UPC Summer/Fall 1995 Poultry Press

The Future of the Animal Rights Movement By Karen Davis, PhD Thesis XII: A Philosophical Newsletter, Vol 2, No 4, April 1995 North Adams State College, North Adams, MA* rying to predict the future of the "Non-human animals animal rights movement involves T seeing what changes have today are slaves. occurred in public opinion or action thus far regarding the moral status of animals Tomorrow they should in society. Encouragingly, a 1994 article in the Los Angeles Times observed that no longer be slaves." "In a century and a half of activism, the - David Olivier animal protection movement has trans (1994, 11) formed the national consciousness, altering how mainstream Americans Yet three daunting realities confront regard other creatures" (Balzar 1993, the animal rights movement: ( 1) the Al). A new Los Angeles Times poll huge and expanding number of animals showed that half or more Americans at our mercy on this planet; (2) the surveyed oppose sport hunting and the expanding global human population; wearing of fur, and that scientists and and (3) the fact that the animals are not protectionists have become joined "in a part of the liberation movement questioning humanity's most deeply formed on their behalf. embedded relationship with animals At a time when entire species of ani as a source of food" (Balzar, A30). mals in nature are being eliminated as a A good sign coming from the media result of human pressure, the number of was the 1994 radio commentary by animals in human-created confinement "20/20's" Hugh Downs, in which he systems-laboratories, factory farms, compared the growing realization that zoos, etc.-continues to grow. The use other animals "share an inner world as of biotechnology to propagate nonhuman reasonable and as sensible as ours" to the animals for humans to use however they realization which led European Whites wish does not bode well and can only be finally to become "morally obligated to exacerbated by the continued growth of grant manumission to Black slaves," human population. How can the animal after centuries of justifying human slav rights movement ever hope to "manage" ery with the same arguments that are such an enormous number of individuals applied today to nonhuman animals. with a seemingly limitless capacity to United Poultry Concerns Such thoughts give hope to those who materialize and rationalize its desires, PO. Box 59367, Potomac, must contend with the flood of animal .however mistaken? Maryland, 20859 abuse reports pouring in ~o their offices Continued on page 2 (301) 948-2406 every day. Continued from page 1 outrage of national animal rights groups over the abuse of a, chicken at a rock concert. Having known that something Unlike women and other subjugated human groups, the "bad" was being planned for the chicken he said, "We animals cannot organize to defend themselves. Any rebel would have done something sooner if we thought people lion on the part of an individual animal, from the anguished would care this much about a chicken" (Guinto 1995, 7). outburst of a tormented "circus" elephant to an exhausted In the light of such episodes, every affirmative action for chicken's inability to lay enough eggs to justify her contin animals is a major step. When we "stick up for chickens," ued existence as a capital investment, is punishable by we increase the amount of moral courage in the world. death. Thus, while every effort must be made to Notes extend equal protection to 1. Gary Francione's all animals under the law, it Animals, Property, and the is doubtful that the law can Law (1995) offers a vivid protect creatures whom it historical analysis of the has defined in advance as status of nonhuman ani property. Law professor mals as legal property. It Gary Francione has explains the legal, philo revealed "the extent to sophic, and economic dif which the legal system has ference between "welfare" incorporated animals as and "rights," and why the property without any regard distinction is not merely for their status as sentient academic but of critical beings different from inani importance for animals, mate objects (Francione ethics, and the future. 1995, 50).1 Even the so Francione is a Professor called "interests" of other of Law at Rutgers creatures count for nothing University Law School. compared with human interests which, as David Works Cited Olivier has said, "are put Balzar, John. 1993. into the scales not as plain "Creatures Great and interests, but with the much Equal?" Los Angeles stronger status of rights" Times. Sept. 25. Al, (Olivier 1994, 15). A30. According to philoso pher Peter Singer, "Animal Downs, Hugh. 1994. liberation will not be "On The Manumission accomplished until we persuade people that we don't have Of The Jungle." ABC News 20120. May 29. Rpt. the right to dominate and exploit [other] animals" International Society for Animal Rights Report. (Stallwood 1994, 31). How do we do thi s? One way is (Winter 1995): 4-5. replacing the perception of nonhuman animals as "things" Francione, Gary L. 1995. Animals, Property, and the Law. by revising our language to reflect the reality of other ani Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 50. mals' lives-like saying "animals who" instead of "animals Guinto, Joseph. 1995. "The chicken stops here." The Met. which" (Summit 1995). This could go a long way in chang Dallas, TX. February 23, 7. ing society's treatment of other creatures, for it is one thing Olivier, David, 1994. "All Animals Shall be Equal: On to eat "it," another thing to eat "him," or "her." Animal Liberation, Welfarism and Peter Singer." By thus upgrading the language, advocates encourage the Cahiers Antispecistes: reflexion et action pour la public to see the harm in continuing to define other crea liberation animate No. 10 (September): 11 -18. tures legally as "property." Noting that "law not only enforces morality but defines it," attorney Steven Zak says, Stall wood, Kim W. 1994. "A Conversation with Peter "Until the law protects the interests of animals, the animal Singer, Part II." The Animals' Agenda. 14.3: 30-31. rights movement will by definition be radical" Summit for the Animals. 1995. Resolution: "Adopting (Zak 1989, 74). Language Which Recognizes Animals As Individuals Morally, the animal rights movement has to be radical. And Not As Property Or Things." Kansas City, MO. Advocates must work to establish a way of living that would April 6-8. See PoultryPress. 5.2 (Spring/Summer actually allow the other animals of the world to "fare well" 1995): 6. with humans on this planet, creating an environment that Zak, Steven. 1989. "Ethics And Animals." The Atlantic nourishes other roots than those that have so far prevailed in Monthly (March): 69-74. our relationship with other creatures. Many more people will openly care about animals when they feel it is socially * This article was revised to include Gary Francione's book safe. Consider the concert organizer who was amazed by the Animals, Property, and the Law. United Poultry Concerns •P.O. Box 59367, Potomac, Maryland, 20859 • (301) 948-2406 Rooster Pull Publicized at Pocahontas Illustration by laze/le Lieske "Kindness and compassion towards traditional rooster pull day- five ready to fade away because of indif all living things is a mark of a civi horsemen duked it out with a rooster, ference." lized society. Conversely, cruelty, just as Zia Pueblo Gov. Stanley Pino At the last minute, Gov. Pino whether it is directed against human has said pueblo residents have been backed out of a I-hour CBS Radio doing for generations. In the middle of beings or against animals, is not the Network debate with UPC President exclusive province of any one culture the road leading to the mesa-top center Karen Davis on the nationally syndi or community of people. Racism, eco of Zia-just off N.M. 44 northwest of cated Gil Gross Show on July 7. He Bernalillo- rooster pull participants nomic deprivation, dog fighting and was replaced by New Mexico state cockfighting, bullfighting and rodeos tugged at the bird from atop their historian Robert Torrez who repeti mounts. When one rider gained con are cut from the same fabric: violence. tively stated that the pueblos have a Only when we have become nonviolent trol of the rooster for a moment or right to do as they please- with roost two, he used the bird to whack his towards all life will we have learned ers (not with him). For instance, at the to live well ourselves. " opponents. Just about every rider Santa Ana pueblo a bunch of guys sit - Cesar E. Chavez seemed to get in a few licks. around on horses laughing and beating President, United Farm Workers "From a short distance away, the each other over the head with three or ofAmerica, letter, Dec. 26, 1990 sport appeared to be lacking in gore four roosters. no spouts or splashes of blood. A few UPC activists in seven major U.S. feathers flew as the riders delivered Encouragingly, the NM Dept of Tourism announced in June it had cities leafleted moviegoers on the blows with the rooster-as-weapon. But "decided to remove any listings of opening night of Walt Disney's eventually the game ended with one rooster pulls from all future publica Pocahontas on June 23rd. The leaflet rider having the largest part of the tions of the New Mexico Vacation ing targeted a violent dismemberment rooster, with the featherless, headless Guide" and that "New Mexico will sport which is still being held by cer neck attached. And after that, the feast not condone such activities." tain Native American pueblos in New day continued with other events ...

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