Animal Rights
WHAT IS ANIMAL RIGHTS?
Animal rights is the philosophy of allowing non-human animals to have the
most basic rights that all sentient beings desire: the freedom to live a
natural life free from human exploitation, unnecessary pain and suffering,
and premature death. This is what the animal rights movement is about; it
is not about working for equality between human and non-human animals.
HOW IS ANIMAL RIGHTS DIFFERENT FROM ANIMAL WELFARE?
Proponents of animal welfare seek to alleviate the suffering of animals
while they are being exploited -- without attempting to question the fundamental
basis of whether it is acceptable to exploit animals in the first place.
Animal rights beliefs reject the idea that animals need to have a value
to the human species in order to be deserving of rights. A person can work
for both animal welfare and animal rights.
HOW IS ANIMAL RIGHTS RELATED TO HUMAN RIGHTS?
Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have tried to maintain their
dominance over others. As humanity began to grow intellectually and socially,
it became apparent that many feeling beings were being discriminated against
-- that is, having rights taken away from them -- because of the class to
which they belonged. Though today there is still prejudice, it is less widespread
among many groups of people; for example, it has become a positive value
in our culture to be against racism and sexism.
An amazing aspect of prejudice is that most of us cannot relate to it until
it affects us on a personal level -- which in many cases is too late to
stop the perpetrators from continuing. There is a saying which reflects
this sentiment:
When they came for the socialists, I didn't do anything, for I wasn't a
socialist.
When they came for the Gypsies, I didn't do anything for I wasn't a Gypsy.
When they came for the Jews, I didn't do anything for I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me, there wasn't anyone left to do anything for me.
In order to help ourselves, we must learn to protect both other humans and
non-human animals. How does humanity intend to solve differences among its
own species when it cannot learn to make peace with the other animals on
earth? Humans need to start thinking and living in terms of co-existence,
as opposed to dominance. You certainly do not have to love your neighbors,
but you should be able to get along with them. Peace begins with the individuals
who make a conscious effort to go through life making the least negative
impact possible.
BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE
Though it seems impossible for humans always to act perfectly, animal rights
activists strive not to hurt other beings. Therefore, logically, animal
rights activists should use only nonviolent means to bring about changes.
As in any movement, there are many different approaches, which can vary
from letter writing to civil disobedience in the style of Martin Luther
King or Mahatma Gandhi (a vegetarian and human rights organizer).
ANIMAL RIGHTS CONCERNS
People involved in animal rights have many different opinions. Below are
a few of the issues which concern them. For more specific information, read
one of the books or contact one of the organizations listed on the For More
Information page.
* FUR *
* WOOL *
* WILDLIFE *
* AQUARIUMS AND ZOOS *
* PETS OR COMPANION ANIMALS *
* COSMETIC TESTING ON ANIMALS *
* USE OF ANIMALS IN ENTERTAINMENT *
* MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS ON ANIMALS *
If we add up all the deaths of animals in all the areas mentioned above,
we would get a very small percentage of total animal deaths in the United
States. The majority of animals killed unnecessarily are often forgotten
-- these are the animals raised for food.
VEGETARIANISM
In order to save the most animals, increasing numbers of animal rights activists
are becoming vegetarian. The bonus in this dietary change is that vegetarians
have lower rates of heart disease, osteoporosis, and certain forms of cancer
than flesh eaters. In addition, vegetarians are also helping the environment
and the world hunger problem, since less water, land, and energy are needed
to feed a person on a vegetarian diet than on an animal-based diet.
VEGETARIAN EATING IN A NUTSHELL
Vegetarians do not eat meat, poultry, and fish. Vegans are vegetarians who
abstain from eating or using all animal products, including milk, cheese,
other dairy items, eggs, wool, silk, or leather.
Many people become vegetarian instantly. They totally give up flesh foods
overnight. Others make the change gradually. Do what works best for you.
The key to a healthy vegetarian diet, as with any other diet, is to eat
a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, plenty of leafy greens,
whole grain products, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Limit your intake of sweets
and fatty foods.
AVAILABLE FROM THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP:
Books, pamphlets, bumper stickers, t-shirts, post cards, article reprints.
For a publications list, write to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box
1463, Baltimore, MD 21203 or send a request via electronic mail to Bobbi
Pasternak at bobbi@clark.net.
SUBSCRIBE TO VEGETARIAN JOURNAL
The 36-page Vegetarian Journal contains educational articles, delicious
recipes, informative book reviews, notices about vegetarian events, product
evaluations, and hints on where to find vegetarian products and services.
Vegetarian Journal is published by The Vegetarian Resource Group, a non-profit
educational organization. Donations above the cost of membership are tax
deductible.
To subscribe, send $20 to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463,
Baltimore, MD 21203.
FOR MORE INFO...
BOOKS
ANIMAL LIBERATION, Peter Singer, Avon Books, 1975. (updated in 1990)
ANIMAL FACTORIES, Jim Mason and Peter Singer, Crown Publishers, 1980. (updated
in 1990)
THE CASE FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS, Tom Regan, University of California Press, 1983.
THE GREAT AMERICAN HUNTING MYTH, Ron Baker, Vantage Press, 1985.
OLD MACDONALD'S FACTORY FARM, C. David Coats, The Continuum Publishing Company,
1989.
PULLING THE WOOL, Christine Townsend, Hale and Tremonger, 1985.
THE SILENT SPRING, Rachael Carson, Oxford University Press, 1951.
A VEGETARIAN SOURCEBOOK, Keith Akers, Putnam, 1983.
ORGANIZATIONS
AMERICAN ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY, Suite 204, Noble Plaza, 801 Old York
Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046.
BEAUTY WITHOUT CRUELTY, 175 West 12th Street, #16G, NYC, NY 10011.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS, 421 South State Street, Clarks
Summit, PA 18411.
PAWS, c/o Phil Becker. (215) 430-3775; (215) 332-PAWS.
PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, P.O. Box 42516, Washington,
D.C. 20015 (202) 726-0156.
STUDENT ACTION CORPS FOR ANIMALS, P.O. Box 1588, Washington, D.C.20003 (202)
543-8983.
The information in this brochure is based partially on an article written
by Phil Becker in an issue of Vegetarian Journal.