Summary Of Primates And Personhood

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The article, “Of Primates and Personhood: Will According Rights and Dignity” by Ed Yong, discussed and attempted to promgulate the humane treatments of primates, especially those used for experimentation. Yong also elaborated on the Great Ape Project, an association established to gain a basic set of rights for chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos, and orangutans. Furthermore, he asserted that there are studies and data proving that animals are capable of experiencing pain and other emotions, and therefore, it is only logic to give them the treatment they deserve. In addition, some animals, particularly primates, are genetically linked with humans; in that sense, it is undeniable that they should be allowed to share the basic rights that humans …show more content…
By establishing laws, countries like United Kingdom and New Zealand “ have taken steps to protect great apes from experimentation, but this is the first time that actual rights would be extended to apes”( Yong 2). This insinuates that animal rights is a serious matter that should not be disregarded. In addition, even though it is the “first time”, is it imperative to notice that there was an attempt. This implies that more effort should be invested in order to completely ensure that animals will and always have the rights they deserve. Additionally, an article titled “How to protect ape’s right? Make him a person” discusses about an organization called Association Against Animal Factories(AAAF)(4), which has adhered to similar standards as the Great Ape Project. This organization has been actively fighting and protesting for the protection of animals against the experimentation of unapproved products. Their motivation stems from the belief that animals are capable of suffering. For example, two chimpanzees, Hisal and Riso, were “captured as babies in Sierra Leone in 1982 and smuggled in a crate to Austria for use in pharmaceutical experiments”(8) conveys the notion that the cruelty of animal abuse is still apparent. Overall, people feel passionately about this controversial subject, and that they truly believe animals

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