Court to rule if chimp has human rights

[Up2Late]

Source: The Observer

Court to rule if chimp has human rights

Kate Connolly in Berlin
Sunday April 1, 2007
The Observer

He recognises himself in the mirror, plays hide-and-seek and breaks into fits of giggles when tickled. He is also our closest evolutionary cousin.

A group of world leading primatologists argue that this is proof enough that Hiasl, a 26-year-old chimpanzee, deserves to be treated like a human. In a test case in Austria, campaigners are seeking to ditch the 'species barrier' and have taken Hiasl's case to court. If Hiasl is granted human status - and the rights that go with it - it will signal a victory for other primate species and unleash a wave of similar cases.

Hiasl's story began in 1982 when, as a baby, he was taken from Sierra Leone and smuggled into Austria in a crate with seven other chimps destined for a vivisection laboratory east of Vienna. But customs officers seized the crate and Hiasl was sent to an animal sanctuary. Now the sanctuary faces bankruptcy and Hiasl could be sent to the Baxter vivisection laboratory after all. Seeking to save Hiasl, who likes painting, kissing visitors and watching wildlife programmes, an Austrian businessman has donated £3,400 towards his upkeep. (more at link)

Read more: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2047459,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

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(I bet you thought this was some sort of April Fool's Day headline or just someone at The Guardian/Observer getting very bold with their insults of Chimpy, huh?)

[man4allcats]

1. Courts should grant human rights to Hiasl.

As a biologist sometimes involved in animal research, I support Hiasl's and all other chimps' claim to humanhood. I believe that developmental timing is essentially all that stands between us and them. In short, they are us and we are them. It's time we recognized that. Take care, Hiasl. I'll be thinking of you.

Cats and dogs are people, too!

[Vidar]

20. I cautiously agree, though I don't see it happening. Legal ramifications

would be messy, numerous & unpredictable.

[krispos42]

2. Well, I guess it was inevitable.

Bush just lowered the bar too damn much.

On a more serious note, this was bound to happen sooner or later. In a few decades, we will know enough about genetics and genetic engineering to make things like 'superchimps' to man our space ships and whatnot. 'Superdogs' to act as guard dogs or help for the elderly. Stuff like that.

[Up2Late]

3. How do you figure the trial will turn out?

It sounds a little crazy, but sending such a high functioning Chimp to a vivisection laboratory is just too horrible to imagine.:(

[krispos42]

4. SCOTUS will make him president

And his trainer Veep! lol

Honesty, I have no clue. I doubt any court in the country wants the job of defining what is and isn't human. They will almost certainly pass the buck as hard and as fast as they can.

[The Lost Patriot]

31. HAHAHAH

he would probably do a better job than the current "Resident!" Minus the "P".

[krispos42]

32. We call him pResident Bush around here! n/t

[truthisfreedom]

5. So this is about bush, right?

I think he needs to be on a leash (a short one) and wear a muzzle (nobody wants to see him bite his own kind).

[WritersBlock]

7. That my sure my first thought, too. n/t

[Gman]

13. Me too

[rodeodance]

6. I thought this was a april fools joke

[entanglement]

8. We'll be following this case VERY CLOSELY in the US

:rofl:

[CJCRANE]

9. Whether this is

an April Fool's day joke or not this idea does have its advocates. I've heard that it briefly became an issue in New Zealand politics too.

[WePurrsevere]

10. Although this trial could have some very interesting ramifications, in the meantime

perhaps folks could try and help save the sanctuary so that the other animals there are protected from the vivisection lab as well.
:(

[NYC]

14. I suspect the publicity will enable that to happen.

That will relieve the court of the need to decide.

[treestar]

11. Chimpy has human rights

Though he and his administration would deny them to others. Even so, Chimpy will get a fair trial, and when all the evidence is in, only then will he be thrown into the clink.

I wonder if he will interpret the right to confront adverse witnesses as meaning he can attack them militarily!

[scavenger]

12. Off with his head!!

I've seen a chimps head surgically removed completely away from his body a while back on a news show. They wanted to see how long he would live. When he awoke his head was connected to an artificial environment. I believe he lasted a few hours before he died. I can still see the pain and sadness in his eyes and face. It will stay with me till the day I die.

People are the lowest form of life on earth.

[Delphinus]

19. OMG!

I wish I could think you were joking ... but from your last line, I know you're not. :cry:

[Vidar]

21. Chilling! I tend to agree with your last statement. Welcome to DU.

[BreweryYardRat]

26. Let's see some proof.

It wouldn't surprise me, but I'd prefer to see evidence first.

Got a link, or the name of the show?

[scavenger]

28. Like I said....

It was awhile back, 5 or 6 years ago maybe, more or less . I don't remember when or where exactly, 60 minutes or date line if I had to guess.

I could give a rats ass if you believe it or not, I seen it. If you don't believe it do a little research yourself and see what you come up with.

[DCKit]

30. Seen it, exactly as described

The look in it's eyes was heartbreaking.

[HuffleClaw]

15. i sure hope this is a joke

HUMAN rights for an animal? not a good idea at all.

[scavenger]

17. Would you mind expanding on that statement?

First define human rights, then tell me why you feel that you should be treated morally better then other animals.

[ends_dont_justify]

25. Yeah! Because animals beat up homeless people, torture those smaller than them...

Animals create war and animals destroy lives just for the sheer amusement! I mean, how dare they? They've claimed ownership over the ENTIRE FREAKIN' WORLD for crying out loud. They're prejaduice, kill on sight, pass laws legalizing death so long as it's a certain species. They've created guns, weapons capable of obliterating their own world and atmosphere. They argue and berate eachother.

Oh wait, you were talking about REAL animals, not proverbial 'animals' we use to describe terrible human beings. The latter is the ones who should not have rights :) long live nature.

[ProudDad]

29. It makes more sense

than "human rights" for a corporation...

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

16. Sometimes the jokes simply write themselves.

:evilgrin:

[fshrink]

18. Mainly to remain silent and to have an attorney. nt

[Ignacio Upton]

22. Well, they are not stupid and domesticated

Personally, I will never eat meet from a chimp, or from a dolphin, simply because the two of them are the most intelligent animals outside of humans. Now, cows and chickens, OTOH...

[scavenger]

24. We all have to eat.

That still doesn't mean that a chicken or a cow doesn't have sense of self being that you or I can comprehend let alone understand. Its the methods and reasoning in which the killing is done for our survival that matters to me.

[Seabiscuit]

23. The case is moot; chimps already have rights - Herr Chimpster is living proof!

[peacebuzzard]

27. Genetically the chimps are closer to the human than the gorilla.

and I hope Hiasl has a humane and protected environment to spend the remainder of his life.




Deborah Blum, author of "Monkey Wars" is a recommended book for whoever may have an interest in the laboratory lives of our closest cousins. It is truly a nightmare what the human has done in his arrogant claim of superiority over our defenseless neighbors on this planet.