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Should we eat meat? When is it OK to go hunting? Is it ethical to test human products on animals? Animal rights are hotly contested subjects, as some activists seek to protect animals, and others argue that human interests outweigh those of animals. Regardless of how you feel about animal rights, you probably hear a lot about them – from organizations like PETA painting fur coats red, to hunters and trappers defending the laws that allow them to use certain types of traps or guns. There are no clear-cut answers, only beliefs and opinions. Maybe you know someone who’s a vegetarian, or someone whose family goes on hunting trips. What do you think of these practices? Learn more about animal rights and the debate here at W2K!
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Imagine you’re walking in the city, when you suddenly see a group of protestors marching your way. They’ve got signs with pictures of farm animals and lab rats that read “Liberate Animals.” One of the protestors produces a can of red paint from inside his jacket, and starts spraying at a woman passing by with fur trim in her outfit. Everyone around you has stopped walking to stare at the demonstration. How would you feel?
Scenes similar to the one described above have happened during radical animal rights protests. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is notorious for loud and shocking actions – everything from setting caged animals free to destroying fur coats of passersby. The issue of animal rights is creating some wide rifts in opinion these days. As many people turn vegetarian or vegan, others try to protect their rights to buy what they want or go hunting. Regardless of your opinions, it’s important to know what’s going on with this debate. Both camps would like to see their view enforced by the law, so you could be affected by whatever happens. Some states have already made it illegal to own or use certain animal traps, and hunting is strictly regulated. Meanwhile, in the eyes of animal rights activists, many animals are suffering by being raised for meat or fur. A lot is at stake, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that 830,000 farms in the US raised beef cows in 2000.
Do you know your feelings on animal rights? Read up on the subject under “Defined.” Whichever side of the debate you fall on, it’s a good idea to stay involved and try to make your voice heard. As a teen, you have more influence than you might think! In a few short years, you’ll be the young adult voters who can sway the matter one way or another. Find out how to get involved under “How To”!
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