About Sentience

Animal Testing

When asked why we test on animals we say "because they're like us". When asked what makes it morally right we say "because they're not like us".

Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction."

- Professor Charles R. Magel

Animal Slavery

We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form.

- William Ralph Inge

Compassion

Our task must be to free ourselves...by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.

- Albert Einstein

Animal Existance

The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men.

- Alice Walker

Non-Extremist

Vegans can sometimes be labelled as extremists by people who choose to eat animal products. When I refuse milk, eggs, honey and flesh products from my diet I am rejecting violence, rape, enslavement, cruelty and murder of many animals. I believe that that rape and violence is extreme and so as a vegan I am choosing to be a non-extremist. People who eat animal products are unknowingly extremists because they cause extreme suffering on thousands of animals. You have seen Earthlings so you know of some examples of this extreme violence.

If I said I rejected all child molestation and did not tolerate it one bit in the slightest, would you call me an extremist? If so, I am happy to be called an extremist non-pedophile. What if I was against all violent rape against women? Am I being too extreme? If I said I rejected all animal suffering by boycotting the demand for their skins and muscle and mammary secretions and ovums by being a vegan, would you call me an extremist? If so, that's ok, because I am extremely serious about not being the cause of it.

- Desert Girl (Central Australia): www.earthlings.com

Animal Rights Defined

Which concept of animal rights is the best? Is it respect, freedom, intrinsic value, love, compassion, equality or something else? What should be the basis for animal rights?

It is in the nature of animals to assert themselves in the animal world but this in itself has nothing to do with having rights. At a certain point in time man conceived the notion of 'rights' and it is man alone that employs such a concept. Why then do we speak of animal rights? The answer is quite simple: animal rights are meant to set limits to human behavior. If we fail to set clear legal limits to human behavior in relation to animals, it will be impossible to initiate legal proceedings against those who exceed these limits. Animals are vulnerable, defenseless and completely in man's power. Persons who disregard the well being of animals should be brought to court and be held accountable for violating animal rights.

Src: http://www.animalfreedom.org/english/opinion/animalrights.html