Wonderfulness

Today in class we discussed Brian Baxter's Argument from 'Wonderfulness', which is discussed on pages 67-68 of his book Ecologism. It's a relatively simple argument and it makes complete sense to me. It goes something like this:

1) If X is autopoietic*, then it is wonderful (it inspires wonder).
2) X is autopoietic.
3) X is wonderful.
4) We should preserve what is wonderful.
5) Therefore, we ought to preserve X.
*In Ecologism, autopoietic is defined as something that is self-sustaining.

Wonderfulness is something that as a class we struggled to define. It's a beautiful thing to think that all things possess some unique quality, some wonderfulness that should be preserved. Is wonderfulness a feeling? An emotion we get from experiencing another persons or animals wonderfulness? It's interesting to think about... Whatever wonderfulness is exactly doesn't matter; what matters is that we recognize wonderfulness in something and realize our duty to preserve that thing. Here's to Baxter and his idea of wonderfulness :)

Temple Grandin

Although we haven't read anything in class by Temple Grandin, I thought I should post a bit about her because of her work which revolutionized how cattle are handled. Grandin is an autistic woman who became extremely passionate about cattle after spending a summer on her aunt's farm. The rest is history. She went to Franklin Pierce College and got a bachelor's degree in psychology. She eventually went on to get her master's and doctorate degrees, both in animal sciences. She is an absolutely fascinating woman and I would recommend watching the HBO movie based off of her life. There is also a documentary about her life on youtube called the woman who thinks like a cow. Here is the link to that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46ycu3JFRrA

If you don't know much about her, I would definitely suggest doing a little bit of research and find out more about this amazing woman. Take the time to watch the movies, it's well worth it!

Safest Countries for Animals

Out of curiosity, I wanted to search what are some of the safest countries for animals. We've mostly talked about the US in class and frankly, the US really isn't doing a great job preventing animal cruelty. The US is actually the only developed country to use chimpanzees for invasive experiments. The US has the animal welfare act but it excludes rats, birds, and mice, which make up about 95% of all animals used in laboratories. Here are some countries that the US should take some tips from:

"In 2008, Spain (once thought of as the bullfighting capital of the world) became the first country to grant great apes “human rights,”"

"Austria has one of the strongest anti-cruelty laws in the EU, prohibiting many practices that are commonplace elsewhere. In Austria, it’s illegal for pet stores to sell puppies and kittens, for circuses to use lions and tigers and for people to crop dogs’ ears and tails or to restrain dogs with chains, choke collars or “invisible” electric fences. After the law passed in 2004, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel proclaimed, “Austria is taking the role of pioneer. This new law … lifts animal protection to the highest level internationally.”"

"Several other European nations, including Sweden, Estonia, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Switzerland, prohibit ear cropping and tail docking. The Netherlands also outlaws fox and chinchilla farming and gives vegetarians discount health insurance rates."

"In 2004, Reggio Emilia, Italy, passed unprecedented animal rights bylaws, making it illegal to boil lobsters alive and keep goldfish in glass bowls. Amusement parks cannot legally give their customers goldfish, chicks and rabbits as prizes, and social species of captive birds must be kept in pairs. Birdcages in Reggio Emilia—the unofficial bird breeding capital of Italy—must meet specific size guidelines. Monza, Italy, also prohibits people from keeping goldfish in bowls and forbids fairs from giving away dyed chicks and other small animals as prizes."

And there you have it! Some of the most forward thinking countries concerning animal welfare. These countries are all taking a step in the right direction and I truly believe that the US should follow their lead. Quotes taken from: http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/12/which-is-the-safest-country-for-animals/

Aldo Leopold

Sure, I've heard of The Sand County Almanac and Aldo Leopold. I know he's the father of the environmental/conservationist movement but beyond that, I don't actually know too much about him. So I set out to find a bit more about him and his background. Here's what I found:

"He was instrumental in establishing the first official “wilderness area” in the United States (the Gila National Forest), helped to create The Wilderness Society, and founded the field of Wildlife Ecology."

"His biggest contribution was his articulation of “The Land Ethic” (that we are part of a natural community of interdependent parts) and his pioneering work in what is now known as restoration ecology – bringing the land back to health."

"The shack (a converted chicken coop) that Aldo and his family used to vacation at is a small post and beam structure in the sand counties of Wisconsin. It was this location that inspired a sand county almanac. The shack is considered a Mecca for environmentalists, historians, and educators, and has the distinction of being the only chicken coop on the National Register of Historic Places."

"Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) is considered the father of wildlife ecology and a true Wisconsin hero. He was a renowned scientist and scholar, exceptional teacher, philosopher, and gifted writer."

"The roots of Leopold’s concept of a “land ethic” can be traced to his birthplace on the bluffs of the Mississippi River near Burlington, Iowa. As a youngster, he developed a zealous appreciation and interest in the natural world, spending countless hours on adventures in the woods, prairies, and river backwaters of a then relatively wild Iowa. This early attachment to the natural world, coupled with an uncommon skill for both observation and writing, lead him to pursue a degree in forestry at Yale."

Sources: http://aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org/about-us/all-about-aldo/
http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/filmhist_leopold_lg.jpg

“Once there were brook trout in the 

streams in the mountains. You could
see them standing in the amber

current where the white edges of their

fins wimpled softly in the flow. They

smelled of moss in your hand.

Polished and muscular and torsional.

On their backs were vermiculate

patterns that were maps of the world in its
becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a

thing which could not be put back.

Not be made right again. In the deep

glens where they lived all things were

older than man and they hummed of

mystery.”

― Cormac McCarthy, The Road

The other day a classmate of mine started discussing Nature Deficit Disorder, which I had never heard of before. The main theory or idea behind this is that people, mainly children, are spending less time outdoors than ever before and this is leading to a wide range of behavioral problems. Ask a kid where his food comes from and he replies: "the supermarket". Ask a kid where his clothes come from and he or she replies: "the mall". This disconnect from where our food comes from and where all our products come from is an absolute catastrophe. 

If this next generation fails to educate themselves and continues to be absorbed in their screens, factory farms will only flourish. Factory farms are already hiding behind their false bucolic logos and their cheap prices; our planet and next generation cannot afford to ignore such a huge problem. If you want to know more about nature deficit disorder, here is a link to a great article: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/nature-deficit-disorder/. Definitely check it out!!

"facts"

According to Peter Singer's sources, “perhaps 3.5 percent of the fall in the overall death rate can be explained through medical interventions…” (91). So with this decline in mortality, only 3.5 can be attributed to medical interventions, which means that animal experimentation is an even smaller portion of that number. There are other ways to solve diseases and test chemicals; animals need not suffer any longer. 

Then in The Animal Rights Debate, Carl Cohen quotes a statement by the Council of Scientific Affairs. According to the Council, they think: "Animals have proved to be invaluable in the pursuit of knowledge in the life sciences, and the knowledge gained often benefits both animals and humans . . . Many of today's most vexing health problems will be solved by research on animals. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS], Alzheimer's disease, coronary heart disease, and cancer represent but a few of the nation's most troubling health problems" (123). 

It's difficult to determine which is more accurate. Both of them are trying to get the reader to join their side of the argument, which I think would entail them to use whatever means possible. Many of Singer's examples of animal cruelty are outdated and who is to say that these aren't isolated cases of extreme animal mistreatment being used for persuasion? Cohen quotes numerous scientists who have their own interests in the continuation of animal research. I guess I will have to see how Tom Regan responds to Carl Cohen to see where my ever changing opinions go next!