Human rights for intelligent animals
Should animals like whales, dolphins and porpoises enjoy human rights? Many people all over the world have been debating on this issue. The people who sympathize with these animals want to protect these from commercial activity. According to them, they are evolved enough to merit being called 'non-human persons' and hence they deserve rights to life, liberty and well-being.
But some people are of the opinion that these animals don't deserve to be conferred upon rights similar to human rights because their 'right to life' is bound to get torn to bits when they face non-human aggressors. They ask as to what will scientists do if killer whales attack each other? Or a dolphin mauls a porpoise? Will you read out to them the Rights Act? Another question they ask is why shouldn't birds with their intelligence, wondrous musical ability and organized social living, qualify or why elephants or for that matter cuddly but equally sharp sharks enjoy these rights? The conclusion they come to is that blurring the lines between the human and natural world only creates more confusion, not clarity.
Animals need protection, human need rights. Rights for humans have been won after centuries of philosophy and revolutions. These rights promise freedom, security and equity to all. But the thing is we are miles away from ensuring these. So wouldn't it be wise on our part if we, instead of delving 20,000 leagues under the sea after the natural world which can be protected by tough laws delivered rights to our own kind.
But there are also supporters of whales, dolphins and porpoises. They would love to see these animals enjoy universal rights. This according to them would be a novel initiative. They have come up with rules which can protect these animals' life, liberty ad well-being. These rules can certainly help in conservation efforts given the fact that there has been increasing threat to the habitats of whale and dolphin species.
Some religion preach that animals are mere 'resources' placed there by God (or nature) to be exploited by man. But this theory has been challenged by a more holistic scientific-ecological worldview that treats living organisms as critical links in the cycle of life. The discovery of astonishing intelligence and complex behaviour patterns on the part of above three mentioned species has proved their point.
Whales are being endangered by their reckless killing. Even after decades of protection, seven out of 13 great whale species are still critically endangered. Japan continue to hunt whales under the garb of scientific research.
Rights of these intelligent species should be protected and conservation debate should continue. Other animal rights issues should also be discussed in detail. This is necessary to preserve our environment and this in the long run will prove to be beneficial to mankind.
Should animals like whales, dolphins and porpoises enjoy human rights? Many people all over the world have been debating on this issue. The people who sympathize with these animals want to protect these from commercial activity. According to them, they are evolved enough to merit being called 'non-human persons' and hence they deserve rights to life, liberty and well-being.
But some people are of the opinion that these animals don't deserve to be conferred upon rights similar to human rights because their 'right to life' is bound to get torn to bits when they face non-human aggressors. They ask as to what will scientists do if killer whales attack each other? Or a dolphin mauls a porpoise? Will you read out to them the Rights Act? Another question they ask is why shouldn't birds with their intelligence, wondrous musical ability and organized social living, qualify or why elephants or for that matter cuddly but equally sharp sharks enjoy these rights? The conclusion they come to is that blurring the lines between the human and natural world only creates more confusion, not clarity.
Animals need protection, human need rights. Rights for humans have been won after centuries of philosophy and revolutions. These rights promise freedom, security and equity to all. But the thing is we are miles away from ensuring these. So wouldn't it be wise on our part if we, instead of delving 20,000 leagues under the sea after the natural world which can be protected by tough laws delivered rights to our own kind.
But there are also supporters of whales, dolphins and porpoises. They would love to see these animals enjoy universal rights. This according to them would be a novel initiative. They have come up with rules which can protect these animals' life, liberty ad well-being. These rules can certainly help in conservation efforts given the fact that there has been increasing threat to the habitats of whale and dolphin species.
Some religion preach that animals are mere 'resources' placed there by God (or nature) to be exploited by man. But this theory has been challenged by a more holistic scientific-ecological worldview that treats living organisms as critical links in the cycle of life. The discovery of astonishing intelligence and complex behaviour patterns on the part of above three mentioned species has proved their point.
Whales are being endangered by their reckless killing. Even after decades of protection, seven out of 13 great whale species are still critically endangered. Japan continue to hunt whales under the garb of scientific research.
Rights of these intelligent species should be protected and conservation debate should continue. Other animal rights issues should also be discussed in detail. This is necessary to preserve our environment and this in the long run will prove to be beneficial to mankind.
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