Friday Blog: Week Eight

Books I read this quarter and page numbers. total 1,316 pages including note pages in the book.

• Monkey Business by Kathy Snow Guillermo (254 pages)

• Animal Scam by Kathleen Marquardt (221 pages)

• Rattling the Cage by Steven M. Wise (384 pages)

• Animal Liberation by Peter Singer (368 pages)

• Animal Rights: Opposing Viewpoints by Janelle Rohr (89/253 pages)

As I read my final book Animal Rights: Opposing Viewpoints, pages 1- 89, I came across a few words that I was unfamiliar with. These words consist of...

Inegalitarian (page 19)
Not egalitarian; lacking in or disdaining equality.

Postulates (page 32)
To ask, demand, or claim.

Implausible (page 43)
Not plausible; not having the appearance of truth or credibility.

Sentient (page 45)
Having the power of perception by the senses; conscious.

Incessant (page 46)
Continuing without interruption; ceaseless; unending.

Wretchedness (page 53) 
Very unfortunate in condition or circumstances; miserable; pitiable.

Laudable (page 59)
Deserving praise; praiseworthy; commendable.

Trepidation (page 84)
Tremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation.

Dogmatic (page 84) 
Any strong set of principles concerning faith,morals, etc., as those laid down by a church; doctrinal.

(All definitions taken from dictonary.com)

Source: slideplayer.com

Thursday Blog: Week Eight

This week I have been reading parts of the Opposing Viewpoints by Janelle Rohr, has provided me with views from both sides of the argument of animal rights   This reminds me of the other book I read about the opposition to animal rights. These books and the others I have read have allowed me to get an unbiased opinion of.my own when it comes to animal rights. Through out this quarter I have learned a lot about animal cruelty and animal rights and also I learned about laws and regulations surrounding these issues. All of these things have made me more informed and also been able to change who I am today.

Soruce: beaveronline.co.uk

One the topic of  animal cruelty I learned about things that took place in a variety of locations and also a varieties of problems  that animals are faced with. In respects to the places in which it can take place, I learned that animal cruelty can happen any where. The books I read highlighted the abuse that happened in labs, in farms and slaughter houses, and also abuse that takes place at peoples homes. In addition to learning the different areas which abuse can take place in, I also learned about the difference between the need versus the amount of donations given. this topic was highlighted in Peter singer presentation when he brought up the fact that farm animals makeup the largest percentage of animals being treated poorly, but dogs and cat are one of the smallest percent. This being said, the dogs and cats received the most financial support where as farm animals receive the least. This brings up the next thing I learned from reading books on the topic of animal rights. I learned that often laws set are not followed and if they are followed, they often do not fully protect the animals to being subjected to any inhumane treatment.

Source: animalcharityevaluators.org

Peter Singer actually used this exact graph in his presentation, which shows the difference between the categories and the donations received.

Some of these laws which do not fully protect animals include the animal welfare act of 1966 which has since been revised. This document did not full protect animals from abuse and left gaps where the  law could be interpreted in different ways. This website actually talks about the history behind the animal welfare act and discusses how it provides insufficient protection to all animals. Although since the act was originally passed many things have been changed, but there are still was for things to take place behind closed doors. For example, in the first book I read, the lab which the monkeys were kept in was passing inspection even in its decrepit state. This shows how with any amount of money or connections corrupt companies can get away with things other cannot. Since that book was published I do believe many things have improved, but it definitely is still a problem today, and that is why I have dedicated this quarter to learning more about what really goes on behind closed doors.

"The Animal Welfare Act is intended to ensure the humane treatment of animals that are intended for research, bred for commercial sale, exhibited to the public, or commercially transported. Under the AWA, businesses and others with animals covered by the law must be licensed or registered , and they must adhere to minimum standards of care. Farm animals are among those not covered by the act."

The quote above is taken from slideshow which is linked, the slide show covers many things relating to the animal welfare act and animal rights in general. 

All of these things have led me to become more involved in decreasing the number of animals killed and used around america, and I plan to continue making a difference in this area for as long as I can. The video below is an inspiring TED talk by Simone Reyes, in which she explains how everyone can make a difference.

Wednesday Blog: Week Eight

As the quarter comes to an end I decided to create a blog post with many mediums of things pertaining to animal rights. Below I have included newspaper articles, magazines, and songs.  

US civil rights group hails historic progress in the fight to secure fundamental rights for nonhuman animals

New York’s Court of Appeals admits for the first time there is no legal basis for denying personhood rights to chimpanzees – although it continues to deny them

• Nick Turner @NickMTurner
• Wednesday 16 May 2018 23:00 
• 
  

Click to follow
The Independent

USDA Ordered to Publish Complete 

Animal Welfare Reports

In 2017, the agency began posting redacted records, but Congress is now demanding full transparency.

Mar 23, 2018

ASHLEY YEAGER

2

FLICKR, UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH"Be Their Voice" by singer Vanessa Dawson    

Tuesday Blog: Week Eight

Through out all the books I have read this semester, Animal Liberation by Peter Singer fascinated me the most. This book covered an entire spectrum of problems relating to animal rights, and also provided the readers with the most productive rational as to why they should make a change in their lives. After finishing this book, I learned more about what I can do as an individual to make a difference in the fight for animal rights. This book and listening to a speech by Peter Singer himself in person has inspired me to change the way I live and that is why I chose a quote said by Singer for my last quote blog this semester. Although this quote was not said in the book, it is still very powerful and I believe it encompasses the overall themes of the animal rights movement. 

Source: arzone.ning.com

"Animals, or at least those who are conscious and capable of suffering or enjoying their lives, are not things for us to use in whatever way we find convenient." ~ Peter Singer

Source: animalethics.org

This quote perfectly encompasses everything that the animal rights movement stands for. I brigs up many things that I covered this quarter in my analytical blogs and ultimately connects back to my essential questions which I created at the beginning of the quarter. In this quote, Singer is basically explaining why it is wrong to use animal for our benefit at the cost of their suffering. One of the main arguments brought up in all of the books I read was the idea of cognition. The concept of animal cognition is relevant to this quote because it brings up the idea that all living things which are capable of cognition should not be subjected to any type of pain or suffering, especially none that humans impose on them. This suffering consists of many things including the injustices I read about in the other books. Some of them include, animal testing such as Deafferentation and the Draize eye test,but also things as the treatment of animals in slaughter houses and inhumane breeding. All of theses animals are capable of cognition, and even the book which was opposed to animal rights admitted that most animals are capable of feeling and thinking. The book which opposed giving animals rights said that animals should never come before humans, ad that is true. But as singer implies i this quote and many others, animals are not more important that people, but they must be treated with equal respect. In conclusion, this quote encompasses my largest take away from this quarter which is to treat all beings with respect and to try not to benefit from others losses.

The video below explains this idea very well ad would be worth while to check out.

Friday Blog: Week Seven

This week I finished Animal Liberation by Peter Singer pages 120- 368. Next week I plan on reading selective chapter from the book that was originally last in the plan. This week while reading I came across a few words I was unfamiliar with. 

Vocab

Assimilable (Page 181)-
Capable of being assimilated.

Complacency (Page 185)-

A feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

Despotism (Page 187)-

The rule of a despot; the exercise of absolute authority.

Juxtaposition (Page 189)-

An act or instance of placing close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

Ameliorate (Page 197)-
To make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve.

Absolve (Page 202)-
To free from guilt or blame or their consequences.

Confer (Page 228)-

To consult together; compare opinions; carry on a discussion or deliberation.

Egalitarian (Page 238)-

Asserting, resulting from, or characterized by belief in the equality of all people, especially in political,economic, or social life.

Speciesism (Page 244)-

Discrimination in favor of one species, usually the human species, over another, especially in the exploitation or mistreatment of animals by humans.

Fallacious (Page 245)-

Containing a fallacy; logically unsound.

Source: goodnature.nathab.com

All definitions are taken from dictonary.com 

Thursday Blog: Week Seven

As I continue to read Animal Liberation by Peter Singer I have started to become far more interested in the author. Last Wednesday I attended a speech of his and now after reading more of the book, I see that he is very morally inclined person. All of the reasons he gives in his book and his speech were backed up by logic and a ethical argument. 

In the book he backs up all of his arguments with a comparison to human and people rights. An example of this is the quote blog from week seven. He expressed he idea that how can we give everyone equal rights if you exclude animals from this group. This shows how he supports his position by not only logic but also ethics. this creates a more compelling argument and makes the reader more likely to agree with him.

Source: animalcharityevaluators.org

Similarly to the way he supports his arguments in the book he also supports his argument in his speech the same way. To open he discussed effective altruism which is a philosophy and social movement that uses evidence and reasoning to determine the most effective ways to benefit others. Effective altruism encourages individuals to consider all causes and actions and to act in the way that brings about the greatest positive impact, based upon their values" (wikipedia.org). He then connected this to the way we treat animals by using this philosophy and it was a very convincing argument. He mentioned things like if everyone in the United States stopped eating meat for just one day,it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for five weeks or reducing everyone’s daily showers by 3 minutes. 

To learn more about the impact of reducing meat intake check out this website.

Source: progressivepodcastaustralia.com

To listen to a speech similar to the one I attended check out this podcast

Wednesday Blog: Week Seven

Right now in Animal Liberation by Peter Singer, he is talking about vegetarian recipes. This interested me so I was looking on YouTube for cooking tutorials for vegetarian or vegan food when I came across this video.These recipes are great options for diet without meat or even just for a meal with out meat for a normal diet. I will be trying one of these recipes and will hopefully review them after I try them 

Tuesday Blog: Week Seven

This week I have continued reading Animal Liberation by Peter Singer. This book which was originally published in 1975 covers many issues related to the treatment of animals. Some of the main focuses of this book are animals being used for testing, animals bred for food, and reasons to be vegetarian. Peter Singer advocates for the fair and ethical treatment of animals by exposing the dark truth behind the industries that implement the most pain and suffering on animals. By enlightening the readers of Animal Liberation Singer is able to convince them of the idea that change is needed. Right now in the book, I am at the part where he discusses the treatment of animals being bred for food. In order to prove change is needed, he explains the dark reality behind animals raised for meat. One thing in particular which is rather convincing is when he talks about the production of veal, meat from a baby cow usually male. He mentions how the quality of veal is determined by its color and texture. In a regular calf, they have excess room outside to graze on grass and build muscle by various activities. Eating grass and exercising, are what causes the unwanted dark color and toughness of the meat. To prevent this they keep the cows in a small enclosure which is about 2 feet by 4 feet which is not large enough for them to move. They are also fed a substance which will not cause darkening of the meat and also helps them gain weight much faster than a normal cow, 300 plus pounds (lbs) compared to the usual 90 pounds (lbs).

Source: rantingsfromavirtualsoapbox.wordpress.com

Quote: "Certain basic facts are clear enough to justify action. Whilst accepting the need for many restrictions, we must draw the line at conditions which completely suppress all or nearly all the natural, instinctive urges and behavior patterns" (Singer 142).

There is nothing to justify when animals can´t even complete activities that are instinctual to them. Singer points out that there are some cases where animals need to be restricted and he understands the necessity of it, but he does not support it when it is done so inhumanely. This quote perfectly fits the calves' situation, being raised for veal being extremely restricted so they can not do anything they normally would do. In addition to the baby cows being treated poorly, the mother cows are artificially inseminated, once they give birth they are forced into the dairy industry. This cycle is completely unnatural and it goes against all instinctive urges like giving parental care.

Source: pinterest.com

This example of the production of veal reminds me of puppy mills. Puppy mills are places that breed surpluses of dogs in inhumane circumstances. Puppy mills usually forced the mother’s to have litter after litter of puppy and usually starting at a young age. This is very similar to the way cows are obtained for veal and often the dogs are stored in cramped living quarters much like the cows are. This relates to my life because my dog before she was rescued was suspected to be in a puppy mill. By the time she was barely two years old, she had at least two liters of puppies if not more. To put that in perspective, dogs begin having puppies when they are about 7 months old and the average gestation period for dogs is 70 days. When you add that all together that is almost a year and a half. This cruelty resembles so of the treatment endured by animals like cows, pigs, and chickens. Puppy mills deny the dogs of their natural patterns and force them to act unnaturally.

For more information check out this website

Friday Blog: Week Six

This week I finished reading last weeks book, Rattling the Cage by Steven M. Wise pages 223 to 384. in addition to that, I began reading Animal Liberation by Peter Singer, pages 1- 120. This week especially while reading Animal Liberation I was only unfamiliar with a few words becuase I have already read so much on this topic.

Vocab

Vindication (Page xii)-

to uphold or justify by argument or evidence.

Insurmountable (Page xiii)-   incapable of being surmounted, passed over, or overcome; insuperable:

Apparatus (Page 32)-

a group or combination of instruments, machinery, tools, materials, etc., having a particular function or intended for a specific use:

Electroconvulsive (Page 43)-

Of or relating to a convulsive response to an electrical stimulus.

Aversive (Page 47)- 

of or relating to aversion.

Barbiturate (Page 67)-

any of a group of barbituric acid derivatives, used in medicine as sedatives and hypnotics.

Utterance (Page 75)-

an act of uttering; vocal expression.

Ignoramuses (Page 76)-

an extremely ignorant person.

Neuroma (page 102)-

a tumor formed of nerve tissue.

Tenaciously (Page 117)-

holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold

network23.org

All definitions are taken from Dictonary.com