EARTHLINGS is an award-winning documentary film about the suffering of animals for food, fashion, pets, entertainment and medical
research. Considered the
most persuasive documentary ever made, EARTHLINGS is nicknamed “the Vegan maker” for its sensitive footage shot at animal shelters, pet stores, puppy
mills, factory farms, slaughterhouses, the leather and fur trades, sporting
events, circuses and research labs. The film is narrated by Academy Award®
nominee Joaquin Phoenix and features music by platinum-selling recording
artist Moby. Initially ignored by distributors, today EARTHLINGS is considered
the definitive animal rights film by organizations around the world. “Of all
the films I have ever made, this is the one that gets people talking the
most,” said Phoenix. “For every one person who sees EARTHLINGS, they will tell three.”
Albert Einstein
"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us the 'Universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something
separate from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest
to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this
completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security." - New York Post, 28 November 1972
New York Bird Club Comment on Animal Welfare Vs Rights
I am afraid this was not a discussion based on a real understanding of the underlying principle that guides the abolitionist movement, so I
would like to clarify some points.
The distinction between animal rights and animal welfare is meaningless hairsplitting. You cannot have animal rights without welfare. Those who give the same respect to animal lives as human
lives are also concerned with the welfare of animals. On the other hand how can you possibly claim to look out for someones welfare, if you allow for their killing to meet human needs?
Your lack of understanding of the abolitionist movement is apparent from the following statement:
"Animal rights is the philosophical notion that humans and animals have the same legal rights and that there is no difference between a rat and sick child, and this philosophy is their
basis for opposing the involvement of any animals for any purpose whatsoever."
It oversimplifies the issue and makes it seem as though if you respect the lives of animals you are condemning sick children to death. This does not begin to approximate the reality of
medical research. An organization in India is working to eliminate the use of animals as research subjects, by using scientific methods which do
not harm any living beings:
The hierarchy of man above animals was conveniently expounded in the old testament and has been wreaking havoc with compassion ever since. In this systems humans are placed above all other
beings. A dog who has saved lives may be subjected to scientific experimentation, while a human who may be a serial killer is not. Placing humans above all other beings and granting them alone the
right to have their life preserved is self-serving and cruel:
"I do not see the hierarchy of human/animal. Instead I see a hierarchy of beings who are beneficial to society - Dogs come to mind as heroes and helpers, yet a dog can be tested on and a
violent human criminal cannot. Something is wrong with this hierarchy." bbc website
Yet according to Biblical dictates if you are not human your life is of less value. Other religious which respect the lives of all beings do not claim that there is no difference between a
sick child and a rat, rather they recognize that despite the differences, what is common to both the sick child and the rat is the ability to feel pain and value its life:
"For there is nothing inaccessible for death.
All beings are fond of life, hate pain, like pleasure,
shun destruction, like life, long to live. To all life
is dear." Jain Acharanga Sutra.
Perhaps there is more wisdom in this approach. I we learned to respect what we have in common with others rather than emphasizing the differences, there would be less violence both to humans and
animals.
PETA (along with the other mainstream organizations you noted) in my opinion is not an animal rights organization as it adovcates
for the killing of homeless animals and works closely with the meat industry to insure that they can go on killing indefinitely.
Into The Eyes Of God
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