When I hear the terms animals rights and liberation, some pretty stange scenarios run through my head. Does a mountain lion that kills a deer have a right to a trail by jury of its peers? Should cows have freedom of speech? Should someone's cat be liberated if he or she toss the cat of their house and stop feeding him? So, non-human animals don't posses the biolgical and physical attributes that would allow them to engage in the activities and behaviors we humans associate with liberation and rights.
Animal rights is one of the most interesting argument of our time, eventhough is not advertised as it should, due to obvious interests of big farms all over the world. It is true that in some countries more than others, do exist some laws or regulations that defends or preserves in a certain way the identity of this product: "the animal", which we daily use to feed us, but still we are far behind to consider acceptable the way we treat animals. Many people have already tried to defend animal rights with various theories, for example Peter Singer; he defends his theory asserting that animal feel pain, and if this is true, the farmers universe should consider different methods of growing animals and later killing them. Eventhough animal rights it is extremely important, and strictly related to us: better conditions for the alive animal, better food on our table; i believe that the human being, meant as us, as persons, generally speaking, we tend not to care so much about other species conditions. Not only this, but we care little also about our own specie; in fact in certain aereas of Africa, we have people, kids, women, left to their destiny, with no food and water and we let them die indifferently. More sensibility should be adressed to these issues, but in a society where what count the most is money, it is hard to drive people interests versus these arguments:human rights and animal rights. The sensibility is sollecitated often from personal interest, maybe we should find a way to give some rewards to those pro these rights, to incourage more actions in favor of these "underspecieces", and maybe we would get faster and more efficient results.
Rights, whether human or animal, is always a complex subject. As humans, we've lucked out. Animals weren't born with the ability to vocalize their thoughts, or express their actions quite like we as humans were. So who's to speak up for them when they're being slaughtered for food? Who's to speak up for them when they're being made into fashionable clothing? Who's to speak up for them when they're being tested on with mascara or hair dye? It's up to those, like myself, who believe that animal cruelty is wrong and they deserve their rights just as we humans do. Organizations such as PETA work strongly towards saving animals by promoting animals right and bringing to light the poor manner in which defenseless creatures are being treated. As humans, we turn a blind eye to the merciless tortures we put animals through in order to enjoy an order of chicken fingers at your local McDonalds. We refuse to acknowledge that in order to enjoy those chicken fingers, a defenseless bird was tortured and dismembered heartlessly prior to its death. I firmly believe the time to acknowledge these harsh realities is long past due but as the saying goes "it's better late than never." Becoming involved in the rights of these creatures is imperative. We are the only ones who can put an end to a lifetime of torture.
I fully support animal rights because in different parts of history some groups of people were seen as animals and were treated disgustedly because they had no rights to protect them. As in the Jews they were seen as insignificant they were put into death camps, treated inhuman, and killed just because one group felt that they were below them. Adolf Hitler even supported animal’s right basically putting animals over people we know have concision minds. From a libertarianism point of view they care about animal rights yes they should be treated fairly and not treated cruelty but at the end of the day they still need to eat and the factory animals are what’s cheapest in the market. So a libertarian person is for the cause but will the cause help them feed their family that night? I believe if most organic or all natural animal products were cheaper basically giving the factory animal product a run for their money factories will have to shut down what reason will there to keep these animals if no one is going to spend their money on it. There will always be animal cruelty until people decide to change their eating habit and say we don’t want this anymore so until than animal rights will not be honestly installed.
I believe that animal rights and factory farming are two arguments that need a very well educated audience to get to an adequate solution. They could be going around in circle and they involve several other related important arguments. In response to a world food demand constantly increasing, the factory farming argument has found its own powerful existence. I strongly believe that better living conditions for animals will have a reflection on better quality food for us. This could also raise the matter of organic food and indirectly the question of animal rights, allowing them a decent brief life before becoming our food. The increasing demand of organic food could be a way to reduce (up to the elimination) the use of antibiotic or hormones on animals or the use of restricted spaces to grow them. This will lead to a cost – price reduction for the organic products, too. The factory farming is designed to yield the highest profit from the least amount of labor and costs. The organic method of farming usually costs more money to run and generally does not yield the mass quantities of products that intensive farming does. This method of farming, however, is designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Additionally, according to the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) and MyPyramid, the average animal protein required is 0.8 gr/kg per DBW (desirable body weight) and the average daily intake in the US is almost the double (Ellie Whitney-Sharon Rday Rolfes, Understanding Nutrition). Although protein malnutrition may not be an issue, the question remains as to whether higher levels of protein intake are helpful for certain segments of the population, the elderly in particular, or provide some benefit in managing chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. On the contrary, other countries do not even reach the recommended intake. We should consider different ways to cook and eat.
With the grand scale of publication of the prosecution of a famed black man for the torturing of dogs, you could be led to believe america highly prioritized animal rights; but i can guarantee that after a long day in court three quarters of the people, who left the building after sentencing the star, went on to continue supporting the mass torturing corporations that feed most of america.
It is sad to see how twisted the priorities of this society are, where instead of making more altruistic decisions, with a far greater positive affect on the world; the paychecks make their way towards a new car. More attention is paid to men in space, than to the tortured animal races, those that make their ways onto plates, held by smiling faces.
i feel that the only reason animals are not treated any better, isn't truly because it costs more money, but because the families in hummers burning gallons of essence by the second, are in the "drive thru" at burger king, because the jobs required to pay the $120 cell phone bills deprives the family of the means to make a more eco-conscious choice.
The mountain lion who weighs as twice much as the obese members of our race, kills one deer and feeds his pack for the entire day, while we have created a society of poisoned animals to overfeed a fraction of our own race.
"Every second, 1,680 animals are killed for food." (http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/animal_use_and_abuse_statistics_the_shocking_numbers)
according to the numbers we kill 100,800 animals in a minute
3,024,000 in half an hour 6,048,000 in an hour
That makes one animal for every american in 5 hours i know that the food doesn't make it to every mouth, but the overproduction continues. It seems the mountian lion may have to wait a long line to be tried for his single murder
Let me start by saying that the argument over animal rights is a truly remarkable. The treatment of these animals is not only unethical but also extremely abusive. Many people do not care about this argument, but then again, many people are ignorant and blind and that is perfectly fine. There are many reasons why as well such as the processing system in the U.S compared to that of the rest of the world, the cruelty and neglect in which these innocent creatures succumb to only to be slaughtered, and some more points that I will bring up in a moment. Look let me tell you that I’m not a fanatic, too much of anything is bad, but that’s a completely different discussion. If I see a mortally wounded animal, I will probably end its misery and if a rabid animal is going to attack, the same thing is very likely to happen. I personally do not kill insects (which many people see as inferior to us) outdoors because it is their environment and habitat and there is a circle or balance to life whether one sees it or not. However, if there is one in my house that is a different story. Anyways, the animal processing plants in the U.S are extremely inhumane. If you prohibit anyone who is not a company worker from seeing everything that happens behind closed doors, chances are something harsh or inhumane is taking place. We contaminate our livestock by injecting them with growth hormone, by limit their mobility, and by even severing or maiming anything that lowers productivity (such as removing bird beaks or lifting the hind legs of a cow since birth). Look, one might say: It does not hurt me, It doesn’t affect the way I think, or why should I care. Steroids are illegal are they not? Why should it be used on animals that we consume? All and all, we are consuming trace amounts of this. A valid example is that in high school, the basketball coach starting bringing in kids fresh from Puerto Rico so we would win. They we are already 6’4” and when they begin eating our food they start growing a bit more, even after significant growth comes to a halt? It’s the hormone and chances are your not too bright. Animals should be treated with some form of respect. Hindu’s see cows as a sacred icon, no one’s deserve to be tortured, so why should harmless animals? You can say, but wait we’re superior to livestock, that is a great point, but don’t you think that by being superior we should respect all “lower” forms of life or create a balance? What if a something out of this world conquered us and feasted upon our flesh and blood? Wouldn’t you want an agreement instead of everyone being slaughtered and kept in 3x3 spaces for our entire lives? There is a reason why so many people hate America and it really boils down to ignorance. You can choose to stay blind and that is fine, or you could make a stand, either choice I really could care less. Do you really like those greasy, dull and dry burgers from McDonalds? Because in Europe McDonalds is some fancy stuff I can tell you first hand. The menu is completely different and even the European Big Mac is similar, but cooked to better specifications and regulations (minus the hormones). Oh and if that is not enough, they serve alcoholic beverages their too, if you have higher standards people recognize them. -Andrew Quevedo
I support animal rights, to me If you're able to feel pain no matter if you're human or non-human you are entitled to having some sort of moral law to protect you. People have used the excuse or reasoning that because we're humans and have the ability to accomplish many things than non-human animals we have the right to dictate how we treat animals. Well if you're going to go by that line of reasoning imagine if we lived in are world with super humans. I mean its not out of the realm of impossibility that maybe 50 to 100 years from now their wont be a race of super humans. Evolution right its been going on for millions of years and will continue to go. So imagine that we are no longer the so called dominate species, that their is a race of super humans and they have a sweet tooth for humans. They create a factory farm, stuffing us in little cages, hanging us on hooks, chopping us up into little pieces, torturing us everyday until or imminent demise. And while we're screaming and crying due to the pain, they dont care because they consider us sub-humans. Doesn't should so wonderful huh! Infact it sounds down right horrific. Thats what these animals endure everyday. Im not saying we should stop eating animals thats just insane because we have to eat in order to survive. But treat these animals with the respect that I'm sure you would want. Establish better living conditons, better treatment better product of the food that we eat. Because like I said who's to say we wont be the one's 50 or 100 years from now being tortured in farm factories, its evolution its right around the corner.
I support animals rights because who are we to torture these animals. Were all the same, were just different creatures. Just because were dominant that doens't mean that we have to abuse these animals. They feel pain just like we do.So what if they can't communicate with us and don't posses the knowledge and physical attrubutes like us.They are still living creatures that are trying to survive everyday life as we do.
I believe that animals should have rights because they can be subject to agony, just as we can. I understand that there are critics who say that animals don't posses the ability to reason or have the means of communication so; therefore, they cannot be subject to suffering. But the ability to reason or communicate is not a necessary nor sufficient condition for being in pain. That is like someone saying that a mute child can't feel pain because she can't speak of it! Where is the logic in that? Just because a 5 month old human infant cannot speak of his pain does not mean that he can't feel or be in pain. It is unethical to treat animals in the barbaric ways that they are treated at animal farms. Can you imagine being stuffed in a a closet the size of a trunk with 8 other people? That the type of situations these animals are in. Being subjected to immoral circumstances as these is cruelty. The animals at these farms are exposed to many diseases and deadly infections. They often live amongst other dead animals and feces... Then they are slaughtered and sent out to the markets, to be bought be us the "consumers."
Since the beginning of mankind, and prehistoric times, the human race main function was survival. Survival being defined as hunting and defending. Not only does the human being itself possess this survival instinct, but animals do too. In the wild, it is survival of the fittest. Where the lion’s preys on deers (other large mammals), the sharks preys on fishes, and the snake’s prey on rats. In the wild, there is much suffering as these animals prey on each other as a way of survival or in other words a way of life. It is absolutely right to use animals as part of our nutrition.
Now the libertarian, or vegetarian, might be thinking how cruel can it be to eat a living animal or things of that nature. Now both plants and animals make the complex molecules necessary for life, making both of them living organisms. So what right does the vegetarian have to consume plants? Should we be debating about whether we should give plants rights. We might want to reduce the suffering and maltreatment of these animals, but the sole fact remain they are part of the food chain. One might say that we are closely related to certain animals, though fail to realize we are far more complex than any other living creature. Our abilities to form social systems, with rights and responsibilities distinguish us in the hierarchal circle of life!
Animal’s rights is a complicated and difficult topic because of the different elements that involved ethics and the economic side. I believe that animals deserve to have certain rights, like being treated with some level of respect and kill in a painless way. I agree with Peter Singer, that animal’s right should be based on their ability to feel pain and not in their intelligence. Because their intelligence is inferior to ours, we like the superior specie should already have realized that the treatment that some of these animals receive in the farms are cruel and that our behavior toward them can be improved. Animal’s rights are closely with human ethics, because it depends on the ethics used on the factories farming, how the animals are treated and killed. Yet this can be solved with stricter laws for the food industry. With more information and awareness of how badly these animals are treated in the factories farms, the public could modify the economic view of these big companies by demanding a change on their ways of rising and killing these animals. In conclusion, animals as living creatures are capable of feeling pain and are worth of having rights.
I totally support the idea of animal rights. I believe its a strong argument that needs to be taken into consideration. Its a very difficult situation, but we can provide hard evidence in many cases. If we have a lot of supporters on this issue, we can make some difference and change the factories. The way that animals are being treated in farm factory or any where that hurts them is so wrong. For example the abusiveness in animal farms that use machines to slaughter the little chicks right after they are born, they can make this less painful for them. I feel like an animal should be treated in a moral manner as we treat ourselves. A more appropriate death, where at least the animal is born and see at least sunlight before sentence. I believe that many people need to put more consideration in the way they treat an animal. Another example is, there are many drivers that have the ability and power to avoid running over a dog or a cat on the streets. Any animal in general, but those that have no morals run them down believing that there life is unnecessary. Also that animals are a lower being, that there existence is pointless. I believe the saying “treat others as you would like to be treated.” Would you like to be hurt in the same way the animals are? Not in general , I mean show an animal a little respect and treat it the right way. Now is the moment to take action, and use the knowledge we gain to know what we are doing to those animals that cant defend themselves is wrong.
Animal Rights by Wilson Tique Aren’t we animals too? Just because the fact that we can talk, think, etc, does not make us better than them. We should be more concern about how WE treat them; after all we all share the same planet. We must try to learn how live with all of them, without keep erasing animals from the earth, everything is part of something else. Just the way we are eating every day is absolutely absurd, for some families the main course always have to do with meat (chicken, beef, fish). Nowadays most of our food comes from huge factories. We are the ones eating all the medicines, antibiotics and all different kinds of chemicals that the industries are DAILY applying to OUR food. All these is due to overpopulation, we are reaching the 7 billion of inhabits, on a planet that can only sustain 3.5 or less. We are destroying everything is on these planet, because we took everything for granted. Animals deserve a better living, yes they cannot talk, but they do feel pain and suffer, and just because we found many ways to conquered them; we should start working in finding ways to save them. Wilson Tique MWF 11AM
Among the many important issues of today, we find one that stands up because of the particular subject: animal rigths. This is a serious matter for all of us, but not too many people pay enough attention to it. Animal rights is a title meant to represent a wide number of meanings. According to experts, such as Singer or Tom Regan, animals feel pain, and because so, they are concious; and if they are counsious, they have feelings, so they deserve more respect from us. Another reason to threat better these creatures is the relationship between the conditions in which the animal grow and the quality of the food that we eat. In conclusion, many are the reasons of why we should pay attention to this issue: ethicals, morals and practicals; each one of us can pick his own.
Animal rights, though improperly named I believe, since we are animals ourselves, is quite a complex subject. I am in complete favor of giving animals used in factory farming rights which provide them with more ethical and “humane” treatment. I used quotes around humane, because I believe it’s ironic that the word means kind or compassionate, which is the exact opposite of humans. Anyway, although I am in favor of factory animals being given better treatment, both for our own health reasons and the animal’s life, I do not believe this will change the way we view animals. It is humorous how we consider ourselves the supreme beings on this planet, and yet we can hardly feel compassion. Many of us treat other humans without respect, and sometimes even ourselves. I think it will take a great deal more than laws for some of us to be able to be able to see animals as actual beings, who feel emotions-however limited, and that I believe is the saddest thing of all.
The issue of granting animals such rights as those that humans have is very controversial because just like any topic it has its pros and cons. But when it comes to animal cruelty that is unnecessary and preventing them to ever exhibit natural behaviors, comfortable lives or a decent shelter only to acquire high output at the lowest cost should not be of much controversy, it should be obvious that these procedures of adding antibiotics, hormones or pesticides are not only cruel to animals but also affect humans as well. According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) factory workers tend to develop acute chronic lung diseases or other injuries. These pesticides and hormones make their way into human’s bodies causing diseases and other health problems. Even if obtaining high standard food implies paying some extra bucks, the benefits of a better quality source of food is much greater. In my opinion if one lays out all the facts about the advantages of giving animals rights such as a dignified life against the disadvantages of it, treating animals with more care and respect benefits society in many aspects and therefore outweighs the cons about the issue.
Animal right is a major controversy these days. Should we as human, who come from animals and are the dominant living creatures, protect their rights? Or ignore the fact that they are being abused for our own good? As we all know, the population of earth is increasing over the years and that requires a higher demand in food. That still doesn’t give us the right to torture animals and destroy their rights to live. I, personally, am in favor of Mr. Triff’s point of view towards the subject. We can’t stop people from eating or hunting animals but at least we can let them have a better and healthier life by letting them grow naturally instead of locking them in a small place where they can’t move or enjoy nature. That, in a matter of fact, will benefit us as we will let animals live longer and experience life in their own way and that provides us with a better quality and healthier food.
To start off, I believe we are all animals,because as humans we are mammals. We have laws to respect one another, why can that law imply to animals also? I believe not in equal rights, because there I would be lying and people who breed and raise animals would be committing crimes. Yes, it is true that we do feed off of animals, that does not mean we should at least treat them with respect while we are using them for our benefit. Factory farming is a horrible despicable action. When I was a young girl my dad used to work at a meat warehouse, and once told me the procedure of how they killed a cow. It starts by driving the cow through a compact space where nothing else but the animal fit, when is her turn, the cow is picked up and shot right right between the eyes, no pain. Now farmers are making animals grow with antibiotics, hormones and pesticides, they are constricted to a small space until the they day they are killed to be processed. This is a controversy, farmers do this a fast way of producing food, but it does not benefit the consumer, yes it is cheaper but it is not naturally grown, chickens sold at supermarkets look smaller and smaller every day. I believe that if we cannot stop the consumption of animals at least we could treat them with dignity, not inject them with anything and give them their free space.
I support animal rights although it is a very sensitive topic. If we refer to the subject from a Christian point of view, it is perfectly normal to consume animals. I don’t believe that there were any instructions of the way to go about doing so, but as human beings who actually know right from wrong, we must consider that the animals just like us can suffer. Putting a large number of them in a very small little place meant for only a couple is really unjust and unfair. We wouldn’t want to be treaded in such manner. Animal also can feel pain and they also have the right to lead a decent life before we actually kill them for consumption.
The factory farming procedure is a complete madness. These people do not realize the harm they are causing the animals. They are simply conscious of the quantity of those animals. All they care about is making money and most of the population doesn’t ask questions about the provenance of such products. By genetically altering their system, we are not realizing the extent of the danger that we are putting ourselves in. Our health is at risk by inducing the hormone and all sort of foreign substances in the animals. The way to go about animal has been a delicate subject debated by all the big powers, and till this day they have a lot to do about it. Animals deserve their rights!
It is puzzling to me that people might find pleasure in creating or causing suffer or pain to animals. For that reason, I believe completely in animal right. Recently, a nineteen-year-old man was allegedly accused of killing more than twenty cats. His story was publicized in the media day after day until he was caught. If he is proven to be sane, than perhaps he should go to jail. Also, NFL star quarterback Michael Vick was jailed for funding a dog slaughter operations in which numerous dogs died. What he did cost him millions. He has now served his time. Some thought he should never return to the NFL, but I believe in second chances. Although animals are not human beings, they still should not be in pain because they are living creatures. Nonetheless, I never go a week without eating meat. But I feel they should find a more humane way to go about killing those animals, instead of putting them through such massive pain.
Should animals have rights? I am a meat eater, but I would never treat an animal with cruelty. In the U.S. today, a person who intentionally hurts an animal that is considered a pet will be charged with a felony, although that same animal is a main dish in some cultures. Just because it is not a custom here, doesn't make it wrong. If we treat dogs, and cats with that kind of respect, why should the cow and the chicken go through horrible treatments not that looks anything less of a holocaust. Just because we eat them, doesn't mean we can treat them as if they have no feelings what’s so ever. They live in continuous fear, and pain. Some of you think that they are not as smart as us, and that makes it different, but I beg to differ. Animals do have the capacity to feel certain things, and even their life has a meaning, so for there time alive they should be allowed to enjoy it. I wouldn’t become a vegetarian over night, but I do think that the way we treat animals will make a difference. We do not have to torture them before we eat them.
I strongly believe in the idea of Animal Rights. Although it is said that animals do not have a "language", I believe that they do have a languange, used to communicate with one another. I believe as humans, we are blindly ignorant to the fact that they do feel the mutilating sensations inflicted upon them. Peter Singer states in his published writing, 'Animal Liberation', that "there are obviously important differences between human and other animals, and these differences must give rise to some differences in the rights that each have." I firmly believe in this idea because although animals are below humans on the ladder of living organisms, they still deserve a set of basic, humane rights. As Prof. Triff stated, he quickly ends the life of a lobster before placing it into a boiling pot. I believe that it is unnecessary to prolong the agony of an animal. I also believe factory farming should use other methods with these animals because their living standards are clearly unjust. Pigs used for breeding are being impregnated, and are then confined in gestation crates – small metal pens just 2 feet wide that prevent sows from turning around or even lying down. With barely enough room to stand up and lie down and no straw or other type of bedding to speak of, many suffer from sores on their shoulders and knees. Poor air quality, extreme close-quarters confinement and unsanitary living conditions combine further infect these pigs. Why must an animal suffer in such a way? Afterall, they are being sacrificed as a food source for us. I believe animals deserve humane rights, and should be killed in a respectful manner.
Rights, for human or animals should always offer protection from harm. Currently, animals have little if no rights. Animals don’t necessary need rights, because you cannot expect them to think like humans do. However, they deserve to be treated humanly and to die with dignity. There should be laws that address this. Animals should not be killed inhumanly nor should they live in deplorable condition, such as factory farming which is abhorrent the way animals are treated. There should be regulations that monitor, their care closely. Regulations should not be left up to the company; it should be done by the government. Honestly, do you think a company is going to spend the extra money? I don’t think so; therefore the state government should lead these programs. As a society we have made advances in technology; we should make the same advances in the care of animals by providing the adequate care animals merit.
The argument over animal right is one that I think is not going to be very successful. Animal can't have right because they can not be held for any responsibilities. If animals were to have right like a normal citizen, what good will it be to them. They will not understand their right since they can't understand the language nor speak it to defend their right. I don't even think animals have the brain power to even think on whether they are being treated right or wrong. However, I strongly believe that animals should get treated better in the food industries. although animals are not human, they can feel pain and cry just as we do to display a discomfort. I think that the government should prohibit the mistreatment of animal in the food industries. Animals like cows are being drag by bulldozers and crucially abuse, then get placed in line waiting to be killed and make way to the school lunch and the family dinner tables. Is it not enough that they get kill! Why must they suffer before their last breath. Would anyone want that to happen to one of their family is they were being kidnapped. I'm not saying o stop using animals as food or I would be a fool to say such thing. After all we need their nourishment to survive. My argument is for the government to force food industries to let the animals grow naturally and let them live their lives. Not only will it be good for the animals. It would also be better for our health.
I support animal rights. I believe that we have no right to torture animals, and that they do have feelings just like we do. Just as Peter Singer suggests that animals have the ability to feel pain even if they can not communicate. In factories, animals have no rights or say but just feeling of pain and suffering to their last breath. I am not a vegetarian, but I believe that animals are treated unjustifiably. Factories in the 21st century severely abuse these animals as they are “processed” to become meals for us to eat. Tortured as they are killed, an experience that us humans do not wish to feel when we die. If animals are to be used for food, it should be in a non painful suffering way. Many people go out to restaurants and markets pick up a chicken and not know exactly what they are eating or care what happens in the process. Not only are animals abused on their death bed but they are injected with hormones and harsh chemicals that is not only bad for them but bad for us the “consumers”. So, not only animals are being abused but so are we. Same applies to not only the food we eat but to the animals we love and have as companions. For example, puppies. According to thepetitionsite.com they state that puppy mills are usually places where puppies are kept in very unsanitary cages to sell to dog sellers and the way that they are treated and live is usually why these dogs have poor health conditions, as stated “The animals have no human contact and live in tiny, unsanitary cages that are sometimes stacked so that excrement and urine falls through, matting the poor animals' fur. Once the breeding adults are too worn out, they are often killed. Sadly, the industry sells many puppies with behavioral and chronic health issues.” This is truly such a sad event that not many people care about, and then complain asking why they have a sick dog in their hands. Even people that hunt for mere entertainment is just pure injustice for animals. Thus in conclusion I believe that if we start taking action to protect animals rights we can make a difference. We need to make a difference for the sake of animals. With PETA as one of the main animal activists association, they have already begun the journey. Lets keep in mind, “treat others as you like to be treated”.
In my opinion, I strongly support animal rights. We call ourselves civilized however, the way in which we treat animals in "factory" farms, shows otherwise. According to animal activist Gene Bauston "Most people don't think about where their meat comes from,and we think if people did recognize how these animals were treated, and also came to know them as individuals with feelings, they might think differently about what they eat" Nearly 10 billion animals are slaughtered in facotry farms every year in the US. These animals live a short life filled with suffering living in confined and crowded conditions.Many people believe that these animals live in a humane and efficient way. Putting aside the moralistic view, scientifically according to veterinary experts the confinement that these animals are put in do serious harm to the animals' physical and mental health. With the help of animal activists the U.S Congress has considered legislation which would require more humane treatment for these animals. Producers argue that more humane ways can strongly affect the economy however, it is of economic importance that these animals are treated fair. If animals are not treated well then they could get sick, this product would be going into the food supply which then would suffer and be unsafe. Animal rights would not only benefit these poor animals but it would also benefit us. It is a win-win situation, and therefore should be taken more seriously.
To put it concisely, I am in favor of animal rights. I believe in animal rights because I grew up in a farm where we had horses, chickens, and quails. Therefore I know there’s a difference between factory farm animals and naturally raised animals. I remember stealing eggs from the hens in my farm, the rich taste and color (inside and outside) of the eggs excels the taste and color of any egg in the supermarket. I however, understand that the mass production of food is needed in the United States due to our population. Yet, the increasing population doesn’t justify the negligent treatment and poor living conditions of these animals. If the quality of living and treatment for the farm animals improves so does the quality of the food on our table. Unfortunately, the farming industries think about quantity not quality. In conclusion, we have to be more conscientious of the things we put in our body, because “Quod nutrit, me destruit” what nourishes me also destroys me.
On a show called Animal Cops, domestic animals are saved from abusive owners and given another chance at a happier future. Domestic animals are given legal rights and television time however our farm animals are being brutally slaughtered in the dark.
Farm animals, just like house pets deserve the right to live a proper lifestyle. Primarily cows, chickens, and pigs are kept in windowless factories, piled on top of each other and mutilated every second. Cows need space to roam just like dogs dogs require walks but instead are stressed and injected with hormones to force their bodies to work harder.
Without a doubt, this a meat loving country and however, I would rather eat a happy pig that rolled in the mud and was humanely put to rest. Both farm animals and domestic animals need to be treated properly and given a comfortable life before being slaughtered for food.
Animal rights are one of those ideas that all of us are well aware of, but few actually take the time to implement. Nowadays it’s all about profit margin and getting more for less. With that said, I believe that it would be in all of our best interests to pay closer attention to where the food which we depend upon comes from (Survey says…Factory farms). Okay, so we all want to live long, healthy lives right? So then WHY does everyone insist upon abusing their bodies by consuming such cheap, hormone induced products? Yes, they’re more expensive but, at the end of the day, that’s just an excuse to ease the guilt. The truth of the matter is this. We live in a world where we’re all willing to spend $400.00 on a brand new iPod, yet limit ourselves to a $75.00 per week food allowance. It’s completely nonsensical! By knowing what we eat everyone can not only help out our fellow animals, but help ourselves and our bodies along the way. Humans are one of the few creatures in this world with a conscience, and it’s about time that we start using it.
Animal rights are important, maybe not as important as human rights for some people but still very important. Many animals suffer the consequences of our non-restricted, and even if restricted, illegal hunting. Whether it is for food, to collect their skin, these animals are treated brutally by us. For example: In order to collect an animal's skin, animals such as foxes are clubbed to death or skinned alive and then left to die. Seal hunters club baby seals to death in order to kill them. Also in parts of Madagascar, "shark hunters" set traps using live dogs and cats as bait. Things like this are hard to imagine, and even harder to see, societies like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) try to make a stand for this abuses against animals, but barely anyone knows that these things happen. Also animals are terribly mistreated in factory farms, where they are kept and treated in the most inhumane ways. Often fed antibiotics and hormones, these animals develop faster in order to increase the production of the factories. But there's a danger to this, these hormones and antibiotics used in these animals are transferred to us when we eat them. These hormones are dangerous, because they can lead to a hormonal inbalance in humans causing serious problems. Personally I don't think that any animal deserves an atrocious death like being skinned alive or used as bait, or the terrible treatment that the animals recieve in factory farms. Not only because it is cruel, but also because slowly we push some species closer and closer to extinction, whether it is directly by killing them, or indirectly by killing the source of food for other animals. Also we are affected by the treatment given to the animals in the factory farms, because we consume them, and while doing so we consume the "junk" they have been fed.
Most people, while shopping for food, look for what suits their needs, likes, and budget the most. Some people have more money to spend on products they need and like. However, the vast majority of people has economic difficulties and cannot afford to buy “the better goods”. The no so good products are cheaper and, most of the cases, the ones that can affect your health. For instance, we think we have made such a terrific purchase of a factory farming product without knowing that eating these same products in long-term will be the cause of many health problems. Problems that will make health care costs higher. We face a reality that might not change shortly. It will take time for us, consumers, to really understand the main problem, which to me is not animal rights at all, but the health problems for us that come in hand with. Animal rights would come as a result of the pursuit for our own benefit, not for the animals as we might think.
We are a selfish society that is run by money. If we make a big decision its either because someone is pocketing more money or doesnt want to loose any more money. Same thing goes for animal rights. We have them, but all of them are set to only ensure that our meat is FDA approved, cheap, and "lean". They're all set for selfish reasons. We are too self-centered to realize that both humans and animals are one and the same. We are animals, we're mammals, but it doesn't mean we should act like animals. Now, wait, we do, we butcher them, mistreat them, alter thier hormones and such. If anything we should treat them like kings of the jungle because I'm not sure if anyone has realized, but we rely on animals not the other way around. We always see the short coming of things but not the long run, what if most of the cancers we have today were brought upon by us? By the many hormones we inject each animal, from cows to pigs. These animals should be treated in a humane way, then maybe it would better our health. Only spending less money on your health bill-charging you an arm and a leg- compared to the money you spent buying the more expensive and healthier chicken. The scariest part of all this is that you can actually taste the difference between "real" chicken and "fake" chicken, I should know I've tasted it before and yes its worth the extra petty cash.
34 comments:
When I hear the terms animals rights and liberation, some pretty stange scenarios run through my head. Does a mountain lion that kills a deer have a right to a trail by jury of its peers? Should cows have freedom of speech? Should someone's cat be liberated if he or she toss the cat of their house and stop feeding him? So, non-human animals don't posses the biolgical and physical attributes that would allow them to engage in the activities and behaviors we humans associate with liberation and rights.
Animal rights is one of the most interesting argument of our time, eventhough is not advertised as it should, due to obvious interests of big farms all over the world. It is true that in some countries more than others, do exist some laws or regulations that defends or preserves in a certain way the identity of this product: "the animal", which we daily use to feed us, but still we are far behind to consider acceptable the way we treat animals.
Many people have already tried to defend animal rights with various theories, for example Peter Singer; he defends his theory asserting that animal feel pain, and if this is true, the farmers universe should consider different methods of growing animals and later killing them.
Eventhough animal rights it is extremely important, and strictly related to us: better conditions for the alive animal, better food on our table; i believe that the human being, meant as us, as persons, generally speaking, we tend not to care so much about other species conditions. Not only this, but we care little also about our own specie; in fact in certain aereas of Africa, we have people, kids, women, left to their destiny, with no food and water and we let them die indifferently.
More sensibility should be adressed to these issues, but in a society where what count the most is money, it is hard to drive people interests versus these arguments:human rights and animal rights.
The sensibility is sollecitated often from personal interest, maybe we should find a way to give some rewards to those pro these rights, to incourage more actions in favor of these "underspecieces", and maybe we would get faster and more efficient results.
Rights, whether human or animal, is always a complex subject. As humans, we've lucked out. Animals weren't born with the ability to vocalize their thoughts, or express their actions quite like we as humans were. So who's to speak up for them when they're being slaughtered for food? Who's to speak up for them when they're being made into fashionable clothing? Who's to speak up for them when they're being tested on with mascara or hair dye? It's up to those, like myself, who believe that animal cruelty is wrong and they deserve their rights just as we humans do. Organizations such as PETA work strongly towards saving animals by promoting animals right and bringing to light the poor manner in which defenseless creatures are being treated. As humans, we turn a blind eye to the merciless tortures we put animals through in order to enjoy an order of chicken fingers at your local McDonalds. We refuse to acknowledge that in order to enjoy those chicken fingers, a defenseless bird was tortured and dismembered heartlessly prior to its death. I firmly believe the time to acknowledge these harsh realities is long past due but as the saying goes "it's better late than never." Becoming involved in the rights of these creatures is imperative. We
are the only ones who can put an end to a lifetime of torture.
I fully support animal rights because in different parts of history some groups of people were seen as animals and were treated disgustedly because they had no rights to protect them. As in the Jews they were seen as insignificant they were put into death camps, treated inhuman, and killed just because one group felt that they were below them. Adolf Hitler even supported animal’s right basically putting animals over people we know have concision minds. From a libertarianism point of view they care about animal rights yes they should be treated fairly and not treated cruelty but at the end of the day they still need to eat and the factory animals are what’s cheapest in the market. So a libertarian person is for the cause but will the cause help them feed their family that night? I believe if most organic or all natural animal products were cheaper basically giving the factory animal product a run for their money factories will have to shut down what reason will there to keep these animals if no one is going to spend their money on it. There will always be animal cruelty until people decide to change their eating habit and say we don’t want this anymore so until than animal rights will not be honestly installed.
I believe that animal rights and factory farming are two arguments that need a very well educated audience to get to an adequate solution. They could be going around in circle and they involve several other related important arguments.
In response to a world food demand constantly increasing, the factory farming argument has found its own powerful existence. I strongly believe that better living conditions for animals will have a reflection on better quality food for us. This could also raise the matter of organic food and indirectly the question of animal rights, allowing them a decent brief life before becoming our food. The increasing demand of organic food could be a way to reduce (up to the elimination) the use of antibiotic or hormones on animals or the use of restricted spaces to grow them. This will lead to a cost – price reduction for the organic products, too. The factory farming is designed to yield the highest profit from the least amount of labor and costs. The organic method of farming usually costs more money to run and generally does not yield the mass quantities of products that intensive farming does. This method of farming, however, is designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
Additionally, according to the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) and MyPyramid, the average animal protein required is 0.8 gr/kg per DBW (desirable body weight) and the average daily intake in the US is almost the double (Ellie Whitney-Sharon Rday Rolfes, Understanding Nutrition). Although protein malnutrition may not be an issue, the question remains as to whether higher levels of protein intake are helpful for certain segments of the population, the elderly in particular, or provide some benefit in managing chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. On the contrary, other countries do not even reach the recommended intake. We should consider different ways to cook and eat.
Camilla Fantechi
With the grand scale of publication of the prosecution of a famed black man for the torturing of dogs, you could be led to believe america highly prioritized animal rights; but i can guarantee that after a long day in court three quarters of the people, who left the building after sentencing the star, went on to continue supporting the mass torturing corporations that feed most of america.
It is sad to see how twisted the priorities of this society are, where instead of making more altruistic decisions, with a far greater positive affect on the world; the paychecks make their way towards a new car. More attention is paid to men in space, than to the tortured animal races, those that make their ways onto plates, held by smiling faces.
i feel that the only reason animals are not treated any better, isn't truly because it costs more money, but because the families in hummers burning gallons of essence by the second, are in the "drive thru" at burger king, because the jobs required to pay the $120 cell phone bills deprives the family of the means to make a more eco-conscious choice.
The mountain lion who weighs as twice much as the obese members of our race, kills one deer and feeds his pack for the entire day, while we have created a society of poisoned animals to overfeed a fraction of our own race.
"Every second, 1,680 animals are killed for food." (http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/animal_use_and_abuse_statistics_the_shocking_numbers)
according to the numbers we kill
100,800 animals in a minute
3,024,000 in half an hour
6,048,000 in an hour
That makes one animal for every american in 5 hours i know that the food doesn't make it to every mouth, but the overproduction continues. It seems the mountian lion may have to wait a long line to be tried for his single murder
just my thoughts..
-jorge dominik diaz
Let me start by saying that the argument over animal rights is a truly remarkable. The treatment of these animals is not only unethical but also extremely abusive. Many people do not care about this argument, but then again, many people are ignorant and blind and that is perfectly fine. There are many reasons why as well such as the processing system in the U.S compared to that of the rest of the world, the cruelty and neglect in which these innocent creatures succumb to only to be slaughtered, and some more points that I will bring up in a moment. Look let me tell you that I’m not a fanatic, too much of anything is bad, but that’s a completely different discussion. If I see a mortally wounded animal, I will probably end its misery and if a rabid animal is going to attack, the same thing is very likely to happen. I personally do not kill insects (which many people see as inferior to us) outdoors because it is their environment and habitat and there is a circle or balance to life whether one sees it or not. However, if there is one in my house that is a different story.
Anyways, the animal processing plants in the U.S are extremely inhumane. If you prohibit anyone who is not a company worker from seeing everything that happens behind closed doors, chances are something harsh or inhumane is taking place. We contaminate our livestock by injecting them with growth hormone, by limit their mobility, and by even severing or maiming anything that lowers productivity (such as removing bird beaks or lifting the hind legs of a cow since birth). Look, one might say: It does not hurt me, It doesn’t affect the way I think, or why should I care. Steroids are illegal are they not? Why should it be used on animals that we consume? All and all, we are consuming trace amounts of this. A valid example is that in high school, the basketball coach starting bringing in kids fresh from Puerto Rico so we would win. They we are already 6’4” and when they begin eating our food they start growing a bit more, even after significant growth comes to a halt? It’s the hormone and chances are your not too bright.
Animals should be treated with some form of respect. Hindu’s see cows as a sacred icon, no one’s deserve to be tortured, so why should harmless animals? You can say, but wait we’re superior to livestock, that is a great point, but don’t you think that by being superior we should respect all “lower” forms of life or create a balance? What if a something out of this world conquered us and feasted upon our flesh and blood? Wouldn’t you want an agreement instead of everyone being slaughtered and kept in 3x3 spaces for our entire lives? There is a reason why so many people hate America and it really boils down to ignorance. You can choose to stay blind and that is fine, or you could make a stand, either choice I really could care less. Do you really like those greasy, dull and dry burgers from McDonalds? Because in Europe McDonalds is some fancy stuff I can tell you first hand. The menu is completely different and even the European Big Mac is similar, but cooked to better specifications and regulations (minus the hormones). Oh and if that is not enough, they serve alcoholic beverages their too, if you have higher standards people recognize them.
-Andrew Quevedo
I support animal rights, to me If you're able to feel pain no matter if you're human or non-human you are entitled to having some sort of moral law to protect you. People have used the excuse or reasoning that because we're humans and have the ability to accomplish many things than non-human animals we have the right to dictate how we treat animals. Well if you're going to go by that line of reasoning imagine if we lived in are world with super humans. I mean its not out of the realm of impossibility that maybe 50 to 100 years from now their wont be a race of super humans. Evolution right its been going on for millions of years and will continue to go. So imagine that we are no longer the so called dominate species, that their is a race of super humans and they have a sweet tooth for humans. They create a factory farm, stuffing us in little cages, hanging us on hooks, chopping us up into little pieces, torturing us everyday until or imminent demise. And while we're screaming and crying due to the pain, they dont care because they consider us sub-humans. Doesn't should so wonderful huh! Infact it sounds down right horrific. Thats what these animals endure everyday. Im not saying we should stop eating animals thats just insane because we have to eat in order to survive. But treat these animals with the respect that I'm sure you would want. Establish better living conditons, better treatment better product of the food that we eat. Because like I said who's to say we wont be the one's 50 or 100 years from now being tortured in farm factories, its evolution its right around the corner.
I support animals rights because who are we to torture these animals. Were all the same, were just different creatures. Just because were dominant that doens't mean that we have to abuse these animals. They feel pain just like we do.So what if they can't communicate with us and don't posses the knowledge and physical attrubutes like us.They are still living creatures that are trying to survive everyday life as we do.
I believe that animals should have rights because they can be subject to agony, just as we can. I understand that there are critics who say that animals don't posses the ability to reason or have the means of communication so; therefore, they cannot be subject to suffering. But the ability to reason or communicate is not a necessary nor sufficient condition for being in pain. That is like someone saying that a mute child can't feel pain because she can't speak of it! Where is the logic in that? Just because a 5 month old human infant cannot speak of his pain does not mean that he can't feel or be in pain. It is unethical to treat animals in the barbaric ways that they are treated at animal farms. Can you imagine being stuffed in a a closet the size of a trunk with 8 other people? That the type of situations these animals are in. Being subjected to immoral circumstances as these is cruelty. The animals at these farms are exposed to many diseases and deadly infections. They often live amongst other dead animals and feces... Then they are slaughtered and sent out to the markets, to be bought be us the "consumers."
Professor,
I just wanted to apologize for posting twice, my computer was acting up!
Sincerely,
James Bourdeau
Since the beginning of mankind, and prehistoric times, the human race main function was survival. Survival being defined as hunting and defending. Not only does the human being itself possess this survival instinct, but animals do too. In the wild, it is survival of the fittest. Where the lion’s preys on deers (other large mammals), the sharks preys on fishes, and the snake’s prey on rats. In the wild, there is much suffering as these animals prey on each other as a way of survival or in other words a way of life. It is absolutely right to use animals as part of our nutrition.
Now the libertarian, or vegetarian, might be thinking how cruel can it be to eat a living animal or things of that nature. Now both plants and animals make the complex molecules necessary for life, making both of them living organisms. So what right does the vegetarian have to consume plants? Should we be debating about whether we should give plants rights. We might want to reduce the suffering and maltreatment of these animals, but the sole fact remain they are part of the food chain. One might say that we are closely related to certain animals, though fail to realize we are far more complex than any other living creature. Our abilities to form social systems, with rights and responsibilities distinguish us in the hierarchal circle of life!
Animal’s rights is a complicated and difficult topic because of the different elements that involved ethics and the economic side. I believe that animals deserve to have certain rights, like being treated with some level of respect and kill in a painless way. I agree with Peter Singer, that animal’s right should be based on their ability to feel pain and not in their intelligence. Because their intelligence is inferior to ours, we like the superior specie should already have realized that the treatment that some of these animals receive in the farms are cruel and that our behavior toward them can be improved.
Animal’s rights are closely with human ethics, because it depends on the ethics used on the factories farming, how the animals are treated and killed. Yet this can be solved with stricter laws for the food industry. With more information and awareness of how badly these animals are treated in the factories farms, the public could modify the economic view of these big companies by demanding a change on their ways of rising and killing these animals. In conclusion, animals as living creatures are capable of feeling pain and are worth of having rights.
Josseline Barrientos
I totally support the idea of animal rights. I believe its a strong argument that needs to be taken into consideration. Its a very difficult situation, but we can provide hard evidence in many cases. If we have a lot of supporters on this issue, we can make some difference and change the factories. The way that animals are being treated in farm factory or any where that hurts them is so wrong. For example the abusiveness in animal farms that use machines to slaughter the little chicks right after they are born, they can make this less painful for them. I feel like an animal should be treated in a moral manner as we treat ourselves. A more appropriate death, where at least the animal is born and see at least sunlight before sentence. I believe that many people need to put more consideration in the way they treat an animal. Another example is, there are many drivers that have the ability and power to avoid running over a dog or a cat on the streets. Any animal in general, but those that have no morals run them down believing that there life is unnecessary. Also that animals are a lower being, that there existence is pointless. I believe the saying “treat others as you would like to be treated.” Would you like to be hurt in the same way the animals are? Not in general , I mean show an animal a little respect and treat it the right way. Now is the moment to take action, and use the knowledge we gain to know what we are doing to those animals that cant defend themselves is wrong.
Animal Rights by Wilson Tique
Aren’t we animals too? Just because the fact that we can talk, think, etc, does not make us better than them. We should be more concern about how WE treat them; after all we all share the same planet. We must try to learn how live with all of them, without keep erasing animals from the earth, everything is part of something else.
Just the way we are eating every day is absolutely absurd, for some families the main course always have to do with meat (chicken, beef, fish). Nowadays most of our food comes from huge factories. We are the ones eating all the medicines, antibiotics and all different kinds of chemicals that the industries are DAILY applying to OUR food.
All these is due to overpopulation, we are reaching the 7 billion of inhabits, on a planet that can only sustain 3.5 or less. We are destroying everything is on these planet, because we took everything for granted. Animals deserve a better living, yes they cannot talk, but they do feel pain and suffer, and just because we found many ways to conquered them; we should start working in finding ways to save them.
Wilson Tique MWF 11AM
Among the many important issues of today, we find one that stands up because of the particular subject: animal rigths.
This is a serious matter for all of us, but not too many people pay enough attention to it. Animal rights is a title meant to represent a wide number
of meanings. According to experts, such as Singer or Tom Regan, animals feel pain, and because so, they are concious; and if they are counsious, they
have feelings, so they deserve more respect from us. Another reason to threat better these creatures is the relationship between the conditions in which the animal grow
and the quality of the food that we eat.
In conclusion, many are the reasons of why we should pay attention to this issue: ethicals, morals and practicals; each one of us can pick his own.
Sebastiano Rivera
Animal rights, though improperly named I believe, since we are animals ourselves, is quite a complex subject. I am in complete favor of giving animals used in factory farming rights which provide them with more ethical and “humane” treatment. I used quotes around humane, because I believe it’s ironic that the word means kind or compassionate, which is the exact opposite of humans. Anyway, although I am in favor of factory animals being given better treatment, both for our own health reasons and the animal’s life, I do not believe this will change the way we view animals. It is humorous how we consider ourselves the supreme beings on this planet, and yet we can hardly feel compassion. Many of us treat other humans without respect, and sometimes even ourselves. I think it will take a great deal more than laws for some of us to be able to be able to see animals as actual beings, who feel emotions-however limited, and that I believe is the saddest thing of all.
The issue of granting animals such rights as those that humans have is very controversial because just like any topic it has its pros and cons. But when it comes to animal cruelty that is unnecessary and preventing them to ever exhibit natural behaviors, comfortable lives or a decent shelter only to acquire high output at the lowest cost should not be of much controversy, it should be obvious that these procedures of adding antibiotics, hormones or pesticides are not only cruel to animals but also affect humans as well. According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) factory workers tend to develop acute chronic lung diseases or other injuries. These pesticides and hormones make their way into human’s bodies causing diseases and other health problems. Even if obtaining high standard food implies paying some extra bucks, the benefits of a better quality source of food is much greater.
In my opinion if one lays out all the facts about the advantages of giving animals rights such as a dignified life against the disadvantages of it, treating animals with more care and respect benefits society in many aspects and therefore outweighs the cons about the issue.
Animal right is a major controversy these days. Should we as human, who come from animals and are the dominant living creatures, protect their rights? Or ignore the fact that they are being abused for our own good? As we all know, the population of earth is increasing over the years and that requires a higher demand in food. That still doesn’t give us the right to torture animals and destroy their rights to live. I, personally, am in favor of Mr. Triff’s point of view towards the subject. We can’t stop people from eating or hunting animals but at least we can let them have a better and healthier life by letting them grow naturally instead of locking them in a small place where they can’t move or enjoy nature. That, in a matter of fact, will benefit us as we will let animals live longer and experience life in their own way and that provides us with a better quality and healthier food.
To start off, I believe we are all animals,because as humans we are mammals.
We have laws to respect one another, why can that law imply to animals also?
I believe not in equal rights, because there I would be lying and people who breed and raise animals would be committing crimes.
Yes, it is true that we do feed off of animals, that does not mean we should at least treat them with respect while we are using them for our benefit.
Factory farming is a horrible despicable action. When I was a young girl my dad used to work at a meat warehouse, and once told me the procedure of how they killed a cow.
It starts by driving the cow through a compact space where nothing else but the animal fit, when is her turn, the cow is picked up and shot right right between the eyes, no pain.
Now farmers are making animals grow with antibiotics, hormones and pesticides, they are constricted to a small space until the they day they are killed to be processed.
This is a controversy, farmers do this a fast way of producing food, but it does not benefit the consumer, yes it is cheaper but it is not naturally grown, chickens sold at supermarkets look smaller and smaller every day. I believe that if we cannot stop the consumption of animals at least we could treat them with dignity, not inject them with anything and give them their free space.
Flavia suarez
I support animal rights although it is a very sensitive topic. If we refer to the subject from a Christian point of view, it is perfectly normal to consume animals. I don’t believe that there were any instructions of the way to go about doing so, but as human beings who actually know right from wrong, we must consider that the animals just like us can suffer. Putting a large number of them in a very small little place meant for only a couple is really unjust and unfair. We wouldn’t want to be treaded in such manner. Animal also can feel pain and they also have the right to lead a decent life before we actually kill them for consumption.
The factory farming procedure is a complete madness. These people do not realize the harm they are causing the animals. They are simply conscious of the quantity of those animals. All they care about is making money and most of the population doesn’t ask questions about the provenance of such products. By genetically altering their system, we are not realizing the extent of the danger that we are putting ourselves in. Our health is at risk by inducing the hormone and all sort of foreign substances in the animals. The way to go about animal has been a delicate subject debated by all the big powers, and till this day they have a lot to do about it. Animals deserve their rights!
M.Krystel Damas
It is puzzling to me that people might find pleasure in creating or causing suffer or pain to animals. For that reason, I believe completely in animal right. Recently, a nineteen-year-old man was allegedly accused of killing more than twenty cats. His story was publicized in the media day after day until he was caught. If he is proven to be sane, than perhaps he should go to jail. Also, NFL star quarterback Michael Vick was jailed for funding a dog slaughter operations in which numerous dogs died. What he did cost him millions. He has now served his time. Some thought he should never return to the NFL, but I believe in second chances. Although animals are not human beings, they still should not be in pain because they are living creatures. Nonetheless, I never go a week without eating meat. But I feel they should find a more humane way to go about killing those animals, instead of putting them through such massive pain.
Robenson Beralus
Should animals have rights? I am a meat eater, but I would never treat an animal with cruelty. In the U.S. today, a person who intentionally hurts an animal that is considered a pet will be charged with a felony, although that same animal is a main dish in some cultures. Just because it is not a custom here, doesn't make it wrong. If we treat dogs, and cats with that kind of respect, why should the cow and the chicken go through horrible treatments not that looks anything less of a holocaust. Just because we eat them, doesn't mean we can treat them as if they have no feelings what’s so ever. They live in continuous fear, and pain. Some of you think that they are not as smart as us, and that makes it different, but I beg to differ. Animals do have the capacity to feel certain things, and even their life has a meaning, so for there time alive they should be allowed to enjoy it. I wouldn’t become a vegetarian over night, but I do think that the way we treat animals will make a difference. We do not have to torture them before we eat them.
I strongly believe in the idea of Animal Rights. Although it is said that animals do not have a "language", I believe that they do have a languange, used to communicate with one another. I believe as humans, we are blindly ignorant to the fact that they do feel the mutilating sensations inflicted upon them. Peter Singer states in his published writing, 'Animal Liberation', that "there are obviously important differences between human and other animals, and these differences must give rise to some differences in the rights that each have." I firmly believe in this idea because although animals are below humans on the ladder of living organisms, they still deserve a set of basic, humane rights. As Prof. Triff stated, he quickly ends the life of a lobster before placing it into a boiling pot. I believe that it is unnecessary to prolong the agony of an animal. I also believe factory farming should use other methods with these animals because their living standards are clearly unjust. Pigs used for breeding are being impregnated, and are then confined in gestation crates – small metal pens just 2 feet wide that prevent sows from turning around or even lying down. With barely enough room to stand up and lie down and no straw or other type of bedding to speak of, many suffer from sores on their shoulders and knees. Poor air quality, extreme close-quarters confinement and unsanitary living conditions combine further infect these pigs. Why must an animal suffer in such a way? Afterall, they are being sacrificed as a food source for us. I believe animals deserve humane rights, and should be killed in a respectful manner.
http://farmsanctuary.org/issues/factoryfarming/pork/
http://www.utilitarian.org/texts/alm.html
-Victoria Cosentino
Rights, for human or animals should always offer protection from harm. Currently, animals have little if no rights. Animals don’t necessary need rights, because you cannot expect them to think like humans do. However, they deserve to be treated humanly and to die with dignity. There should be laws that address this. Animals should not be killed inhumanly nor should they live in deplorable condition, such as factory farming which is abhorrent the way animals are treated. There should be regulations that monitor, their care closely. Regulations should not be left up to the company; it should be done by the government. Honestly, do you think a company is going to spend the extra money? I don’t think so; therefore the state government should lead these programs. As a society we have made advances in technology; we should make the same advances in the care of animals by providing the adequate care animals merit.
The argument over animal right is one that I think is not going to be very successful. Animal can't have right because they can not be held for any responsibilities. If animals were to have right like a normal citizen, what good will it be to them. They will not understand their right since they can't understand the language nor speak it to defend their right. I don't even think animals have the brain power to even think on whether they are being treated right or wrong. However, I strongly believe that animals should get treated better in the food industries. although animals are not human, they can feel pain and cry just as we do to display a discomfort. I think that the government should prohibit the mistreatment of animal in the food industries. Animals like cows are being drag by bulldozers and crucially abuse, then get placed in line waiting to be killed and make way to the school lunch and the family dinner tables. Is it not enough that they get kill! Why must they suffer before their last breath. Would anyone want that to happen to one of their family is they were being kidnapped. I'm not saying o stop using animals as food or I would be a fool to say such thing. After all we need their nourishment to survive. My argument is for the government to force food industries to let the animals grow naturally and let them live their lives. Not only will it be good for the animals. It would also be better for our health.
I support animal rights. I believe that we have no right to torture animals, and that they do have feelings just like we do. Just as Peter Singer suggests that animals have the ability to feel pain even if they can not communicate. In factories, animals have no rights or say but just feeling of pain and suffering to their last breath. I am not a vegetarian, but I believe that animals are treated unjustifiably. Factories in the 21st century severely abuse these animals as they are “processed” to become meals for us to eat. Tortured as they are killed, an experience that us humans do not wish to feel when we die. If animals are to be used for food, it should be in a non painful suffering way. Many people go out to restaurants and markets pick up a chicken and not know exactly what they are eating or care what happens in the process. Not only are animals abused on their death bed but they are injected with hormones and harsh chemicals that is not only bad for them but bad for us the “consumers”. So, not only animals are being abused but so are we.
Same applies to not only the food we eat but to the animals we love and have as companions. For example, puppies. According to thepetitionsite.com they state that puppy mills are usually places where puppies are kept in very unsanitary cages to sell to dog sellers and the way that they are treated and live is usually why these dogs have poor health conditions, as stated “The animals have no human contact and live in tiny, unsanitary cages that are sometimes stacked so that excrement and urine falls through, matting the poor animals' fur. Once the breeding adults are too worn out, they are often killed. Sadly, the industry sells many puppies with behavioral and chronic health issues.” This is truly such a sad event that not many people care about, and then complain asking why they have a sick dog in their hands. Even people that hunt for mere entertainment is just pure injustice for animals.
Thus in conclusion I believe that if we start taking action to protect animals rights we can make a difference. We need to make a difference for the sake of animals. With PETA as one of the main animal activists association, they have already begun the journey. Lets keep in mind, “treat others as you like to be treated”.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/266934779
-Kaytien Franco
In my opinion, I strongly support animal rights. We call ourselves civilized however, the way in which we treat animals in "factory" farms, shows otherwise. According to animal activist Gene Bauston "Most people don't think about where their meat comes from,and we think if people did recognize how these animals were treated, and also came to know them as individuals with feelings, they might think differently about what they eat" Nearly 10 billion animals are slaughtered in facotry farms every year in the US. These animals live a short life filled with suffering living in confined and crowded conditions.Many people believe that these animals live in a humane and efficient way. Putting aside the moralistic view, scientifically according to veterinary experts the confinement that these animals are put in do serious harm to the animals' physical and mental health. With the help of animal activists the U.S Congress has considered legislation which would require more humane treatment for these animals. Producers argue that more humane ways can strongly affect the economy however, it is of economic importance that these animals are treated fair. If animals are not treated well then they could get sick, this product would be going into the food supply which then would suffer and be unsafe. Animal rights would not only benefit these poor animals but it would also benefit us. It is a win-win situation, and therefore should be taken more seriously.
-Marian Rodriguez
To put it concisely, I am in favor of animal rights. I believe in animal rights because I grew up in a farm where we had horses, chickens, and quails. Therefore I know there’s a difference between factory farm animals and naturally raised animals. I remember stealing eggs from the hens in my farm, the rich taste and color (inside and outside) of the eggs excels the taste and color of any egg in the supermarket. I however, understand that the mass production of food is needed in the United States due to our population. Yet, the increasing population doesn’t justify the negligent treatment and poor living conditions of these animals. If the quality of living and treatment for the farm animals improves so does the quality of the food on our table. Unfortunately, the farming industries think about quantity not quality. In conclusion, we have to be more conscientious of the things we put in our body, because “Quod nutrit, me destruit” what nourishes me also destroys me.
Cinthia Lavin
PHI 2010 MWF 11:00 A.M
On a show called Animal Cops, domestic animals are saved from abusive owners and given another chance at a happier future. Domestic animals are given legal rights and television time however our farm animals are being brutally slaughtered in the dark.
Farm animals, just like house pets deserve the right to live a proper lifestyle. Primarily cows, chickens, and pigs are kept in windowless factories, piled on top of each other and mutilated every second. Cows need space to roam just like dogs dogs require walks but instead are stressed and injected with hormones to force their bodies to work harder.
Without a doubt, this a meat loving country and however, I would rather eat a happy pig that rolled in the mud and was humanely put to rest. Both farm animals and domestic animals need to be treated properly and given a comfortable life before being slaughtered for food.
Animal rights are one of those ideas that all of us are well aware of, but few actually take the time to implement. Nowadays it’s all about profit margin and getting more for less. With that said, I believe that it would be in all of our best interests to pay closer attention to where the food which we depend upon comes from (Survey says…Factory farms). Okay, so we all want to live long, healthy lives right? So then WHY does everyone insist upon abusing their bodies by consuming such cheap, hormone induced products? Yes, they’re more expensive but, at the end of the day, that’s just an excuse to ease the guilt. The truth of the matter is this. We live in a world where we’re all willing to spend $400.00 on a brand new iPod, yet limit ourselves to a $75.00 per week food allowance. It’s completely nonsensical! By knowing what we eat everyone can not only help out our fellow animals, but help ourselves and our bodies along the way.
Humans are one of the few creatures in this world with a conscience, and it’s about time that we start using it.
-Eichelle King
Animal rights are important, maybe not as important as human rights for some people but still very important. Many animals suffer the consequences of our non-restricted, and even if restricted, illegal hunting. Whether it is for food, to collect their skin, these animals are treated brutally by us. For example: In order to collect an animal's skin, animals such as foxes are clubbed to death or skinned alive and then left to die. Seal hunters club baby seals to death in order to kill them. Also in parts of Madagascar, "shark hunters" set traps using live dogs and cats as bait. Things like this are hard to imagine, and even harder to see, societies like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) try to make a stand for this abuses against animals, but barely anyone knows that these things happen.
Also animals are terribly mistreated in factory farms, where they are kept and treated in the most inhumane ways. Often fed antibiotics and hormones, these animals develop faster in order to increase the production of the factories. But there's a danger to this, these hormones and antibiotics used in these animals are transferred to us when we eat them. These hormones are dangerous, because they can lead to a hormonal inbalance in humans causing serious problems. Personally I don't think that any animal deserves an atrocious death like being skinned alive or used as bait, or the terrible treatment that the animals recieve in factory farms. Not only because it is cruel, but also because slowly we push some species closer and closer to extinction, whether it is directly by killing them, or indirectly by killing the source of food for other animals. Also we are affected by the treatment given to the animals in the factory farms, because we consume them, and while doing so we consume the "junk" they have been fed.
Most people, while shopping for food, look for what suits their needs, likes, and budget the most. Some people have more money to spend on products they need and like. However, the vast majority of people has economic difficulties and cannot afford to buy “the better goods”. The no so good products are cheaper and, most of the cases, the ones that can affect your health. For instance, we think we have made such a terrific purchase of a factory farming product without knowing that eating these same products in long-term will be the cause of many health problems. Problems that will make health care costs higher. We face a reality that might not change shortly. It will take time for us, consumers, to really understand the main problem, which to me is not animal rights at all, but the health problems for us that come in hand with. Animal rights would come as a result of the pursuit for our own benefit, not for the animals as we might think.
Diego Garcia
We are a selfish society that is run by money. If we make a big decision its either because someone is pocketing more money or doesnt want to loose any more money. Same thing goes for animal rights. We have them, but all of them are set to only ensure that our meat is FDA approved, cheap, and "lean". They're all set for selfish reasons. We are too self-centered to realize that both humans and animals are one and the same. We are animals, we're mammals, but it doesn't mean we should act like animals. Now, wait, we do, we butcher them, mistreat them, alter thier hormones and such. If anything we should treat them like kings of the jungle because I'm not sure if anyone has realized, but we rely on animals not the other way around. We always see the short coming of things but not the long run, what if most of the cancers we have today were brought upon by us? By the many hormones we inject each animal, from cows to pigs. These animals should be treated in a humane way, then maybe it would better our health. Only spending less money on your health bill-charging you an arm and a leg- compared to the money you spent buying the more expensive and healthier chicken. The scariest part of all this is that you can actually taste the difference between "real" chicken and "fake" chicken, I should know I've tasted it before and yes its worth the extra petty cash.
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