-week-old giant panda cub at the San Diego Zoo September 14, 2005 in San Diego, California. The female cub?s ear holes have opened more, allowing the cub to listen to what is happening in her surroundings with greater detail. Although the cub still cannot see, the eye slits are enlarging as well, Bicknese said. The cub weighs 4.4 pounds. (Photo by Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Researchers Care Panda At The Wolong Giant Panda Bear Research Center(05 of20)
WOLONG - JANAURY 17 : (CHINA OUT) Giant panda \'Lei Lei\' (R) laps her baby at the Wolong Giant Panda Bear Research Center on January 17, 2005 in Wolong of Sichuan province, southwest China. The center, located high in the mountains some 130 km from Chengdu, was established in 1963 primarily to protect the habitat of the giant panda. Today the center continues to care for almost 50 pandas while focusing on breeding and research on bamboo ecology. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Baby Panda Tai Shan Charms Visitors At National Zoo(06 of20)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Tai Shan (Background), the giant panda cub at the National Zoo, as his mother Mei Xiang keeps watch January 6, 2005 in Washington, DC. Tai Shan is venturing outdoors more frequently lately, especially in the early morning hours. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Baby Panda Tai Shan Charms Visitors At National Zoo(07 of20)
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 06: Tai Shan, the giant panda cub at the National Zoo, plays outside January 6, 2005 in Washington, DC. Tai Shan is venturing outdoors more frequently lately, especially in the early morning hours. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The first public viewing day for Tai Shan, the baby panda, a(08 of20)
UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 08: The first public viewing day for Tai Shan, the baby panda, at The National Zoo. PICTURED: Tai Shan lays on his stomach as crowds of people watch him. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/Washington Post/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Baby Panda Tai Shan Charms Visitors At National Zoo(09 of20)
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 06: Tai Shan, the giant panda cub at the National Zoo, plays outside on tree stumps January 6, 2005 in Washington, DC. Tai Shan is venturing outdoors more frequently lately, especially in the early morning hours. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Baby Panda Tai Shan Charms Visitors At National Zoo(10 of20)
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 06: Tai Shan, the giant panda cub at the National Zoo, plays outside on tree stumps as his mother Mei Xiang keeps watch January 6, 2005 in Washington, DC. Tai Shan is venturing outdoors more frequently lately, especially in the early morning hours. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Baby Panda Tai Shan Charms Visitors At National Zoo(11 of20)
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 06: Tai Shan, the giant panda cub at the National Zoo, plays outside on tree stumps January 6, 2005 in Washington, DC. Tai Shan is venturing outdoors more frequently lately, especially in the early morning hours. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Baby Panda Tai Shan Charms Visitors At National Zoo(12 of20)
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 06: Tai Shan, the giant panda cub at the National Zoo, plays outside on tree stumps as his mother Mei Xiang keeps watch January 6, 2005 in Washington, DC. Tai Shan is venturing outdoors more frequently lately, especially in the early morning hours. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Baby Giant Panda(13 of20)
An unidentified veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo\'s Giant Panda Research Station examines the baby giant panda born August 21 for the first time Saturday, September 4, 1999, in San Diego. San Diego Zoo and Chinese veterinarians took advantage of mother Bai Yun\'s increasing absences from the den to get their first close look at the youngster, and information received from the exam indicates that the youngster is healthy, weighing a little over 12 ounces, and a female. (Courtesy of San Diego Zoo) (credit:Getty Images)
Workers Attend To Giant Panda Cubs(14 of20)
WOLONG, CHINA - JULY 12: (CHINA OUT) A cub born by giant panda Guo Guo lies in a baby caring box at the China Wolong Giant Panda Protection and Research Center July 12, 2005 in Wolong of Sichuan Province, southwest China. Giant panda Ying Ying in the center has given birth to a set of twins, the first pair this year on July 3. On July 8, giant panda Guo Guo gave birth to the second pair of twins. According to the center, six cubs will be born in the center in the next few months. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CH: Lack Of Tourists Aftr Earthquake At Pandas Breeding Center in Chengdu(15 of20)
CHENGDU, CHINA -JUNE 11: Baby pandas eat bamboo during feeding time at the Panda Breeding Center June, 11, 2008 in Chengdu. Tourism is at an all time low at the Panda center after the devastating earthquake that killed more than 69,000 people almost one month ago, with 17,500 classified as missing. In the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve yesterday workers buried, Mao Mao, a 9 year old panda killed in a landslide during the quake. Mao Mao is the only Panda confirmed dead while another one Xiao Xiao is still missing. Across the region the quake relief efforts are continuing but corruption remains a major concern as many question where the hundreds of millions of dollars of donations are going. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Baby Panda Tai Shan Charms Visitors At National Zoo(16 of20)
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 06: Tai Shan, the giant panda cub at the National Zoo, plays outside on tree stumps as his mother Mei Xiang keeps watch January 6, 2005 in Washington, DC. Tai Shan is venturing outdoors more frequently lately, especially in the early morning hours. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Bai Yun Gives Birth(17 of20)
Bai Yun, a female giant panda, shown in this undated file photo from the San Diego Zoo, gave birth to a cub Saturday, August 21, 1999, in San Diego. Bai Yun gave birth successfully to a cub after being artificially inseminated in April. Scientists were unable to determine the cub\'s gender. The mother can only be viewed through a special camera that allows observers to catch glimpses of the cub as it is cradled in her huge paws. (Photo by San Diego Zoological Society/CM) (credit:Getty Images)
Giant Baby Panda Hua Mei(18 of20)
The San Diego Zoo\'s 14-week-old female giant panda cub is seen during her weekly veterinary exam, November 30, 1999. The cub, who weighs 11.3 pounds, was named Hua Mei and translates to \'China-USA,\' during a ceremony Wednesday Dec. 1, 1999. (Photo by San Diego Zoo/Courtesy of Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Dogs Painted As Other Animals To Launch New China Pet Park(19 of20)
ZHENGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 05: (CHINA AND GERMANY OUT) A dog is painted as a baby giant panda during the launch of a new pet park at Dahe Mincui Park on June 5, 2010 in Zhengzhou, Henan Province of China. The newly opened Pet Park adorned the canines to attract investors and commercial tenants including pet grooming services, pet hospitals and pet trading markets to the new venue. The 5 painted dogs were invited from China\'s southwest Sichuan province to boost the opening of the park. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Dogs Painted As Other Animals To Launch New China Pet Park(20 of20)
ZHENGZHOU, CHINA - JUNE 05: (CHINA AND GERMANY OUT) A girls holds two dogs which were painted as baby giant pandas during the launch of a new pet park at Dahe Mincui Park on June 5, 2010 in Zhengzhou, Henan Province of China. The newly opened Pet Park adorned the canines to attract investors and commercial tenants including pet grooming services, pet hospitals and pet trading markets to the new venue. The 5 painted dogs were invited from China\'s southwest Sichuan province to boost the opening of the park. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)