"Animal Rights, Untamed"
“If free-living animals were thought to have a claim to their territory and freedom, then finally, finally, the polluting and resource-consuming ranchers and animal farmers would meet a true challenge!”
In the new essay “Animal Rights, Untamed” Friends of Animals legal director Lee Hall continues:
There is a saying that people often somehow resemble the animals with whom they live. Perhaps we could say that people resemble the animals for whom we advocate. Those who advocate for the rights of free-living animals — which are, ultimately, the only animal rights there are — won’t be tamed.
Read the full article at Dissident Voice.
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8 Comments
On March 3, 2006, a. wrote:
Wonderful article. Thank you. I’m a vegetarian of 35 years, write letters for various animal advocacy campaigns, donate what little I can and have settled over the years for a gnawing compromise because I have been unwilling to be vegan. Recently however, after reading about slaughter workers in Egypt routinely stabbing cows in the eyes to make the kill easier, I looked at the yogurt I was putting in my smoothie and realized that, as you wrote, “if animal-rights activism means anything, it involves the cream”. I have battled this within myself for a long time but I guess I am just now willing to listen. Thank you for your timely message. I have heard no one speak it so clearly or touch the truth of this very sad subject so gently.
On March 5, 2006, JLMarengo wrote:
Every year, I view the disgrace of our society brutally killing these baby harp seals and I am broken hearted. I watched Sir Paul Mc Cartney and [Heather Mills McCartney] speak on this subject to Larry King. They were passionate about trying to stop this senseless killing. They interviewed the Canadian Representative who stated that it was humanely done. I saw the hunters already preparing for the slaughter with their wood clubs. This year, I decided to get involved and not stand by. I thought to myself, what can I do to help? I decided to put a small poster in my back car window with a picture of a seal pup and the information about the killing. People may think I’m strange, but I have got to do something to try and stop this process…it’s only a couple of weeks away. The worst thing for all of us with a conscience is to do nothing. I am a great animal lover and I will keep at it until it stops.I am also going to e-mail Prime Minister Stephen Harper and tell him that I will not travel to Canada until this stops. Additionally, I will not buy any products from Gucci, Dolce and Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Marni, Prada and Versace. They will be boycotted until they stop using the products derived from these seals. Oh, one more pro-active thing that I can do, which is powerful, is to pray that the Canadian Leaders finally see the light. I have faith that many voices can show an on-going commitment to this cause. Let’s all pray - we’re running out of time.
On March 7, 2006, Kathleen Perry wrote:
I am looking at the picture of the little baby harp seal asking “is it safe to come out and play?” Please, can’t someone stop this horrible practice? How can I help? Kathy
On March 8, 2006, Jace wrote:
You know, I don’t tell you how to live. So why do you constantly tell me how to? My family farm has been in our name for generations. Next time you want a little bread for your tofu-humous-soybean sandwitch, think of all of the resources you’re using. It is a sad fact that the world burns off over a thousand barrels of oil per SECOND. You typed your “dirty rancher” comment on a petrolium based product: your keyboard. When it breaks, and you throw it away, will you care what you’re doing to this Earth?? You say “save the animals, save the animals!” But what about people? There’s over six billion humans on this planet, and they’re doing all they can to eradicate each other and themselves. So instead of telling me that I’m an a$$ for raising animals for slaughter, why don’t you actually try doing something constructive with your lives?
I love my cat and my dog, but I must be a scourge to this earth: I like cheese-burgers.
[Blog editors’note: At least your taste in Web sites and blogs is impressive. Feeding people and saving one’s health can best be addressed from a plant-based diet.]
On March 12, 2006, Se Jeen Park wrote:
I love animals! I wish people would stop littering. It makes me unconfy to see a poor living thing suffer. I would give up my life to save an animal! I try to help the enviornment by picking up trash around Tenafly. I want to be an animal rescuer when I grow up!
On March 19, 2006, I. Gomez wrote:
If these seals were endangered…NO! you can’t touch them!!However,since they are NOT, go ahead and club them to death…I immediately declare them endangered!!
[Blog editors’ note: Their populations shouldn’t determine whether they’re worthy ofrespect, and if we respect harp seals ,we’re intolerant of commercial schemes that exploit them as resources.]
On April 30, 2006, Se Jeen Park wrote:
i know i’m only in third grade,
but i think i mean it when i say that animals deserve to live!
i am a true animal lover,
and i know it!
i’m just a kid,
and because i am too young to venture out in the openings alone,
i help all the animals i can that are near the neighborhood or something.
i can’t even bear to see an ant suffering,
not even spiders!
or fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
when i say this, i mean it!!!!!
u better believe it!
On October 27, 2006, Se Jeen Park wrote:
It’s nice to be back here.
i wish for world peace
i wish i could do something
i suggested to my school president to try
and raise money for animal funds
i hope my wish will come true!