A n i m
a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 06/02/02
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MichelleRivera1@aol.com
~ sbest1@elp.rr.com
THE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Animal Rights Issue Sparks Important Text
2 ~ Six Important Toll Free Numbers Every Companion Animal Guardian
Should Not Live Without
3 ~ National Homeless Animals Day
4 ~ Senator Byrd Speaks On Animals
5 ~ Zambia Trying To Step Into The Ivory Trade
6 ~ Pass Them All By
7 ~ Memorable Quote
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`
~1~
Animal Rights Issue Sparks
Important Text
By Janita Wisch
Sun Herald, Sun Coast Media Group
As
"Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month" comes to a close, an important
title should be noted. Steven M. Wise's "Rattling the Cage: Toward Legal
Rights for Animals" is a definitive text on this thought-provoking issue.
Primatologist Jane Goodall in her forward calls it "The Animals' Magna
Carta." Wise makes the connection that in denying creatures such as
chimpanzees (who are so similar to humans) fundamental rights, we undermine our
own foundation of human rights. More plainly, this isn't just an "animal
problem," this is everyone's problem.
According to Wise, our culture currently operates under an outmoded system when
it comes to the policies and decisions we make about animals, both domestic and
wild. Throughout the text, he refers to animals as "non-human
animals," because, after all, humans are animals, too.
Language is just one way that humans distance themselves from these close
relatives. We often presuppose that when a creature is called
"animal," it has no reason, no intelligence, and no feeling. This way
of thinking concludes that humans, on the other hand, possess all of these
characteristics and are, therefore, superior to animals. We further perpetuate
this line of thinking by attributing all sorts of undesirable characteristics
to animals: brutal, ferocious, blood-thirsty, uncivilized, dirty and stupid.
Wise tells us the way we view animals in our culture today began
philosophically in ancient Greece.
"The belief that non-human animals are somehow 'made for us' lies at the
root of what the law says we can do to them today." He points out that the
historian Xenophon noted that Socrates felt that animals exited solely for the
use of people. Aristotle believed nature was designed like a ladder, with the
lowest rungs occupied by the lowest life forms (plants, for example). These
lowest rungs served the higher rungs. In the middle were sentient beings (some
animals fit into this category). On the highest rungs were the "rational
beings" or man, and above all was divinity. Every creature had its place
in this "natural" hierarchy. Aristotle believed animals could not
reason or possess intellect, thought or belief and, therefore, could not
possess emotions. The Stoic philosophers reinforced this line of thinking,
proposing that plants supported animals, animals supported and served humans,
and the world was designed to benefit gods and men. Judeo-Christian belief also
reinforced what Wise terms this "great chain of being" theory.
The Bible speaks of humans having dominion over animals. The Apostle Paul noted
that Jesus did not care for oxen, and in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus cast devils
into a herd of swine. The medieval theologians elaborated on the idea that
almost anything could be done to animals because they lacked the intelligence
and rationality of man. Animals were excluded from justice according to Wise,
first by the Greeks, then the Stoics, and then Christianity. St. Thomas Aquinas
found that "the imperfect are for the use of the perfect" in keeping
with the order of nature.
Wise repeatedly makes the point that just as the ancient world regarded slaves
(and sometimes women) as personal property, our own society until recently did
so as well. Slaves, like animals were incapable of reason, intelligence, or any
higher-order thinking. Animals and slaves could be bought, sold, or discarded
because they were owned. More terribly, they could be mistreated without fear
of legal punishment. By the 17th century, however, scientific discoveries put
cracks in the "great chain of being" theory. It became evident that
animals came before man on the planet.
By the 19th century, Darwin changed everything. He proposed that the earth and
its inhabitants came about as a process of gradual change. The universe was not
static, and the structure of all its creatures was due to constant change and
adaptation. Life was clearly not a ladder. However, western law did not "catch
up" to Darwin. The "great chain" was adapted by Roman law,
English common law, and then American common law, and still resides in our
current legal system, says Wise. What discourages him most is that animals are
legally "things" in our society.
This book raises issues that challenge our beliefs: Must a person be physically
able to make a legal claim in order to have one? Animals cannot speak for
themselves; they cannot make a claim for legal rights and freedom. However, if
you ascribe to this belief, then mentally challenged adults, infants and people
who are in a coma or vegetative state would also be unable to make a claim for
rights.
Wise challenges us with this core question: "Are things or beings or ideas
valuable because we value them or because they are inherently valuable? If
non-human animals or humans are valuable only because we value them, then they
must lack value when we don't, and we must face the fact that Adolph Eichmann,
Adolph Hitler and the killing (Nazi) doctors who did not value many kinds of
humans (and "legally" euthanized the mentally ill, epileptics, the
paralyzed) were correct. It would then follow that the Final Solution, legal in
Nazi Germany, was neither illegal nor unjust." These are chilling words from
a legal scholar who forces us to scrutinize our own beliefs.
Disregard for the living being which does not have legal rights, Wise says,
threatens the disregard for all living beings. He quotes Abraham Lincoln, who
said at the beginning of the Civil War: "In giving freedom to the slave,
we assure freedom to the free. "Much of this book examines the
plight of laboratory chimpanzees and bonobos, creatures so like humans in gene
structure that many scientists are now proposing that they be placed in the
genus "Homo" with people. He likens their inhumane treatment
(recorded in many horrific stories throughout the text) to genocide. Citing the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide's
definition of the word, we can see that it can well be applied to this group of
living creatures.
Wise teaches animal rights law at the Harvard Law School, Vermont Law School,
and John Marshall Law School. He is a former president of the Animal Legal
Defense Fund. From an emotional standpoint this book is extremely difficult to
read. However, Wise manages to amass an incredible amount of scholarship into a
surprisingly easy-to-read text. His legal explanations are clear and simple,
even to a reader with no background in legal issues and terminology. This is an
important book. It should interest those who are concerned about human rights
and those who are concerned about animal rights.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~2~
Six Important Toll Free Numbers
Every Companion Animal Guardian
Should Not Live Without
By Dr. Olakunle Ayeni DVM
1.
National Pet Recovery Hotline: 1 800 984 8638. Whenever your pet is
lost, this is one of your first places of help to report your missing friend.
This 24-hour service will help you to locate your pet. Lost pets usually end up
in an animal shelter before the county or city steps in. Members pay $25.00 for
the lifetime of the pet or $55.00 to find the pet for free and non-members pay
$50 and above.
2. Legal Hotline: 1 800 555 6517. I think my neighbors are abusing
their pet. Can I do any thing to stop them? Here is the number to call. To know
your rights and how to go about expressing your displeasures, this number is
for you. But try not to call because you don’t that like someone’s method of
training his or her dog. Animal Legal Defense Fund [can] help with
landlord-tenant issues, vet problems, neglect and any form of abuse.
3. National Animal Poison Control Center: 1 888 426 4435. In a life and
death situation when every minute counts for your cat, dog or other pet, this
24-hour manned emergency number is your pet lifesaver. Sponsored in part by 36
different companies along with a $45.00 charge for consultation.
4. Emergency Disaster Hotline: 1 800 22 7 4645. Provided by the American
Humane Association, this number is your first point of call in earthquake
preparedness for your pets or any disaster, what to do and where to go. They
provide support and relief information.
5. Pet Loss Support Hotline: 1 888 478 7574. Iowa State University
College of Veterinary Medicine provides a source for emotional support for
those who have lost an animal friend or are anticipating the loss of their pet.
Veterinary students at the college man this free service. A 24-hour touch phone
line where you can leave a message and someone will return your phone call.
Seven days a week 6:00pm-9:00pm CST, May to August, Wednesdays and Fridays
6:00pm-9:00pm. This free service is funded by the Iams Company and dedicated in
memory of Krista Rankin who organized the initial
6. Spay HeIpline: 1 800 248 SPAY. One way to prevent several unwanted
lovely pets from ending up in shelters or destroyed is to spay or neuter them.
Thousands of abandoned and unwanted pets are euthanized yearly due to over
irresponsible breeding and other factors. So before you consider giving off
your pet to the shelter, this organization can help you. SPAY USA provides free
or low cost services to all. Call them for an appointment and locations of over
950 programs and clinic nationwide. Your local Shelters also help in providing
similar services.
Dr. Olakunle Ayeni DVM is a Veterinarian, educator and founder of
http://www.animalevent.com He has written many articles and
e-books, some of which are “16 most important telephone numbers every pet owner
should know.” To download a full copy of this free e-book go to
http://www.animalevent.com/ebook
Feel free to post this version or the full version on your website, newsletter
or cross post, provided you give credit to the source and a link back to this
website: http://www.animalevent.com
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~3~
National Homeless Animals Day
From ShelterSupplyExchange@yahoogroups.com list
By etolson@gibralter.net
August
17, 2002 has been declared by ISAR (International Society of Animal Rights) as
National Homeless Animals Day. Candlelight Vigils are held to memorialize
the dogs and cats that were euthanized because there were not enough
homes. This is a Nationwide [Annual] Event.
This is also a WONDERFUL opportunity for a Fundraiser. PLEASE do not let
this opportunity pass you by -- you can increase awareness of the need of
spay/neuter, increase the awareness of the need to adopt from shelters, let
people know the number of animals euthanized each year, and also raise some
money!!
Our Local Humane Society did the candlelight vigil last year and raised over
$2200.00. It is very possible for everyone on this list to do. We
also gained new members and increased awareness.
PLEASE take the time to write ISAR and request their packet. They will
include a proclamation for your mayor to sign, press releases, suggested poem
and songs to sing at the vigil, and all around wonderful ideas and suggestions
for you to put this event together.
Go to http://www.isaronline.org/campaign_homelessday.htm to read about
National Homeless Animals Day.
At the bottom of that page is the address where you can request a packet.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~4~
Senator Byrd (D-WV) Speaks on
Animals
From: http://www.humaneusa.org/fed_leg/107/byrd_042902.htm
On Thursday, April 25, 2002, The Humane Society
of the United States hosted a gala to present its annual humane awards. Special
recognition was given to seven legislators, six federal and one state, as well
as four corporations, each of which had made significant efforts to promote the
protection of all animals. Awards were also given to Christine Stevens and Dr.
Richard Leakey for their lifetime work in animal protection and conservation
respectively. The awards acknowledged courage as much as actual legislation to
protect animals.
Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) has been a great friend to animals. Below is the
moving speech he gave at The HSUS gala:
From ancient days, before the ink of history, man has held dominion over the
animals. Should we be able to peer through the mist of those distant times, we
might witness the process by which man turned from gatherer to hunter, and,
skill permitting, began to use the flesh of animals as a source of food and
survival in a cold world full of danger and a perilous future. Later, the
relationship of man and animals began to evolve through so-called
domestication, and animals became a more reliable source of food. A partnership
of sorts was formed in which animals came to bear the brunt of labor and the
title "Beasts of Burden."
Over this same stretch of time, man developed social compacts from which sprang
the seeds of modern civilization, and which led to pursuits of philosophy, and
an emphasis on morality. The process was slow in development and uneven in
allocation among and within societies. Even today, attitudes and actions
persist that run counter to a higher understanding about the value of life and
the lives of all things. For better or worse, man is destined to rule this
world, and with that charge comes the heavy responsibility of benevolent
custody and faithful husbandry to all creatures found within nature. To fail in
that duty is to denigrate the sanctity of all life. Choices in our treatment of
animals are a good barometer of how well we are carrying out our stewardship of
God's beautiful world. Man may choose to rule this world, or attempt to do so,
but for all his worry over property rights among his own species, it is well to
remember that it is only God who holds title to this planet.
Maintaining civilization sometimes seems a process of constant struggle with
those who, either because of ignorance or a deliberate scheme, would prefer to
stress efficiency and materialism over more elusive concepts. To balance those
forces, those of us who hear a different drummer must educate, legislate, and
promulgate better understandings and guidelines aimed at bringing mankind into
closer harmony with nature. The Congress embodies the collective will of the
American people, and those of us who serve there recognize that our duty is to
the people in our states. But, we also have a duty to safeguard the spirit of
this nation and all that it represents in terms of philosophy and ideals, as
well as law. You honor me this evening for my work in pursuit of these higher
objectives, and I am very grateful.
Your organization works to enrich the condition of man by improving his
relationship with nature, and in particular, his relationship with the animal
kingdom. You bring to the public discourse a better understanding of the
conditions in which animals exist and, unfortunately in many instances, of the
inhumane manner in which they are treated. You remind us all that animals share
this planet with us, and that their space, their comfort, and their lives are
not without importance. You remind us of man's higher purpose in the larger
universe. Public debate is enriched by your participation, and the lives of God's
creatures greatly benefit because of your contributions.
Animals are man's fellow occupants on this blue-green ball, slowly spinning
through eternity, and they enlighten and enliven our lives in many ways. They
provide us companionship and friendship. They ward off loneliness. They assist
the blind. They protect us. They help maintain the balance of nature. While
there are those who object to the practice, they feed us. They benefit us in
ways we don't even recognize. In return, it is our duty to ensure that their
lives and, in some cases, their deaths, are free from unnecessary discomfort.
Animals, deserve our respect because, they, too, are creatures of God.
Combating cruelty and apathy towards the welfare of animals is a high and moral
calling. I commend you for your altruism, and I am proud to count myself among
your number. We cannot correct all the problems overnight, but we can make
changes today, and we can make changes tomorrow. We have come a long way
towards the goal of fostering more humane treatment for animals, but we still
have much to do.
This evening, together we pause to reflect on our achievements and to
contemplate future strategies. I am humbled by your recognition of my work,
your encouragement, and the hope that our efforts may inspire others to a more
sublime level of humanity through empathy with the animals with which we share
this lovely world.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~5~
Zambia Trying To Step Into The
Ivory Trade
From Cheryl Ross - CRoss@hsus.org
HUMANElines - Issue 197
Zambia
has historically been one of the strongest opponents of the ivory trade in
southern Africa. In 1992, it publicly burned its entire ivory stockpile -- nine
metric tons -- as a gesture of support for the ivory trade ban. This November,
however, in a shocking about-face, Zambia plans to push for a downgrading of
protections for Zambian elephants -- all so that it can profit from its
current, 17-metric ton stockpile of confiscated ivory. In order to sell its
stockpile of ivory on the international market, Zambia will ask the Parties at
the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) to downlist elephants from Appendix I (the category of
species that may not be traded internationally) to Appendix II (the category of
species whose international trade is legal but "regulated").
Such a move would be disastrous for the elephants; when CITES attempted to
control a "legal" ivory trade in the 1980s, the resultant, massive
increase in poaching cut the number of African elephants in the wild from 1.2
million to 600,000. Only after the international ivory trade was banned in 1989
did poaching dramatically decrease. A subsequent decision by CITES in 1997 to
allow Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe to sell their stockpiled ivory to Japan
on a one-time "experimental basis" precipitated a similar increase in
elephant poaching in both Asia and Africa so that today, it is estimated that
only 30,000 wild elephants remain in Asia and about 500,000 remain in Africa.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1.Contact the Zambian High Commission or Embassy and ask them to tell the
Zambian government not to submit a proposal to downlist elephants at the next
CITES meeting. Let them know that as a potential tourist, you'd rather see live
elephants in Zambia than ivory necklaces in Tokyo. In the U.S., write to: The
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia 2419 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington,
DC 20008
2. Send an e-mail to the High Commissioner, Mr. S. K. Mubukwanu (addressed as
"Your Excellency"), by going to the Zambian High Commission-UK's web
page (http://www.zhcl.org.uk ) and clicking on the guest book.
3. Sign the petition, which will be sent to the Zambian President:
http://gopetition.com/info.php?petid=1097
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~6~
Pass Them All By
©Shell 2002
theanimalspirit@hotmail.com
Pass them all by ...
those things in cages.
Just say "poor dear" and move down the line.
He's overweight.
She's scrawny.
He seems to have fleas.
She has FIV.
Maybe I should try a different shelter?
Well, I made the trip, so let's move down the line.
Pass them all by ...
That one is too old.
This one is the wrong shade of red.
Here, I have a photo of how it should look.
Don't get me wrong, I want to help out...
save a life and all that.
After all, that's what this is all about!
But I know exactly what I want,
so let's move down the line.
Pass them all by ...
He's not purebred.
She's not the right color.
He meows too loud.
She doesn't purr at all.
His hair is too long.
Her hair is too short.
Pass them all by ...
Just things. Only animals.
He doesn't look happy.
She looks kind of angry.
He won't let me cuddle.
She won't sit on my lap.
Any more over there?
Pass them all by ...
those things in cages.
Just say "poor dear" and move down the line.
Pass them all by,
nothing here that I want.
Pass them all by,
just leave them to die.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~7~
Memorable Quote
"All beings seek for happiness; so let your compassion extend itself to
all."
~ Mahavamsa
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
P O Box 7053
Tampa, Fl 33673-7053
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal Rights Online=-
&
Advisory Board Member, Animal Rights Network Inc.,
not-for-profit publisher of The Animals' Agenda Magazine
http://www.animalsagenda.org/
The Animals' Agenda Magazine: WebEdition
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
(Permission Granted To Quote/Forward/Reprint/Repost This Newsletter In
Whole Or In Part with credit given to EnglandGal@aol.com)
* Please forward this to a
friend who you think
might be interested in subscribing to our newsletter.
* ARO
gratefully accepts and considers articles for publication
from subscribers on veg*anism and animal issues.
Send submissions to JJswans@aol.com
** Fair Use Notice**
This document may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been
specifically authorized by the copyright owners. I believe that this
not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the
coprighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law).
If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go
beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.