Leading Scientist Says Chimpanzees Should Have Moral Standing
April 2, 2012 by Michael Mountain
If you want to understand human nature, learn from other animals – especially chimpanzees. That’s the word from one of the world’s experts on chimpanzee behavior, Frans de Waal. He’s been studying chimpanzees for nearly 40 years, mostly at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center …
Big Step Forward for Rights of Dolphins and Whales
February 21, 2012 by Michael Mountain
At the world’s largest science conference, scientists and ethicists presented the case for recognizing dolphins and whales as non-human persons.
How Much Is a Family Pet Worth?
January 11, 2012 by Michael Mountain
“Special value must be more than the market value of a well-trained dog … We believe that the special value…may be derived from the attachment that an owner feels for his pet.”
How Do You Define a Person?
November 9, 2011 by Michael Mountain
While a pair of cells may be deemed to be a person, a 40-year-old elephant or orca, who carries the wisdom and culture of her community, is no more considered a person than is a computer or a pile of garbage.
Will PETA’s SeaWorld Suit Sink or Swim
October 27, 2011 by Michael Mountain
Demanding constitutional rights won’t fly. But watch for another approach that will soon change everything.
Mitt Romney Spoke the Truth
August 25, 2011 by Michael Mountain
If our justice system can view a corporation a person, like Romney said, perhaps one day it will be able to see at least some of our fellow animals as persons, too.
Can a Non-Human Be a ‘Person’?
August 19, 2011 by Michael Mountain
Laws that protect animals from cruelty are granted as acts of kindness, not inherent rights. One attorney is setting out to put a crack in the legal wall that separates humans from nonhumans.