Environmentalism vs. Animal Rights

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the similarities of outlook and points of departure between environmentalists and animal rights activists. This includes a literature review which evaluates the background for the differing perspectives of these groups. The author points out similarities between environmentalists and animal rights activists, but concludes that these groups still have distinct opinions. The paper concludes by stating the two groups should be aware that they are fighting the same battle.

From the Paper:

" The facts of the matter are this: there are some people who believe that environmental ethics and animal rights are two different and disjointed genres, there are still who believe that animal rights and the conservative or backward morals/principles have more in common then environmental ethics and animal right, it is also true, perhaps based on the most sound facts, that both the advocates of environmental health and animals rights have the exact identical foe, for example, an environmentalist and animal rights activist would both equally care about the hazardous effects of cutting down rainforests to evenly space the luxurious demand of lifestyles of the ever growing population, they would equally be concerned about the poisonous waste dumps in the oceans and rivers that has been one of the causes of the endangerment of whales, etc. In fact, when looking at the records of the environmental fights and debates that have been fought in the past, it is no surprise to see the aspect of animal suffering and extinction being given its due attention. It is also interesting to note that fights fought by the environmentalist and animal rights activist before the World War II took place were all based on the selfish and ruthless destruction of one of the nature's most bounty resources and the extinction of the other in order to better insure the development of weapons or forces equipments, and treating both the natural resources and animals (humans and non-humans) as expendable and insignificant goods. Both groups refused to believe in the utmost faith given to science as the solution to all the problems and it is no surprise that both these revolutions began with very little space between each other. There are people now who support both the groups; environmentalist and animal rights, and feel that there is no distinction or apprehension between the two concepts, and feel that both are concerned about the greater good of the same thing: nature (Jamieson, 1997). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• White, L, JR. The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis. Science 155, 3767 (10 March, 1967), pp. 1203-1207.
• Jamieson, D. Animal Liberation is an environmental ethic. Carleton College and University of Colorado, Boulder November 1997.

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