Activists Want Chimp Declared a 'Person'

Activists Want Chimp Declared a 'Person'

www.breitbart.com

In a case that could set a global legal precedent for granting basic rights to apes, animal rights advocates are seeking to get the 26- year-old male chimpanzee legally declared a "person."

Hiasl's supporters argue he needs that status to become a legal entity that can receive donations and get a guardian to look out for his interests.

"Our main argument is that Hiasl is a person and has basic legal rights," said Eberhart Theuer, a lawyer leading the challenge on behalf of the Association Against Animal Factories, a Vienna animal rights group.

(visit the link for the full news article)

I may be biased, but I have to agree with the activists on this one. My fellow simians deserve basic rights, and the ability to receive donations.

www.breitbart.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

If that monkey becomes a person he better get a job like the rest of us if he wants money.

Sorry Mirthful, but I completely disagree with you. I don't have anything against simians, but to legally declare them a person?
Just set up some sort of a fund that everyone can donate to.
Frankly I think it ridiculous and that the lawyer is headline hunting.

If chimps are to be considered people; romance is sure to follow, eh Mirth?

Things are different in Austria:

Activists want to ensure the apes don't wind up homeless if the shelter closes. Both have already suffered: They were captured as babies in Sierra Leone in 1982 and smuggled in a crate to Austria for use in pharmaceutical experiments. Customs officers intercepted the shipment and turned the chimps over to the shelter.

Their food and veterinary bills run about $6,800 a month. Donors have offered to help, but there's a catch: Under Austrian law, only a person can receive personal donations.

So the reality is that they are creating a legal "end around" the prevailing law of the land.

I declared my iguana a person the day I adopted her. She has health insurance, her own spacious room- with her bed and all the junk iguanas like, daily fresh organic meals and she even goes on vacations with me to the beach....that's better than most 'persons' have it in this world! So I don't think they should waste time trying to legally declare that chimp as a person; they just need to start treating it like one and perhaps a little better.

Originally posted by whaaa
If chimps are to be considered people; romance is sure to follow, eh Mirth?

Hey! I go to the zoo alot and stuff. Some of those monkeys are pretty hot!

You know, I was sittin' here doin' some thinkin'. That monkey would think he was so cool. Walkin' around, wearin' clothes, eatin' already peeled bananas. He'd make fun of all the other monkeys. I bet he'd say "Hah, look I have money - do you?" in his monkey voice language.
I hate monkeys.

Um, isn't a chimp techincally a wild animal? My question is why can't both of the animals be donated to either a zoo, or get with, and they do exist, an organization dedicated to repopulating the species and return of such to the wilds? That way it would ensure that the best care for either of the animals can be ensured.

Originally posted by lombozo
Hey! I go to the zoo alot and stuff. Some of those monkeys are pretty hot!

But stick to your own species.

But we do thank you for your patronage.

Oh yeah, chimps are people too...Chimpanzees deserve human rights but babies don't. And who do you suppose they'd vote for?

A whole new block of voters completely dependent on the gov't from cradle to grave? Great.

It seems to me that the more extreme one's view is of anything in particular, apparently the less big-picture (reality) one is capable of observing.

He might as well be declared a person. I am sure he is more civilized than 80% of the human population.

If he can drive and play fps games like me, I'll declare him as a person.

After the new evidence has come in showing chimps have the beginnings of language and culture, I now have to side with the OP on this one.

If you haven't already seen it, check out this article where chimps have been discovered using spear-like weapons and living in caves just like our own ancestors did.

The creepy side of this is that it reminds me of those Planet of the Apes movies.

Oh, and BTW, chimps are not monkeys, they are apes.


[edit on 5/4/2007 by centurion1211]

I am not pro-animal activism, but I do actually see the point in this. This chimp has serviced humans all its life, does it not deserve suffrage in its dotage? I believe he has earned his emancipation. We, as humans do terrible things to animals of every species, our expansion has resulted in the destruction of so many species and we justify this by our sentience and the use of the bible. I say give him the rights he's earned it.

Monkey Chimps see we humans as persons then they want to become recognized as persons too. Monkey drivers license, Monkey Wrench, Monkey jobs, Monkeys pay taxes, this one is for you Hillary they can vote. Monkey only golf courses, smoking for Monkeys only and Monkey seen drunk and disorderly, Monkey goes to jail.

Monkey civil rights movement, Monkey business, Monkey Ward, Monkey religion, Monkey porn and the number one on the list is a rumor, that is millions of Monkeys have been seen crossing over the border into Mexico the rumor is bananas are free and more plentiful. Rumor number 2 is that Monkeys have taken over the government and are doing a better job of running things. LOL Rik Riley








[edit on 4-5-2007 by rikriley]

In my opinion, the idea that someone would want to give the chimp the rights as a normal human being is absolutely absurd. What next, bears?

This makes no sense whatsoever. Give the chimp rights? So what, so he can go and get an apartment? Or just so he can swing around all day on trees and collect unemployment?

Whoever proposed this measure should be thrown directly into a straight jacket and be evaluated for their personal sanity.

AS Centurion said

Chimps are NOT monkeys.

If you are going to argue that they aren't people.
Make sure you at least know what they ARE.

Thank you.

Dang. The Liberals will do anything to get votes.

[edit on 4-5-2007 by Dissension]

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[edit on 4-5-2007 by DontTreadOnMe]