ASAP Nova Scotia

Abolishing the Status of Animals as Property

Copyright © ASAP Nova Scotia 2007

The property status of animals results in their use as food, clothing, entertainment, testing, etc...This status directly leads to the appalling conditions in which they are forced to live, because their interests are not taken seriously.

“Animals are, as a matter of law, solely means to human ends.  As such, their value is measured in terms of their usefulness to humans, and not in terms of their own interest, the existence of which cannot be denied” Gray Francione, Professor of Law, Rutgers University.

It is most rational to exploit ones property for the maximum profit and it is profitable to kill and inflict suffering on animals.  The only abusive practices condemned by the law are those that tend to limit the owner’s financial gain and thus do not have animals’ interests in mind, but rather those of the property owner.  For example, it is illegal to starve farm animals to death (an inefficient use of property), but legal to temporarily starve egg laying hens because it causes them to produce more eggs.  Both acts cause incredible suffering, but only one increases profit.

“The institution of human slavery was structurally identical to the institution of animal ownership.  Because a human slave was regarded as property, the slave owner was able to disregard all of the slaves’ interests if it was economically beneficial to do so.” Gary Francione

Obviously, animals do not need exactly the same rights as humans, but the right to not be treated as someone’s property, to not be harmed or to not be killed are just as important to other animals as they are to us.

If you accept that animal interests matter and you condemn the unnecessary suffering of animals, align your actions with your belief.  You have the power to instantly effect positive change in the World.  What you do today matters.  By going vegan, you are setting an example or respect and responsible living AND you’re rejecting the property status of animals.

 

► Philosophy

10-Oct-07

“The animals of the World exist for their own reasons.  They were not made for humans anymore that black people were made for whites or women for men.” Alice Walker

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