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The Earth Savers Institute, a Florida-based green education and certification firm, announced today the launch of a free course entitled Non-Human Animal Ethics.
Animal rights, also referred to as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings. Advocates approach the issue from different philosophical positions, but agree that animals should be viewed as non-human persons and members of the moral community, and should not be used as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment. They argue that human beings should stop seeing other sentient beings as property—not even as property to be treated kindly.
“At the Earth Savers Institute, we train people to become Eco Consultants so they can show companies, organizations, and individuals how they can be better stewards of the environment,” said Green Liefstyle Designed and Educator, Scott Cardinal.” We feel that animal ethics should be factored into this because factory farming, for example, has a determinetal affect on the environment. The easiest thing anyone can do if they care about nature, and the environment, and the planet is to stop eating animal products.”
In the philosophy of animal rights, sentience implies the ability to experience pleasure and pain. Animal-rights advocates typically argue that any sentient being is entitled at a minimum to the right not to be subjected to unnecessary suffering, though they may differ on what other rights (e.g., the right to life) may be entailed by simple sentience.
In the 17th century Thomas Tryon, a self-proclaimed Pythagorean, raised the issue of non-human suffering. Soon thereafter, many philosophers used the anatomical discoveries of the Enlightenment as a reason to include animals in what philosophers call "sympatheia," the principle of who or what deserves sympathy. Benjamin Franklin's autobiography identifies Tryon's writings as an influence in his decision to try vegetarianism; later in the book, he reverts to eating meat while still following Tryon's basic philosophy. Joseph Ritson coupled Tryon's work with Rousseau's for "Essay on Abstinence from Animal Food" as many Rousseauists became vegetarian. Voltaire compared the Hindu treatment of animals to how Europe's emperors and popes treated even their fellow men, praising the former and heaping shame upon the latter; in the 17th century Pierre Gassendi, and Francis Bacon also advocated vegetarianism.
In the 20th century, Princeton University professor Peter Singer argued that Bentham's conclusion is often dismissed by an appeal to a distinction that condemns human suffering but allows non-human suffering, typically "appeals" that are logical fallacies. Because many of the suggested distinguishing features of humanity—extreme intelligence; highly complex language; etc.—are not present in marginal cases such as young or mentally disabled humans, it appears that the only distinction is a prejudice based on species alone, which animal rights supporters call speciesism—that is, differentiating humans from other animals purely on the grounds that they are human.
Gary Francione also bases his abolitionist theory of animal rights, which differs significantly from Singer's, on sentience. He asserts that "all sentient beings, humans or nonhuman, have one right: the basic right not to be treated as the property of others."
The Instructor for the Non-Human Animal Ethics course is Nikki Benoit, who has been an animal and environmental advocate for over 9 years. She earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida in 2006. During that time, she learned of the magnitude of our global crises, and that the human enterprise is the main driver. Nikki's awareness bred clarity that all living creatures deserve compassion - both human and non, domestic and wild.
“My on-ramp to animal oppression issues was through the eyes of wildlife, so Rachel Carson and Jane Goodall were my first inspirations,” said Nikki Benoit. “Learning about farm animals brought in a new level of awareness, where Henry Spira’s diplomacy molded me from the start. I am happy to have taught this course and I hope it educates a lot of people. I look forward to creating more in the future, and showing others the possibilities and power they have to make a difference on behalf of non-human animals and the environment”
About the Earth Savers Institute
The Earth Savers Institute (earthsaversinstitute.com) is the largest green virtual school of its kind. It is the Official Training Affiliate of Green Earth Corporate Kindness Organization (GECKO), which is a 501(C) 3 (tax-exempt) non-profit corporation dedicated to helping businesses & non-profits become better stewards of the environment. GECKO is perhaps the only Non-Profit organization in the United States with the sole mandate of helping companies & non-profits improve their environmental practices. Their collective MISSION is to address the remarkable need for affordable environmental education & change assistance.
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