10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2021

Since our trip was meant to leave from Cabuya, we were in the right place for this fine year bird. Another vagrant that has been hanging out in Costa Rica, an individual of this duck species from either Peru or the Galapagos has been living at the shorebird hotspot of Punta Morales for more than a month.

Costa Rica 214

Costa Rica ALA Peru Texas 214

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2021

Black-bellied Plover on the left, collection of Peeps on the right. Those are Dunlins on the right and in the middle; longer bills, darker breast, and much larger than the much more common Western Sandpiper on the left. The moral of the story? Most winter in the U.S. and Canada). Don’t let the hurricanes get you down!

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Blackbirds Shelters Ducks Mexico 232

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 1, 2010

If an animal has the relevant moral capacities, actually or potentially, then it can be a possessor of rights. The evidence available to date about the rational capacities of animals is far from complete, but to date it appears to be decidedly unfavourable to the view that any animals possess the relevant moral capacities.

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Animal Rights Rights Morals Animal 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 21, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. Would they have the right to treat you as you treat animals you breed, keep, and kill for food? Tags: Moral Vegetarianism. Most human beings and presumably all of Harris’s aliens are persons. Most animals are probably not persons.

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Killing Humane 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 9, 2009

A third of a century ago, when the modern animal-liberation movement was in its infancy, Martin published an essay entitled “A Critique of Moral Vegetarianism,” Reason Papers (fall 1976): 13-43. You will, therefore, agree with Martin about moral vegetarianism but not about Christianity. Another reason is moral. One is health.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Meat Vegan 40

Animal Person

DECEMBER 1, 2009

The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages calls itself "an animal rights-protection-abolitionist organization," which I find interesting. It is a conflict of interest for animal protection organizations to advocate for the drivers' jobs at the expense of the horses and they lose their moral authority by confusing those priorities.

Animal Rights 100

Animal Rights Protection Rights Greyhounds 100

Animal Person

JULY 19, 2009

Here's a hint from the authors: In the end, it's not the grammarians and usage experts who decide what's right. The animal rights movement, such as it is, is experiencing somewhat of a crisis of usage. I feel for the purist also with regard to the terms "animal rights" and "abolition." So who's right?

Animal Rights 100

Animal Rights Rights Animal Animal Rights Movement 100

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 21, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. SOME PROBLEMS OF MORAL VEGETARIANISM With respect to traditional moral vegetarianism some problems immediately come to the fore. What animals is it morally wrong to eat? But what is the extent of the universal moral principle?

Morals 40

Morals Vegetarian Meat Lions 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

Now when we ask what is the general nature of morally good actions, it seems quite clear that it is in virtue of the motives that they proceed from that actions are morally good. Thus a morally good action need not be the doing of a right act, and the doing of a right act need not be a morally good action.

Rights 40

Rights Morals Indianapolis Meat 40

Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 24, 2013

To live one''s own natural life, to realize one''s self, is the true moral purpose of man and animal equally, and the wrong done by the unnecessary cramping and thwarting of animal individuality, as in the turning of an active intelligent being into a prisoner or pet, cannot really be compensated by the gift of any material "comforts."

Animal Rights 40

Animal Rights Rights Animal Morals 40

Reddit Animals

JULY 6, 2023

The conditions at the internship are honestly terrible and it has me digging into the morality of this place. Something just doesn’t seem right. Long story short, I know someone interning at a wildlife sanctuary. For privacy I won’t say which one. I’m no expert, but that sounds like b t. Is there some place I can call?

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Sanctuary Wildlife Wolves Morals 40

Animal Ethics

MARCH 27, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. ARGUMENTS FOR MORAL VEGETARIANISM A variety of arguments have been given for vegetarianism. Sometimes they take such a sketchy form that it is not completely clear they are moral arguments. Tags: Moral Vegetarianism.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Monkeys Meat 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

In issuing its condemnation of established cultural practices, the rights view is not antibusiness, not antifreedom of the individual, not antiscience, not antihuman. It is simply projustice, insisting only that the scope of justice be seen to include respect for the rights of animals. Might does not make right; might does make law.

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Animal Rights Movement Animal Rights Rights Los Angeles 40

Animal Ethics

MAY 4, 2008

There is no inconsistency in rejecting plant rights while accepting animal rights. If Smith thinks that plant rights and animal rights stand or fall together, then he is confused, for there is a morally relevant difference between plants and animals, namely, that only the latter are sentient.

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Rights Animal Rights Movement Morals Ethical Treatment 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 30, 2011

But when a moral being is feeling a pleasure or pain that is deserved or undeserved, or a pleasure or pain that implies a good or a bad disposition, the total fact is quite inadequately described if we say 'a sentient being is feeling pleasure, or pain'. Pleasure is good when, and only when, it is deserved.

Morals 40

Morals Indianapolis Humane Suffering 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

For an explanation of this feature, click on “Moral Vegetarianism” at the bottom of this post. The Argument from Human Grain Shortage All of the clearly moral arguments for vegetarianism given so far have been in terms of animal rights and suffering. Tags: Moral Vegetarianism. KBJ: I’m speechless.

Vegetarian 40

Vegetarian Morals Meat Cattle 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 19, 2009

I assumed that Hume was right in thinking that ultimately morality depends on how we feel about things. Many prominent animal-rights advocates (such as Tom Regan ) are deontologists rather than consequentialists. Perhaps Smart was still thinking (in 1980) of Kant versus Bentham, rationality versus sentience.

Morals 40

Morals Animal Liberation Animal Dolphins 40

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2019

To be called Lesser Racquet-tailed Drongo – what does this do to the morale of a species? Orange-bellied Leafbird among leaves: somebody got it right naming this bird. If you like this kind of information – and who wouldn`t – I recommend the website where I found this, [link]. A Long-tailed Sibia. Pygmy Cupwing. Meet Mr. and Ms.

Birds 216

Birds Malaysia Morals Asia 216

Animal Ethics

JULY 14, 2008

I've been reading the literature of animal rights for nearly three decades, and contributing to it for the past decade or so. fails to tell his readers what it is to have a right), fails to distinguish between positive rights and negative rights, and in general glosses over all the important questions, philosophical and otherwise.

Animal Rights 40

Animal Rights Rights Animal New York Times 40

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

We don’t see the sky blue little bird of the canopy in droves but bird the right places in late August and early September and you have a pretty good chance of finding a few. The biggest highlight right now, though, is shorebird migration. A typical scene at Punta Morales. An Osprey on vacation.

Costa Rica 157

Costa Rica Morals Birds Mississippi 157

Animal Person

AUGUST 16, 2011

Hal Herzog’s “ Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat ” (Harper 2011), though fascinating, is ultimately depressing for vegans and animal rights activists. Over at Animal Rights and AntiOppression , we’ve been discussing tactics and sharing our thoughts and experiences about what works and doesn’t work when it comes to advocacy.

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Vegan Morals Animal Rights Advocacy 100

Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 23, 2009

I will conclude with some remarks about the rights of animals. When it is asked whether animals have rights, and whether human beings have duties to them, the question, I think, is partly moral and partly verbal. Let us consider the moral question first. Hominum causa omne ius constitutum.)

Animal Rights 40

Animal Rights Rights Animal Cruelty 40

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 12, 2015

Although lip service was paid to the fact that lions are endangered and a lion was poached, the language of anger was the language of animals rights. The killing of Cecil was equated with murder, a moral crime rather than a symptom of a ecological problem. This is of course an anathema for many in the animal rights camp.

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Lions Hunting Sierra Leone Buffalo 216

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 30, 2012

The legal rights of nonhuman animals might first be achieved in any of three ways. In 2002 the German Parliament amended Article 26 of the Basic Law to give nonhuman animals the right to be “respected as fellow creatures” and to be protected from “avoidable pain.” Unlike legislators, judges are at least formally bound to do justice.

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Rights For Animals Legislation Laws 40

Animal Ethics

MAY 25, 2008

One restriction on the absolutism of man's rule over Nature is now generally accepted: moral philosophers and public opinion agree that it is morally impermissible to be cruel to animals. Controversies no doubt remain.

Morals 40

Morals 2004 Animal Suffering Vivisection 40

Critter News

APRIL 16, 2009

There are a lot of similarities between that movement and today's animal rights movement (such as it is.but that's another post). The drive to emancipate slaves was grounded on religious and moral grounds. It's not there and it is one crucial element the animal rights movement is missing. Just look at the pro-life movement.

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Animal Rights Movement Animal Rights Morals Rights 100

Animal Ethics

APRIL 23, 2008

For every person, being a subject of interests, has rights, i.e., has a claim to respect of his interests under the law of equality of persons. Under the moral law, all beings who have interests are subjects of rights, while all those who in addition to having interests, are capable of grasping the demands of duty, are subjects of duties.

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Rights Morals Apes Laws 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 18, 2017

Yesterday, the world lost its most powerful voice for animal rights, Tom Regan. No one has done more to explain what "animal rights" means and why animals have rights than Tom Regan. As Regan expressed so simply and straightforwardly, what animal rights advocates want is for "people to stop doing terrible things to animals."

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2017 Raleigh Animal Advocacy Animal Rights 75

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 10, 2008

Why is it surprising that I have little to say about the nature of rights? It would only be surprising to one who assumes that my case for animal liberation is based upon rights and, in particular, upon the idea of extending rights to animals. I have little to say about rights because rights are not important to my argument.

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Animal Rights Rights Animal Liberation Animal 40

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2020

And, given the complicated questions of morality inherent in various parts of her story, she has the perfect (and perfectly ambiguous) ending. Yes, that’s right – she adds an epilogue. She includes a good history of a time, culture, and part of the world not well known, at least not to norteamericanos.

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Uruguay 2001 Bald Eagle Science 155

Animal Ethics

JULY 24, 2015

Forty years ago, the suggestion that nonhuman animals have moral rights—indeed, many of the same rights as human beings—would have been met with incredulous stares, if not outright ridicule. Fast forward to the present. Other results from this Gallup poll can be found here.

Morals 40

Morals 2015 Industry Protection 40

Animal Ethics

MAY 14, 2008

The question of whether animals possess rights is once again topical, largely as a result of the recent surge of interest in animal welfare and in the moral pros and cons of eating animals and using them in scientific research. Arguments to show that animals do have rights, therefore, are at a premium. (

Animal Rights 40

Animal Rights Rights Animal Welfare Animal 40

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2017

I guess another factor to consider is that Costa Rica is small enough for any of these birds to just fly right over the entire country. These were the Guacalillo lagoons (basically part of the Tarcoles River estuary), the Chomes area, and the salt ponds at Punta Morales (Cocorocas). Some of the birds at Morales.

Costa Rica 101

Costa Rica Morals Breeders Sparrows 101

Critter News

OCTOBER 26, 2008

I came across this 2005 book from the Society & Animals Journal titled Confronting Cruelty Moral Orthodoxy and the Challenge of the Animal Rights Movement. Readership: This book will be of interest to anyone who wishes to understand the animal rights movement in England, the United States and Australia. Sounds interesting.

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Cruelty Animal Rights Movement Factory Farm Factory Farming 100

Critter News

APRIL 11, 2010

To see an issue of such moral debate minimized to simply economic activity is just not right. Our country needs federal stimulus money and I was a big supporter of this initiative of President Obama's. But it disappoints and frustrates me to see it consistently used for purposes that I passionately oppose.

Animal Research 100

Animal Research Research Obama North Carolina 100

Animal Ethics

JUNE 17, 2008

It would remain true, of course, that the vegetarian diet is more limited, since every pleasure available to the vegetarian is also available to the carnivore (not counting the moral satisfactions involved, of course—which would be question-begging), plus more which are not available to the vegetarian so long as he remains one.

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Vegetarian Morals Vegetarian Cooking Slaughter 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 11, 2008

We can, of course, with consistency treat animals as mere pests and deny that they have any rights; for most animals, especially those of the lower orders, we have no choice but to do so. But it seems to me, nevertheless, that in general, animals are among the sorts of beings of whom rights can meaningfully be predicated and denied.

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2004 Animal Rights Rights Animal 40