Spain to recognise ape rights (1 Viewer)

[Captain Gh3y]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FBCFE1B1-1994-4EDE-95CF-AAD664F9CCA2.htm

Spain's parliament is to declare its support for rights to life and freedom for great apes, in what will apparently be the first time any national legislature has recognised such rights for non-humans.

Spanish parliament is to ask the government to approve the Great Ape Project, which would mean recognising that our closest genetic relatives should be part of a "community of equals" with humans, supporters of the resolution said.

=/

Why?

 

[0Jade0]

God how embarrassing.

 

[The Brucemaster]

Drugs and Government clearly should not be mixed...

 

[transcendent]

do they even have apes in Spain?

 

[kaylz]

do they even have apes in Spain?

Not just regular apes, either. Great ones.

 

[jt.]

...

 

[goldendawn]

I don't see what's so embarrasing about laws that enshrine the protection of the great apes (or of any animal, for that matter). These are complex, feeling beings who deserve protection from violence. It makes me sad; we're so wrapped up in ourselves, in our own amusements, that we lose empathy for the animals. We forget our humanity when we forget our sense of kinship.

 

[0Jade0]

Why create laws like this in a country that doesn't have a great ape population?

There are only a few hundred apes in Spain, mainly chimpanzees

Where? Seriously? In zoos?

 

[goldendawn]

Why create laws like this in a country that doesn't have a great ape population?


Where? Seriously? In zoos?

Spain is taking the initiative. Don't forget that Spain is right on top of Africa - I don't know what they have planned, but I'm quite sure it connects to their geography. I'm very impressed with Spain.

 

[0Jade0]

That the monkeys swam over or that they want to influence Africa?

I think that a lot of other issues need to be looked at before ape rights in Spain.

 

[volition]

apes have feelings too.

 

[goldendawn]

That the monkeys swam over or that they want to influence Africa?

I think that a lot of other issues need to be looked at before ape rights in Spain.

You could alot say that alot of other issues need to be adressed before you adress a single one of them - and hence nothing will ever be achieved. There will always be some domestic issue taking priority over animal rights, but I don't see how passing laws about animal rights means that domestic issues will be ignored. I'm not an expert on the topic, but bear in mind the smuggling of animal products, and the possible political or economic pressures Spain could exert on the African states.

 

[0Jade0]

Well I think the state of health care in Spain is more important than ape rights.

 

[Generator]

Well I think the state of health care in Spain is more important than ape rights.

To push one agenda isn't to say that they are ignoring another.

 

[goldendawn]

But does recognising ape-rights affect the state of health care in Spain? I don't see how the two are linked. If the Spanish government is complacent about health care then it deserves criticism for complacency about health care - it doesn't deserve criticism for recognising the rights of apes.

 

[0Jade0]

I just think that humans are more important than apes. That is all.

 

[ediisjoz]

That's intensely funny!

 

[0Jade0]

But that isn't true.

It's true for me.

 

[0Jade0]

That doesn't mean it's true does it.

Yes, yes it does.

 

[Optophobia]

No.

Maybe.