Ingrid Newkirk's talk at AR2002

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

I'm so delighted to have received several responses on my offer to tape Ingrid

Newkirk's impassioned and moving speech at AR2002. I do think having the actual

tape allows one to share the ideas and insights with friends and family, and I

really am very happy to record copies for people. However, I've just learned

that you can listen to the talk online at:

http://www.peta.org/feat/conference/index.html

 

In addition to the streaming audio options, you can also read certain bits of

text included on the page.

 

Reading Ingrid's comments and thinking about the very sincere comments offered

by Funny Face on his/her feelings of disappointment that much of the discussion

on is focused on animal rights, it strikes me at how interwoven all of

these issues are. I'm delighted that Funny Face is concerned about ecology. If

one thinks deeply about ecological issues, mining beyond considerations of

recycle/reduce/reuse, one gets to a place where one must contemplate why it is

that we've chosen to plunder the earth's resources. What it is about our

psychology and our notion of self-definition that allows us to assume that we

have carte blanche to do with the earth's wealth what we will? Why do we

consider that it is there for our taking?

 

These sorts of questions are addressed in the philosophies of deep ecology and

ecofeminism. They strike at the roots of the ecological crises in which we

currently find ourselves steeped (as you point out, Funny Face, we will - if we

continue on this path - become dead meat ourselves). We can do little things,

like taking commute alternatives rather than driving all the time, eating lower

on the food chain (as most of us do), become more conscientious of our

consumptive behaviors, and so on. But, until we understand the roots of the

issue, we'll only be treating symptoms.

 

Certain strands of ecofeminism and deep ecology assert that our species'

misplaced sense of self (regarding itself as separate from the rest of the life

community) is at the root of the problem. This is the same misplaced sense of

self that allows us to do what we will with the other animals. Our whims and

desires, no matter how frivolous or how absurd, are regarded as sufficient

reason to brutalize animals in whatever way we please. It's the same messed-up

psychology that permits us to rape the earth and treat other people badly.

 

So, I think animal rights goes beyond the other animals. It is eventually about

*us* and who we are. Are we a kind, compassionate people, or do we believe that

might makes right? Just some food for thought.

 

Hoping to establish common ground,

Alka