Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

It is simply projustice, insisting only that the scope of justice be seen to include respect for the rights of animals. The animal rights movement is not for the faint of heart. How we change the dominant misconception of animals—indeed, whether we change it—is to a large extent a political question.

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Animal Ethics

JANUARY 30, 2012

The legal rights of nonhuman animals might first be achieved in any of three ways. For example, the Treaty of Amsterdam that came into force on May 1, 1999, formally acknowledged that nonhuman animals are “sentient beings” and not merely goods or agricultural products. Wise , “ The Evolution of Animal Law Since 1950 ,” chap.

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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. It is this latter view, I believe, that is in the minds of some of those who deny that animals have rights.

Animal Rights 40

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Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 6, 2007

A column entitled "Ag Industry Threatened by Animal Rights" appeared in today's High Plains/Midwest Ag Journal [ HPMAJ ]. The column, which you can read here , is a call to arms to factory farmers to fight back against those individuals and organizations working to protect farm animals from the abuses inherent in factory farms.

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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.

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Animal Ethics

AUGUST 15, 2012

If people are encouraged to believe that the harm done to animals matters morally only when these animals belong to endangered species, then these same people will be encouraged to regard the harm done to other animals as morally acceptable. This is not what the rights view implies.

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Endangered Species Species Los Angeles Morals 40

Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 6, 2009

Code, Title 18.48, made it a federal crime to knowingly create, sell, or possess a depiction of animal cruelty with the intention of placing that depiction in interstate or foreign commerce for commercial gain. Is the NYTimes right to support striking down the law banning depictions of animal cruelty on First Amendment/free speech grounds?

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Pit Bulls Animal Cruelty Laws Animal 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 7, 2015

To the Editor: As Mark Bittman rightly notes, California’s new farm animal welfare law presages what is coming for all farm animal industries nationally (“ Hens, Unbound ,” column, Jan. Physically, the muscles and the bones of the animals atrophy from lack of use. FRIEDRICH Washington, Jan.

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Animal Ethics

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

To the Editor: Re “ Animal, Vegetable, Miserable ,” by Gary Steiner (Op-Ed, Nov. 22): Mr. Steiner might feel less lonely as an ethical vegan—he says he has just five vegan friends—if he recognized that he has allies in mere vegetarians (like me), ethical omnivores and even carnivores. How far do we go in protecting them?

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New York Times New York Vegan Vegetarian 40

Animal Ethics

JUNE 7, 2016

In light of this horrible incident, is it right for the zoo to carry on a breeding program that subjects more animals to such unnatural lives? The zoo, surely, carries responsibility for deficiencies in its enclosure. Finally, what of the audience? The hysteria of the crowd surely played a part in escalating an already frightening situation.

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Animal Ethics

JULY 2, 2007

Dear Keith, I work with Wesleyan University Professor Scott Plous (founder of Social Psychology Network), and I'm writing to let you know of a new web site related to animal protection. The site uses a unique interactive technology to offer "human-like" interviews that probe the ethical dimensions of diet and lifestyle choices.

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Animal Ethics

JUNE 11, 2008

So far McCloskey is on solid ground, but one can quarrel with his denial that any animals but humans have interests. I should think that the trustee of funds willed to a dog or cat is more than a mere custodian of the animal he protects. The animal itself is the beneficiary of his dutiful services.

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Animal Ethics

APRIL 20, 2010

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment protects depictions of animal cruelty. This does not mean that it protects animal cruelty, which is (and ought to be) illegal in every state.

Animal Cruelty 40

Animal Cruelty United States Cruelty illegal 40

Animal Ethics

MARCH 30, 2007

Because animal flesh sold for human consumption abroad must be inspected by a USDA inspector, the court ruling may mean that the few remaining horse-slaughtering plants in the U.S.—including A detailed exchange concerning the ethics of eating horses, including several posts by me, can be read here. is available here.

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Animal Ethics

MARCH 5, 2007

I don't expect that many readers will be converted to the cause of animal rights by reading this book. If they are to be swayed, the change is likely to come from witnessing the realities of the fate endured by animals. Nor have I dealt with advances in the legal protection of animals both in practice and in theory.

Animal Rights 40

Animal Rights Rights Animal Morals 40

Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 9, 2009

To the Editor: Re “ Animal Cruelty and Free Speech ” (editorial, Oct. 6): I do not agree that “anyone with an appreciation for the First Amendment” must conclude that “crush videos” or videos of vicious dogfights are protected speech and that the federal law in question should therefore be struck down. Fred Engelhardt Alna, Me.,

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New York Times New York Animal Cruelty Cruelty 40

Animal Ethics

AUGUST 11, 2010

2): We disagree with your contention that the First Amendment protects animal “crush” videos. Stevens , the Supreme Court last year overturned a 1999 law banning depictions of animal cruelty on the grounds of overbreadth. To the Editor: Re “ Disgusting but Not Illegal ” (editorial, Aug. In United States v.

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New York Times New York District of Columbia Animal Cruelty 40

Animal Ethics

MARCH 16, 2007

To inflict death or pain on animals for scientific or medical research is wrong morally, and ought to be prohibited. This follows from everything said in the text about the rights of animals. This does not mean that animals may never be deliberately harmed or become subjects of research. Animals cannot give consent.

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Animal Ethics

MARCH 21, 2007

To the Editor: I appreciate Nicolette Hahn Niman’s efforts in raising awareness about the conditions in which pigs are raised (“ Pig Out ,” Op-Ed, March 14), but I was struck by her comment that it is incumbent on us to ensure that animals have decent lives because we ask them to make the ultimate sacrifice for us. They don’t volunteer.

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Animal Ethics

JULY 22, 2008

The Unalienable Rights of Chimps ,” by Adam Cohen (Editorial Observer, July 14): The Spanish Parliament’s decision to grant rights to apes is indeed groundbreaking, and will foster philosophical discussion about animal protection for some time. Our findings follow many other studies demonstrating mental anguish in traumatized animals.

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New York Times Humane Society Of The United States New York Apes 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 8, 2011

To the Editor: Mark Bittman wants to outlaw confined livestock feeding operations because, he says, they harm the environment, torture animals and make meat less safe (“ A Food Manifesto for the Future ,” column, Feb. It keeps animals safe and comfortable and protects them from predators and disease.

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New York Times New York Livestock Meat 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 14, 2009

I foresee a day, perhaps not far in the future, in which it is illegal to raise cows, pigs, and other animals for food. The ground for this will not be animal welfare, as you might expect, but environmentalism. The natural environment, unlike individual animals, is inanimate, unconscious, and insentient.

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Animal Ethics

MAY 23, 2008

To the Editor: Re “ A Disgraceful Farm Bill ” (editorial, May 16): While the farm bill recently approved by Congress deals with enormous agricultural policy issues, it also includes three important provisions to protect animal welfare. Enforcement has been inconsistent at best.

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New York Times Humane Society Of The United States Wayne Pacelle Animal Welfare Act 40

Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 13, 2008

9): Thank you for encouraging California voters to support the state’s Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, or Proposition 2, on the November ballot. Consumer boycotts and protective laws are desperately needed. To protect the welfare of the animals as well as the safety of America’s food supply, the A.V.M.A.

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New York Times Proposition 2 New York Egg Industry 40

Animal Ethics

SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

The exploitation of farm workers reverberates in the treatment of farm animals and degradation of the environment. New York’s protection of laborers should be a first step toward recognition of the other systemic abuses that occur on farms that, like the long-ignored rights of farm workers, have been constantly disregarded by legislators.

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New York Times Foie Gras Animal Welfare Institute New York 40

Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 23, 2008

15), is precisely on the mark regarding the urgency and importance of today’s plant and animal extinction crisis. And Mr. Klinkenborg’s conclusion that an international effort similar to what is happening to address the current global financial crisis will be necessary to protect species prompts a question.

New York Times 40

New York Times New York United States Arlington 40

Animal Ethics

JULY 15, 2009

It's hard to say because the government still has not instituted a comprehensive MRSA inspection process, but independent research conducted by Tara Smith, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Iowa, suggests that MRSA-infected animals may be widespread indeed. are fed to farm animals. We've seen this with E.

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Animal Ethics

APRIL 23, 2008

To the Editor: In his past comments about protecting animals and nature, Pope Benedict XVI is building upon the Roman Catholic Church’s tradition of promoting faithful stewardship of all creatures (“ A Cat Lover in the Vatican Strikes a Chord With Cat Lovers Around the World ,” news article, April 20).

New York Times 40

New York Times Humane Society Of The United States New York Puppy Mills 40

Animal Ethics

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

I think it is safe to say that yes, an intelligent animal is unhappy, even downright miserable, being confined to a crate two by seven feet for months on end. They’re about protecting a system that produces cheap food. They’re about protecting a system that produces cheap food. Farm Animal Welfare, ASPCA New York, Feb.

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New York Times New York Gestation Crates Gestation 40

Animal Ethics

JULY 28, 2011

Please see below for the press release.

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Animal Ethics

JULY 29, 2009

Keith, Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal protection organization, is extremely close to reaching our goal of collecting 10,000 signatures on our "Truth Behind Labels" petition to the USDA to tell them their "naturally raised" label is not natural. We're currently at 9,556 signatures—96% of the way there!

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Animal Ethics

OCTOBER 17, 2008

9) does little to advance the debate on farm animal housing. And you do not acknowledge the individual care that pigs get in such systems and the protection from predators, diseases and the aggression that pigs often exhibit toward each other in group housing. To the Editor: “ Standing, Stretching, Turning Around ” (editorial, Oct.

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New York Times New York Gestation Farm Animal 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 30, 2009

Many of these antibiotics are routinely added to the feed of healthy animals to promote rapid weight gain. Department of Agriculture have all declared drug-resistant diseases stemming from antibiotic use in animals a "serious emerging concern." Slaughter’s bill banning the routine use of antibiotics in animal feed.

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Meat Meat Industry Farm Animal Farmed Animals 40

Animal Ethics

JANUARY 6, 2007

Here is an excellent article by Gayle Dean on the Bush Administration's excessive use of the rhetoric of terror, especially as it is being selectively applied to animal rights advocates. That time is now.

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Animal Ethics

JULY 7, 2009

The Argument from Animal Rights A stronger argument is made by people who maintain that animals have rights. In particular, it has been argued that animals have a right to life. So, even if animals are killed painlessly and raised for food in humane ways, it is wrong to kill them.

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Morals Vegetarian Suffering Killing 40

Animal Ethics

DECEMBER 31, 2011

Animals suffer when killed. It is only the prejudice of our species that justifies culling the deer population while protecting our own. BRANIGAN President, Make Peace With Animals New Hope, Pa., He says meat tastes more precious when you’ve watched it die. May I recommend a trip to a slaughterhouse? MARIE BROWN Baldwin, N.Y.,

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Animal Ethics

MARCH 17, 2008

To the Editor: Thank you for publicizing the plight of satos—street dogs—in Puerto Rico in “ Scrutiny for Puerto Rico Over Animal Treatment ” (news article, March 9). As one animal advocate put it, “we need to work together and keep the finger in the side of government.”

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New York Times Puerto Rico World Society For The Protection Of Animals New York 40