Chimpanzee representatives argue for animals' rights in New York court

[G_j]

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/27/chimpanzee-animals-rights-new-york-court

Attorney for Nonhuman Rights Project says two chimpanzees are unlawfully imprisoned and should be released as ‘self-determining beings’

Alan Yuhas in New York
@alanyuhas
Wednesday 27 May 2015 14.02

Representatives for two chimpanzees argued before a New York judge on Wednesday, in the first hearing of its kind over their “personhood” rights and freedom from a research institution.

Steven Wise, the lead attorney for the Nonhuman Rights Project, the group arguing on behalf of the chimps, said that the apes are unlawfully imprisoned and that the court should relieve them. They are “autonomous and self-determining beings”, he argued, and therefore deserve the right to bodily liberty.

He cited some of the same evidence that in April convinced judge Barbara Jaffe to grant the historic hearing, and spoke about research on chimpanzee intelligence, emotions and consciousness. He argued that chimps should not be classified as legal “things” if they share more in common with humans than not.

The chimps, named Leo and Hercules, are kept at Stony Brook University, where researchers use them in locomotion studies. As part of New York’s state university system, Stony Brook is represented by the state attorney general’s office.

Assistant attorney general Christopher Coulston argued that the case could set a bad precedent on animal rights, opening the possibility of court cases on the rights of zoo animals or even pets.

...more...

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. I would disagree with assistant AG Coulston, and argue that it sets an incredibly GOOD precedent.

And that our current treatment of other higher primates and cetaceans is barbaric in the extreme.

[Vattel]

2. I agree 100%!

[G_j]

4. Exactly. It's just the kind of precedence

that is sorely needed. Cruelty should be unacceptable in every way.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. I was quite encouraged by the post about L'Oreal using 3-D printers to create

human skin upon which to test their products, rather than using animals. Taken along with the prior posts on how advances are being made in cloning animal muscle tissue, it points to a future in which humans can continue to eat meat and wear cosmetics without actually killing or torturing animals. Heck, maybe they could start growing furs or printing up leather without animals being involved (other than as cell donors).

[dhill926]

6. and I would agree with you....

[Omaha Steve]

3. Thanks for posting

I will always K&R this kind of story!

OS