Ethics @ Work: Animal rights: Are they good for people?
Jul. 17, 2008
Asher Meir , THE JERUSALEM POST
Last week I wrote about Leona Helmsley's will, which left large sums for the care of animals. I claimed that it is technically as well as ethically impossible to actually bequeath the money directly to the animals. Technically, because animals don't have any legal standing; ethically because this technicality reflects the ethical reality that animals are unable to communicate their desires and therefore any human judgment regarding their welfare is necessarily conjectural.
This week we will learn that my point of view is not universally accepted, at least among people.
A prolonged legal battle is raging in Austria to get a 26-year-old chimpanzee named Pan declared a person, so that he may obtain a court-appointed guardian and hold property in his own name. An Austrian judge ruled earlier this year that apes are not humans, but a group of humans is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights on Pan's behalf.
And just a few weeks ago a parliamentary committee in Spain supported a bill that would give rights to great apes, making it illegal to deprive them of life and liberty. Thus, it would be illegal to use them in medical experiments or in films or circuses in Spain.
Technically, these provisions don't give animals rights; they only impose duties on human beings as is done all over the world. Animal-abuse statutes in many countries (though not in Spain) outlaw bullfighting, but that doesn't mean that bulls have rights. However, the rhetoric of the Spanish bill is a rhetoric of rights, and its supporters are vocally promoting an agenda of giving rights to great apes, and ultimately to other species. Read More
Lately, I have been selecting articles that show how some people and organizations have chosen to advocate for making animals equal to people, such as Spain’s decision to grant rights to apes. The author of this article sums up very well what I have been saying. Human rights should not be granted to animals. Doing so will begin negating what it means to be a human being.
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animals. Show all posts
Friday, July 18, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
"Humane" High School
HSUS Launches “Humane High School”
By Pork news staff (Monday, June 09, 2008)
The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal-rights group, has launched “Humane High School.” This is an online service targeting middle-school and high-school students that includes courses, educational videos, study/activity guides, service learning ideas and career advice.
The program is part of the organization’s Humane Society Youth division. According to HSUS, the program asks students to “think critically” about issues affecting animals. Read More
We are continually reminded why it is important to spread the positive message of agriculture to the youth of this country. Those that are trying to eliminate animal agriculture continue to target youth with their messages and frequently their messages fail to tell the truth. Programs such as Ag in the Classroom are vital for educating our children about the true story of food production in this country.
By Pork news staff (Monday, June 09, 2008)
The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal-rights group, has launched “Humane High School.” This is an online service targeting middle-school and high-school students that includes courses, educational videos, study/activity guides, service learning ideas and career advice.
The program is part of the organization’s Humane Society Youth division. According to HSUS, the program asks students to “think critically” about issues affecting animals. Read More
We are continually reminded why it is important to spread the positive message of agriculture to the youth of this country. Those that are trying to eliminate animal agriculture continue to target youth with their messages and frequently their messages fail to tell the truth. Programs such as Ag in the Classroom are vital for educating our children about the true story of food production in this country.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Keeping Animals Healthy
New AHI Website Focuses on the Importance of Healthy Animals
PR Newswire
Comtex
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Highlights Policy Important to Protect Animal, Human Health
The Animal Health Institute (AHI) today launched its newly designed "Keeping Animals Healthy" website to help consumers and policymakers better understand the important role of public policy in providing animal medicines to keep both animals and humans healthy.
"Americans are becoming more aware of the relationship between animal health and public health," said AHI President and CEO Alexander S. Mathews. "Thoughtful public policies are needed to manage the risk of diseases that can be spread between animals and humans." Read More
Check out this new website, Keep Animals Healthy, put together by the Animal Health Institute. There is a lot of good information on there that you can use when telling the positive story of agriculture.
PR Newswire
Comtex
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Highlights Policy Important to Protect Animal, Human Health
The Animal Health Institute (AHI) today launched its newly designed "Keeping Animals Healthy" website to help consumers and policymakers better understand the important role of public policy in providing animal medicines to keep both animals and humans healthy.
"Americans are becoming more aware of the relationship between animal health and public health," said AHI President and CEO Alexander S. Mathews. "Thoughtful public policies are needed to manage the risk of diseases that can be spread between animals and humans." Read More
Check out this new website, Keep Animals Healthy, put together by the Animal Health Institute. There is a lot of good information on there that you can use when telling the positive story of agriculture.
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