Animal Rights | Syracuse Journal of Law & Civic Engagement

That was the proposition being debated on the Intelligence Squared podcast.

Moderated by ABC News’ John Donvan, the debate featured Dr. Neal Barnard (Clinical Researcher & Author, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart) and Gene Baur (President and Co-Founder, Farm Sanctuary) who argued for the motion; and Chris Masterjohn (Nutritional Sciences Researcher & Blogger, The Daily Lipid) Joel Salatin (Farmer & Author), who argued against the motion.

Here is description of the debate:

According to a 2009 poll, around 1% of American adults reported being vegan. In 2011 that number rose to 2.5%–more than double, but still dwarfed by the 48% who reported eating meat, fish or poultry at all of their meals. In this country, most of us are blessed with an abundance of food and food choices. So taking into account our health, the environment and ethical concerns, which diet is best? Do vegans have the right idea, or are we meant to be carnivores?

“Should a Chimpanzee Have Human Rights?”

That was the topic being discussed on the Lawyer2Lawyer podcast. Here is a description of the (somewhat strange) show:

If it’s not legally a human, it’s a thing. But animal rights advocates argue these alternatives fail to recognize that there are many cognitively complex species who deserve to be treated as people. The Nonhuman Rights Project is planning to file a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a chimp to grant her the right to bodily liberty. This will release her from the cage she is currently living in, and the project will have her admitted into a cageless sanctuary. Steven M. Wise, president of The Nonhuman Rights Project, has been researching and planning this case for 20 years.

Steven M. Wise has been practicing animal protection law nationwide for for the past 30 years. He was the first professor to teach animal law at Harvard University and is still teaching animal law courses all over the world. He has published four books on the matter, including Rattling the Cage – Toward Legal Rights for Animals.

On this edition of Lawyer2Lawyer, hosts Bob Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams will talk with Wise about the case to grant a chimp the right to bodily liberty and The Nonhuman Rights Project’s long-term plans for animal rights