The Road to Respectful Coexistence
We are, ultimately, a part of nature, no matter how insulated by civilization. In an ecosystem, no one species is more important than any other. For our own sake, as well as, we must make our peace with the environment.
Read MoreCarnal Desires
Surely the first right any animal would claim for itself, if it could, is the right not to be eaten. But a growing global middle class is creating a demand for more meat, and conditions in factory farms remain deplorable. The moral choices we face in the supermarket are becoming more complex.
Read MoreAn Animal Bill of Rights?
Intelligence exists in many forms and in diverse species, such as crows, parrots and octopuses, which should make one think twice about how they are treated. But many people now think “intelligence” shouldn’t matter in how an animal is treated. You don’t have to be all that smart to feel pain and fear death.
Read MoreTurning a Whale into a Killer
In the wild, whales and dolphins form lasting bonds of kinship, even friendship. The animals in marine theme parks are taken from their families as juveniles, confined to tanks with strangers and forced to perform for an audience. Out of frustration, they may turn aggressive – in some cases, driven to attack and even kill their trainers.
Read MoreApeism and Racism
The great apes are humans’ closest animal relatives. A ground-breaking lawsuit in New York State seeks to give chimpanzees “personhood,” so their interests – for instance, not to be held in captivity – can be protected in court.
Read MoreWhat is a Person?
For most of human history, slavery and even genocide directed against other ethnic groups was the norm. Now it is universally condemned. Will we someday look back on our treatment of animals the same way?
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