While lobby work can help to make a difference to attain a political change regarding animals, we nevertheless need to raise awareness about speciesism. A history of animal rights … 113-125 [accessed on 14 April 2014]. Only then will we see animal cruelty laws that reflect our values as a society. In 2008, a ballot initiative taken to the people of California to ban the crating of sows and similarly cruel confinement for calves and hens passed with 64 percent of the vote, despite intense lobbying by the farm industry and a multimillion dollar campaign against it. more than 5 years ago. Conservatives know that protecting animals can mean interfering with business. Thank you so much for making this very excellent point. As you can see, and as I have pointed out in prior posts, there is not much difference when it comes to views on animal rights when we break it down by political party. The more effective message was that Christie defied the will of his constituents in order to pursue his political ambition with out-of-state early primary voters. As we encourage the public to explicitly condemn abuses of animals that we know it does not condone, animal advocates need to recognize that we are sometimes our own worst enemies. I've read that the pro-animal constituency is the largest in the country. That is certainly not reflected in our state legislatures. Some of the awareness the film raised has been extrapolated, with people realizing that marine shows are just circuses in the water, and that circus animals suffer similarly on land. With animal protection emerging as the number one social justice cause of the 21st century, some legislators are recognizing the public's concerns and addressing them. “Using animals is a source of pleasure for many people,” said Sue Donaldson, who co-authored with Will Kymlicka the 2011 book Zoopolis: A Political Theory of Animal Rights. Although relevant, this argument would fail. So the problem of how the responsibilities, the goods, and the burdens in a society are allocated and distributed is a political question. One would expect our representatives to be bi-partisan on welfare issues, right? The cities of Los Angeles and Oakland have both passed laws banning the use of bullhooks. There may even be a tendency among progressives to view animal advocacy as elitist—a nice hobby for those who are out of touch with human suffering, seen as being of greater importance. However, this is not what’s happening. Undercover video by the Humane Society of the United States shows investigators visiting a hunting ranch and being able to walk up and pet some of the animals, including a gentle kangaroo. Donaldson, S. & Kymlicka, W. (2013) “A defense of animal citizens and sovereigns”, Law, Ethics and Philosophy, 1, pp. Fish and Wildlife Service lists African lions as endangered, our government grants import licenses for the macabre trophies. If circus animals were trained using positive reinforcement, as claimed, common sense tells us that ringmasters would be holding bags of treats, not whips and bullhooks. But one can care about African people and African animals, just as in this country one can work on wage equality while also campaigning to get sows out of crates. Sad, too, that animal and environmental issues are not more bi-partisan. You cannot get popular support without the street activists, like me, raising the public morality and so they will start demanding laws. Some have even pushed through laws that turn misdemeanors, such as vandalism and trespassing, into felonies if they are committed against animal enterprises such as factory farms, puppy mills, or animal testing laboratories. Personal Care Products Safety Act. She has written on animal issues for the Huffington Post, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and The Guardian. Currently this could be done by granting legal personhood to nonhuman animals and the legal rights that are necessary to safeguard their protection. But currently most people believe that furthering the interests of the human members of political communities is something political communities should make a priority. Of course killing animals for sport is abominable But, sadly the funding for conservation of game animals and their habitat is sometimes dependent on selling hunting liscenses for the privilege of murdering same such as lions. Yet, those who acknowledge the gravity of our situation and continue ignoring the compelling scientific evidence indicating the necessity of making simple, healthy, compassionate dietary modifications are, perhaps, exhibiting an even greater level of denial. If animal advocates get out and vote, as a bloc, we can swing some of those elections. I recently perused the bios of all 120 members of the California State Legislature. Asking Christie to acknowledge that the animals he has singularly chosen to keep locked in crates should not be bred for food at all is asking him to fly when he has not yet learned to crawl. Paying attention to one important issue need not preclude showing serious concern for another. While I am sure the majority of people find the whole thing “vomitous,” it is legal. 3 Donaldson, S. & Kymlicka, W. (2011) Zoopolis: A political theory of animal rights, New York: Oxford University Press. As animal rights ideas inch closer and closer to the mainstream, liberals face the risk of being exposed for espousing a basic way of life–omnivorism–that reifies abuse, hierarchy, intolerance, and arbitrary dominion over those most in need of our cooperation and compassion. A. Lamentably, many conservatives lack sympathy with the principle of Animal Rights. And while I understand & applaud the sensible approach of working strategically to draw upon the values that many people already hold regarding the suffering of animals, since any way to lessen the suffering of sentient animals is important and should be fought for, at the same time, I think those of us who are serious about non-human animal liberation and justice should also keep pointing out that most people are hypocrites when it comes to what they say about their concern for animal suffering and what they do, given that it is really impossible to genuinely care about animal suffering and eat or wear animal flesh or by-products that are the result of industrialized farming methods. Animal rights - Animal rights - The modern animal rights movement: The fundamental principle of the modern animal rights movement is that many nonhuman animals have basic interests that deserve recognition, consideration, and protection. However, together we can instigate change for animals with "strategic activism” so our legislators will not only listen but instill change. Robert Garner is a political philosopher who argues for rights for animals but not from a liberation perspective. In short, public educational campaigns. One might surmise that Jerry Brown hates elephants, even those of the nonpolitical variety. It's certainly a topic for discussion and I thank you for bringing it here. They want the law to prohibit aggression towards children, and they want the state to prosecute those who force children to work. The official companion handbook to the Live Earth Concerts noted that “refusing meat” is the “single most effective thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.” This is proven by countless studies, including the U.N. report revealing that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gasses than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes and ships in the world combined. Rowlands, M. (2009 [1998]) Animal rights: Moral, theory and practice, 2nd ed., New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Nicely written. Also its high time that meat farmers be cut off at the knees as their improper treatment of animals and exploitation of their lives for their meat and derivatives (and selling thereof to the public) has caused the earthlings of this planet to become diseased and sick and caused untimely deaths. On April 10, 1866, a special act of the New York State Legislature awarded Bergh a charter to form the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals—the first such organization in the Western Hemisphere! Let's get COWSPIRACY: THE SUSTAINABILTY SECRET on CNN and demand a response from those who would lead us. Thank you!! I have worked for legislation, but one big obstacle is that a politician is not going to vote for something that does not have popular support. The Progressive Inc. publishes The Progressive magazine plus Progressive.org and Public School Shakedown. He believes that animals do not have an interest in liberty, and that while they do have an interest in continuing to live, it is a lesser interest than that of humans. Hunting. Whereas I take animal rights advocacy to mean lobbying, legislation, litigation, public policy development and academic study. Hover over the party names to see if they have any animal welfare election policies. They are in “sow gestation crates” when pregnant, which is for about 80 percent of their lives, then moved to farrowing crates after they give birth. The issue I have with laws that supposedly improve conditions is that the industry will find a way, and the animals will continue to suffer as long as they are exploited. This planet has been polluted because of these money driven organisations (plastic and manure pollution of the ocean's and rivers - breeding of farm animals for meat & dairy) What more must the World Health Organisation and other scientists and doctors do to get the attention of politicians and governance to put laws into place that will phase out these FAT-FARMERS who have made their living through exploitation of animals and people through consumption of animal products? more than 5 years ago. The dark side is where animals are treated as no more than cogs in a machine, factory farmed, people value human intelligence with no value placed on empathy, more of the world's oxygen producing forests are lost to livestock grazing, and obesity rates soar while our life spans are shortened due to unhealthy diets. Beverlee McGrath more than 5 years ago. But try as you might, it is often difficult to influence world events. In some cases, these institutions have also had different aims, such as defending certain religious or nationalistic stances, independently of how they affect the individuals in their groups. Ellen Ervin MSNBC recently aired the documentary Blood Lions, about lions being bred in South Africa for the purpose of being shot by people, mostly Americans, who don’t want to bother with a chase. The Chart tabulates the committee votes on 8-10 animal bills every year, then grades the 40 State Senators and 80 State Assemblymembers accordingly. more than 5 years ago. The fact that the Animal foods industry, is factually responsible for more Earthly decimation, pollution, degradation, far and away than any other endeavor; that research shows that it as well creates human starvation, that being hundreds of millions of people, a billion, no less; that no family does not know heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, auto immune, neuromuscular disease, with the eating of foods derived from Animals, again, being the #1 cause of ALL these maladies, makes the prohibition of " Animal agriculture ", a priority of unprecedented proportion. more than 5 years ago. Media has shaped my worldview. And 25-30 legislators earning an "F" grade--nearly all Republicans. On factory farms across America, female pigs, animals known to be more intelligent than dogs, are kept in individual crates so small that they cannot turn around, or even lie down with their limbs outstretched. Even if animals had their most important interests protected by rights, if public policies continued to be aimed at only helping and benefiting humans, while nonhuman animals were not being directly benefited or aided in any way by them, then these political institutions would be acting in a way that discriminates against nonhuman animals. And it harms the public by encouraging unhealthy diets, when every reputable health advisor recommends that we consume more plants and less animals. 261-277 [accessed on 9 December 2017]. Yes, our laws do not reflect our values, as Karen Dawn points out in her comprehensive article. In contrast, nothing similar exists to protect the interests of nonhuman animals. more than 5 years ago. Only adult human beings with certain intellectual capacities qualify to vote. A bullhook is a metal rod that looks something like a fire poker, with a sharp hook at the end. While civilization may have become less barbaric through the centuries in some areas, it has become far more heinous and cruel in other areas with respect to animal research, factory farming, entertainment, and more. Therefore, those who hold ethical views against speciesism will be in opposition to speciesist policies. Let's make CLIMATE CHANGE the political issue of 2016. The Interests of Nonhuman Animals Are Ignored in The Political Realm Annoula Wylderich That seems to reveal the problem. That will put animal issues on the political radar. It is largely the strength of lobbies and the money they provide to our politicians to keep the status quo that keeps animals enslaved. Jim Mason . Salt and others put forth radically different views on attitudes and Humans have the benefit of entitlements such as those stated in declarations, like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This needs to change. 188-201. This is clearly not only a growing “political” issue, but also a moral one. Most nonhuman animals are in an even more dire situation, since trillions of them are killed to be eaten or used in other ways every single year, and they suffer terrible harm due to this.4 In addition, there’s limited concern for the harm suffered by other animals, that is, those living in the wild. They don’t condone animal testing, factory farming, or any other systematic mistreatment of animals, nor do they believe in harsh animal training methods, or other pursuits that cause animals pain or discomfort. more than 5 years ago. Common sense and critical thinking render the same conclusion. By every act that glorifies or even tolerates such moronic delight in killing we set back the progress of humanity." I'd like to echo the many comments here that applaud Karen Dawn for her well-reasoned article. Civilization may well have been built upon the backs of animals, but we no longer have any excuses whatsoever to continue to treat them as non-thinking machines here only for our 'benefit.' Her emphatic but also realistic views on animal protection and rights are well written without condemning or aggressively attacking those not (yet?) Then I saw that the signs condemned not just gestation crates but the eating of pork, and in the media I heard the protesters shouting that animals want to live. more than 5 years ago. I remember a quip from Marianne Williamson in which she explained that people who oppose the most trivial gun legislation, or who zealously champion cutthroat capitalism, don’t outnumber those who wish to see a kinder world—they just get up earlier in the morning. The world now agrees that CLIMATE CHANGE is not only real, it's a life- and planet-threatening issue demanding immediate action. The Animal Of Human Animals 1424 Words | 6 Pages. Politics are simply about the aims that societies have, and if nonhuman animals should not be discriminated against, then their defense, including the protection of their interests and helping them when they need it, should be undertaken and politically and legally enforced. Prioritizing animals will not mean abandoning all of our other values. It is just plain common sense that if you truly believe in justice, you cannot treat animals unjustly simply because they are unable to defend themselves and because they are different. To consider a ban on gestation crates a victory is to come from a very low baseline that includes use. An animal rights activist is someone who believes in justice for all animals. Jane Goodall : Primatologist and Animal Rights Activist. Enforcement is the key idea involved here. Contact USFWS Director Dan Ashe and express your opinion re: this very important issue. more than 5 years ago. Nicola Siso Alternatively, it may also be argued that nonhuman animals should be considered members of our communities.3 They aren’t agents who can make decisions in these communities, but neither are many human beings (such as babies and those with certain intellectual differences), and yet they can be fully impacted by the political decisions made in the countries in which they live and elsewhere; therefore, the interests of nonhuman animals should be considered accordingly. I believe we will soon witness history being made regarding animal welfare. Thank you to The Progressive for publishing this article by Karen Dawn. Gloria Anybody who has taken Psychology 101 knows that the results have been in for half a century. Julie Tuesday Barry, B. If the voters out-vote the meat/wildlife farmers their vote in favour of better treatment of animals should be heard and the laws should change in favour of the animals. more than 5 years ago. & Jones, W. S. (2017 [1991]) Political science: An introduction, 14th ed., Harlow: Pearson Education. Vegans can’t expect a vegan world while most people are yet to be convinced that one is desirable. But we must be willing to persistently ask more compassionate candidates about their stances on animal issues, making it clear that we may choose among them accordingly. - A California non-profit, Paw PAC (co-founded by the late and inimitable VIRGINIA HANDLEY in 1980), for 35 years has published an annual Legislative Voting Chart. Peter Singer's immensely popular book Animal Liberation (1975) almost immediately generated a new movement for animal rights as distinct from a program limited to animal welfare, animal protection, and prevention of cruelty. It is grossly inefficient to grow crops to feed animals and then eat their flesh and eggs and drink their milk when we can, instead, grow food for humans to eat. What this all shows is that there are valid reasons to claim that political communities should not be concerned only with what is good for their members, but for others outside of the groups also. Politicians should do what they're supposed to do as unbiased leaders of those who voted them into parliament. more than 5 years ago, "We cannot have peace among men whose hearts delight in killing any living creature. Earth doesn't have time to waste. O’Sullivan, S. (2011) Animals, equality and democracy, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Religions have different views on animals, their rights, and well-being that continually shapes the thought processes of society and helps define our ethics and morals. Michael Berenzweig In fact, many people now reject this and claim that political communities should not be limited to doing only what is good for their members. Our founder, Henry Bergh, believed that legislation was a key component in protecting animals and preventing cruelty. There’s no institutional body comparable to UNESCO or UNICEF working to ensure that the interests of nonhuman animals are respected and protected; neither is there anything else at an international level that could grant a cessation of the harms and exploitation that nonhuman animals currently have to endure every day. Conservatives know that protecting animals can mean interfering with business. I'm inspired to do what's necessary to change the laws. It's time for a big change in the way we treat the sentient beings who share our world. Republicans are considerately more likely to view medical animal testing as morally acceptable; Republicans are trying to keep the Humane Cosmetics Act from passing in Congress. But this can only happen if we reject the current prevailing attitude of speciesism and make the protection of animals a political issue. Steve Oka Toward this end, The Progressive is to be lauded for publishing this level-headed article on a topic so many feel so passionately about. In those same 35 years only ONE Republican has earned an "A" grade, and that was a fluke, IMO. Hilary Spreiter one of the words that governs the way in which animal welfare has been scrutinised in the past years. It's also unfortunate that when the law allows mistreatment to exist, it tends to run rampant, as a multitude of undercover investigations attest to. Seems that if a bill costs a dollar, or puts another law on the books, the Republicans will almost invariably vote NO. How is that fun?”, Kimmel said he understood hunting for food, “But if it’s some a-hole dentist who wants a lion’s head over the fireplace in his man cave, so his douche-bag buddies can gather around it and drink scotch and tell him how awesome he is, that’s just vomitous.”. They risk, in other words, being exposed as violators not only of animal rights, but of their own … Thanks for your insights. A recent headline proclaimed that animal rights activists had interrupted a speech by Chris Christie. It is indeed wonderful, and, I dare say, long-overdue "progress" toward the end of animal rights that a journal by the name of The Progressive has printed Karen Dawn's piece outlining various ways in which our common, legally protected practices regarding our treatment & use of animals does not match many people's values about non-human animals. A bill that would have banned their use throughout California flew through both the state senate and assembly. The Bible has no place for tyrannical anthropocentrism.” We should be grateful to Karen Dawn for her work and to The Progressive for printing such an educational and inspiring piece. Yet The New York Times reported that trophy hunters kill approximately 600 lions per year. Animal Ethics is a 501(c)(3) public charity. 2. Regan unambiguously and without equivocation condemns the use of animals for … Let’s embrace our common ground with regard to the most egregious animal abuse, and work as an organized force to shake that comfort. Why? Speaking to millions of Americans on his nightly show, Jimmy Kimmel epitomized public sentiment as he said: “The big question is, ‘Why are you shooting a lion in the first place?’ I am honestly curious to know why a human being would be compelled to do that. Sign-up for our free weekly e-mail newsletter. What follows will argue that their work is partly constitutive of a “political … And also: Roskin, M. G.; Cord, R. L.; Medeiros, J. USDA inspectors found bloody puncture wounds on Ringling Bros. elephants. Many elections are won or lost by just a few percentage points. But most politicians seem to put almost anything before animal welfare. In the view of animal rights advocates, these basic interests give the animals that have them both moral and legal rights.
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