Sometimes its easy to forget how despicably arrogant we are as a - TopicsExpress



          

Sometimes its easy to forget how despicably arrogant we are as a species. Ive just listened to a segment on Jeremy Vines radio show about the recent Argentinian legal recognition of the nonhuman personhood of Sandra, the orang utan. The objections were manifold and confused, but among them there were two main strands: 1) we cant give human rights to nonhuman animals; 2) other animals dont have the same cognitive or linguistic capacities as us so they have no entitlement to any rights. Listen, no ones saying that pygmy marmosets should be given the right to vote; no one wants natterjack toads to have the right to education; no ones suggesting that Tamworth pigs have the right to social security; no one believes that army ants should be able to unionise and be paid a minimum wage. We want recognition of the basic right of nonhumans, regardless of species, not to be treated as things, as resources, as property; its that simple. Cognitive ability is not an appropriate criterion for the recognition of personhood; if it were, wed exclude many members of our own species from equal moral consideration. As it is, we protect the most vulnerable humans; surely we should extend the same basic decency to others. Nonhuman animals are not things: they feel, they respond, they have preferences and interests; they are, therefore, persons. It is this fact alone that deems them worthy of recognition of the most fundamental rights that they already possess. But if this radio segment teaches us anything, it teaches us that those who are touting the recognition of Sandras personhood as a victory are seriously misguided. Until we start tackling the destructive, violent and pervasive roots of speciesism we will never make any progress for our nonhuman friends. Start by being vegan; its the very least you can do. ~Frances McCormack. (Link to episode of radio programme in the comments)
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:55:03 +0000

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