INFORMEDdebate
YES
from members:
JUPITER IMAGES/DYNAMIC GRAPHICS/PHOTODISC/CHRIS A RUSNAK
Ricardo Castro
San Antonio, TX
Animals cannot talk or
take care of themselves
so someody has to treat
them not as possessions
but as members of the
family.
Alaina Nudell
Tinton Falls, NJ
As humans, we too
are animals and need
to be the voice for the
rights of those that can’t
speak for themselves.
David Morris
Arvada, CO
Animals are living and
breathing creatures
as much as humans
are. They have beating
hearts and deserve to
be treated well.
Should animals
have the same
NO
from members:
rights as people?
ANIMAL LAW is now taught in 100 out of 180 law schools in the United
States, and animal rights has been dubbed “the new morality” by Robert
Garner, author of the book Animals, politics and morality. In June 2008,
Spain became the first country to give human-type rights to Great Apes.
Animal rights advocates say that animals’ basic interests should be given
the same consideration as human beings’ similar interests. They believe animals should no longer be regarded as property, or used as food, clothing,
research subjects, or entertainment, but should instead be viewed as legal
persons and members of the moral community.
Critics argue that since animals are unable to make moral choices they
should not be regarded as possessors of rights. There is nothing inherently
wrong with using animals as resources, they add, so long as they do not
suffer as a result.What do you think?
BJ Dillard
Greenville, SC
Although it would be
very interesting if animals
started voting or paying
taxes, I do not think they
should be given similar
rights as people.
Matthew Rincon
Ontario, CA
I believe that animals
are unable to make
moral choices, therefore cannot have the
same rights as humans.
Find out more about this topic on the Web:
s WWW REUTERS COM ARTICLE SCIENCE.EWS ID53,
s HTTP ANIMALETHICS BLOGSPOT COM LEGAL RIGHTS FOR ANIMALS HTML
s WWW OPPOSINGVIEWS COM ARGUMENTS WHY ANIMAL RIGHTS DON T EXIST
Vicki Metz
Arvada, CO
There are still many
people whose rights are
not being protected. We
need to take better care
of people first.
14 The Costco Connection MARCH 2009
