Animal Rights and the Circus
Although many people are very familiar with racism and sexism, too many people are unfamiliar with speciesism. Speciesism is the discrimination of one species over another; more specifically, it is the human species in the exploitation of other animals. Animals are forced to participate in many unnatural activities in the entertainment and science worlds. One of the most torturous of these activities is the circus. As a result of inhumane treatment and conditions, animals should no longer be forced to perform in this family event. Instead, people should try alternative means of being entertained.Despite people's awareness of the harsh conditions circus animals endure, the actual freeing of the animals poses a difficult task. In "Animal Liberation," Peter Singer explained, "Animal Liberation will require greater altruism on the part of mankind than any other liberation movement, since animals are incapable of demanding it for themselves, or of protesting against their exploitation by votes, demonstrations, or bombs" (150). Since animals cannot speak for themselves, some people are not aware of their inadequate housing, poor medical care, and abusive trainers. Regardless of the amount of training these performance animals
Zoe Weil, author of Animals in Society, explained how circus animals are declawed and defanged which is an obvious infringement on the animals' normality. " 'We are forcing wild animals to do unnatural things,' said Shelagh MacDonald, program director of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. Last year a second elephant, Benjamin, collapsed and drowned in a pool, probably as a result of heart problems" (33). Therefore, society should start looking now for alternative means of entertainment. During the last 10 years, there have been 23 such instances resulting in 40 injuries and the deaths of 14 people and 5 elephants.
Common topics in this essay:
McMahon A16,
,
Ringling Brothers,
Animal Defenders,
Animal Liberation,
Zoological Gardens,
Haldane A1,
Welfare Society,
Animals Society,
Ken Langelier,
circus animals,
apr 2000,
2 apr 2000,
2 apr,
forced perform,
animals forced,
ringling brothers,
animals circus,
animals live,
wild animals,
animal liberation,
care abusive trainers,
inadequate housing poor,
housing poor medical,
poor medical care,
|
Acceptance Essays
