In 1993, the Great Ape Project was founded. It is a movement to give human rights to Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Bonobos, and Orangutans.

At first I thought it was going to be something stupid, like that they should have voting rights or something, but then I clicked the Wikipedia link and read, and I noticed that it was suprisingly reasonable.

"The declaration seeks to extend to non-human great apes the protection of three basic interests: the right to life, the protection of individual liberty, and the prohibition of torture."

On the protection of individual liberty, it means only that they should not be held captive for no crime, and only be kept caged in cases of protection for themselves or others. It also states that they shouldn't be used for medical research.

I pretty much agree with this, actually. I do not wholly agree with the idea of the exclusion from medical research, at least in extreme cases, liek a pandemic that only effects humans and apes.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEE.

They are apes, they aren't humans. If you then go and say that, they should be granted rights because they are so close to being humans genetically, you have just stated why they are used in medical testing. Because they are like us.

This is just another animal rights thing, which I am for. But "personal liberties" seriously, by saying that, you are inferring that "The Man" is keeping the Greater apes from doing what they have been doing for ages.

"Prohibition of Torture". WHAT THE ****, nobody is seriously out there, slowing killing an Ape, bit by bit. Unless of course you call medical research torture, but then hey, who needs a better grasp of various diseases.

With the Right to Life, are you going to seriously hunt down every other animal that kills an ape? Or will you take another ape to ape court and try him for Apeacide?

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, yeah sure.

Oh look Steyner posted, I wonder what kind of idiocy he'll spew here.

Quote from Steyene

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEE.

They are apes, they aren't humans. If you then go and say that, they should be granted rights because they are so close to being humans genetically, you have just stated why they are used in medical testing. Because they are like us.

And I can already spot where you are confused. I agree that they are not humans, and so it is good that we're not proposing we treat them the same as humans, right?

When the Apes can ask for rights themselves, they will be granted. Until then, they can keep flinging poo.

I mean, for medical testing, we always have pigs, who are almost identical in reaction to antibiotics as humans. This sounds like a good idea, but this would probably prevent pet gorillas, which would punch a hole in another one of my childhood dreams.

Quote from Dinomut

I mean, for medical testing, we always have pigs, who are almost identical in reaction to antibiotics as humans. This sounds like a good idea, but this would probably prevent pet gorillas, which would punch a hole in another one of my childhood dreams.

Explain to me why apes should get rights over pigs?

I'd much rather we pursue human rights then animal rights. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a bit more animal rights legislation. But seriously, we could do more internationally for human rights.

What kind of message is that sending if we care more about Apes in America then human lives over seas?


On the pig thing: apes have larger brains and aren't used for food.

Quote from Dragon⁰⁷⁷

Explain to me why apes should get rights over pigs?

Pigs taste good.

Quote from Dragon⁰⁷⁷

Explain to me why apes should get rights over pigs?

Pigs don't feel love.

Quote from Ash

Pigs don't feel love.

And I presume you can say this from experience?

I must feel inclined to repeat my original post: If a species of animal is able to communicate with us humans, and that species asks for personal liberties, then there would be no other just course of action but to give them these rights. However, until that time arrives I feel that they do not deserve said rights. If they ask, they shall receive. They have not asked.

Inb4 mention of koko the gorilla.

mention of koko the gorilla

Quote from Ash

Pigs don't feel love.

If you believe love is just a chemical reaction then what is the significance of it? How does it matter at all? Its no different then regular caring+happiness.

Quote from Ash

Oh look Steyner posted, I wonder what kind of idiocy he'll spew here.

And I can already spot where you are confused. I agree that they are not humans, and so it is good that we're not proposing we treat them the same as humans, right?

Oh look Ash being arrogant douche. Seriously, they have all those *rights* already. And no they don't deserve human rights because they aren't humans.