AnimalRightsPositionPaper

byGreenPartyU.S.AnimalRightsCommittee,approvedSept.2016
CoChairs:
MaryLawrenceCTGP,wellonwheels@hotmail.com
CraigSeemanGPNY,cseeman@optonline.net

BACKGROUND[source:GPUSPlatformSectionIII.K.]:Themarkofahumaneandcivilized
societyliesinhowwetreattheleastprotectedamongus.Toacknowledgeandrespectthe
inherentrightsofothersentient,livingbeingsisourresponsibilityandamarkofourplaceon
earth.Wecallforanintelligent,compassionateapproachtothetreatmentofanimals.

Crueltytoanimalsisrepugnantandcriminal.Werejectthebeliefthatourspeciesisthecenter
oftheworld,andthatotherlifeformsexistonlyforouruseandenjoyment.Ourspeciesdoes
nothavetherighttoexploitandinflictviolenceonothercreaturessimplybecausewehavethe
desireandpowertodoso.Ourethicupholdsnotonlythevalueofbiologicaldiversityandthe
integrityandcontinuityofspecies,butalsothevalueofindividuallivesandtheinterestof
individualanimals.

POSITION:TheGPUSadvocatesfortheprotectionofanimalsinallcategoriesthataresubject
tosomeformofhumaninfluence:companionanimals,exoticanimals,laboratoryanimals,
animalsinsportandentertainment,endangered/threatenedspecies,wildanimals,andfarmed
animals(forfoodandclothing).Assuch,werecommendthefollowing:

CompanionAnimals
Prohibitlargescalecommercialbreedingfacilitiesofcompanionanimals(commonly
referredtoas"puppymills),includingdogs,cats,andrabbits,becauseofthemassive
suffering,overbreeding,andillhealthsuchfacilitiesproduce.ExpandUSDAoversight
ofbreedersandincreasepenaltiesforviolations.Supportlocalordinancesbanningthe
commercialsaleofnonrescuecompanionanimals.

Subsidizespayandneuterclinicstocombatthecompanionanimalhomelessness
problemthatresultsinthekillingofmillionsofanimalseveryyear.Advocatefor
mandatoryspayandneuterbeforeadoptioninallanimalsheltersandrescuesandTrap
NeuterReturnor"BarnCat"programsforferalcatswherereturnisnotpossible.

Implementpoliciesinsupportofthe'NoKillmovement
(http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org)toimproverehominginanimalsheltersand
correctourcollectivefailuretovalueandprotectthelivesofhomelesscompanion
animals.Considereuthanizationonlywhenveterinaryand/orbehavioralexpertshave
determinedthatananimalsconditionisuntreatableandtheanimalhaslittleorno
chanceofrecoveringanacceptablequalityoflife.

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Prohibitmedicallyunnecessarymutilationofanimals,includingdeclawingcats,earand
taildockingofdogs,anddevocalizationsurgery.

Opposebreedspecificlegislation(BSL)thatbansORrestrictscertaintypesofdogs
basedontheirappearance,usuallybecausetheyaredefinedasdangerousbreedsor
typesofdogs.Prohibitinsurancecompaniesfromdiscriminatingagainstcertain
categoriesofdogswhenwritinghomeownerspolicies.AmendFairHousingActto
preventdiscriminationagainstthosewhohavecompanionanimals.

AnimalResearch/Testing
RedirectfundsthataredisbursedannuallybytheNationalInstitutesofHealthawayfrom
animalexperimentsandtowardsdirecthealthcare,preventivemedicine,andbiomedical
researchusingnonanimalproceduressuchasclinical,epidemiological,andcellculture
research.

Phaseouttheuseofanimalsforconsumerproducttesting,cosmeticstesting,tobacco
andalcoholtesting,psychologicaltesting,classroomdemonstrationsanddissections,
weaponsdevelopment,livetissuetraining,andothermilitaryprograms.

Mandateclearlabelingofproductsidentifyingwhetherornottheyhavebeentestedon
animalsandiftheycontainanyanimalproductsorbyproducts.

ExpandtheAnimalWelfareActtoincluderats,mice,andbirds,andestablish
scientificallyviablemedicalresearchprotocolsasalternativestousinganimalsfor
medicalresearch.Haltwastefulpublicfundingofunnecessaryresearchonanimals.

EnacttheHumaneCareforPrimatesActtoallowthesafetransportofretiredresearch
labprimatesintocertifiednonprofitsanctuaries.

AnimalsinEntertainmentandSport
TheGreenPartyisfundamentallyopposedtoallbloodsports.Weopposethekillingof,
orinflictionofpainorsufferingupon,animalsinthenameofsportorleisure,andwill
worktoendallsuchpracticesashuntingwithhounds,cannedhunts,shooting,snaring,
trapping,culling,coursingandvariousotherabusesofourwildanimalpopulation.

Bantheexploitationofanimalsinentertainmentandsports,includingdogfighting,cock
fighting,bullfighting,rodeos,andcircuses.Prohibitchaining,tetheringand
unreasonableconfinement,coupledwithenhancedenforcementofanimalcrueltyand
animalfightinglaws.

Endtheexploitationofanimalsinhorseracing,greyhoundracing,andallsituations
whereanimalsarecommerciallyraced.Intheinterim,enforcestrictwelfareregulations

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banningtheuseofsteroidsandotherperformancedrugs,withpublicationofinjuryand
deathstatistics.

Prohibittheimportandsaleofallwildanimalstocircusesandprohibittheuseofallwild
anddomesticatedanimalsincircuses.Mandatetherehomingofallexistingcircus
animalstononprofitsanctuariesorothersuitableestablishmentswithrelocationtothe
wildwhereverpossible.

WildAnimals
Bantheuseofgoodsproducedfromexoticorendangeredanimals.Prohibitthe
commercialimport,export,andsaleofallfur,whetherwildcaught,hunted,orfactory
farmed.Prohibittheimportofotherexoticorendangeredanimalproductssuchasivory,
reptileskins,sharkfins,andwhaleblubberandoil.

Abolishpublicandprivatezoos,roadsidezoos,andprivatecollectionsofwildorexotic
animals.Redirectfundsinvestedinzooconservationintorestorationofnaturalhabitats,
e.g.antipoachinginitiativesandanendtohabitatdestruction.Transfercaptivewild
animalstothewildwhenfeasibleorprovidegenuinesanctuarytoanimalsunable,
throughinjuryandothercause,tobereturnedtothewildandwheretheirliving
conditionscloselyrepresenttheanimalsnaturalhabitat.Bantheimportationandtrade
ofwildornondomesticatedspeciesascompanionanimals.

Opposecaptivityofcetaceans(whales,dolphins,porpoises)forentertainmentand/or
commercialprofit.Endthecaptureandexploitationofcetaceansforentertainment
purposesinmarineparksandaquariumsandcaptivebreedingprogramstomaintain
entertainmentstock.Supportfundingforthedevelopmentofsanctuariesforcetaceans
whichmaybetransitionalorpermanentdependingontheevaluationofthecetaceans
involved.TheGreenPartycondemnsgovernmentswhoseek,throughtheInternational
WhalingCommissionandotherwise,tocontinuewhaling.Wecallonallgovernmentsto
outlawwhaling.

Bandriftnetfishing,apracticethatindiscriminatelykillsmarinemammalsandother
speciesnotintendedforthecatch.Banimportingoffishandfishproductsfromcountries
thatusedriftnets.

EndtheBureauofLandManagementsWildHorseRoundupsandtheUSDAsWildlife
Servicesdepartmentwhichkillsmillionsofanimalsannuallythataredeemednuisance
species,includingGreyWolvesandotherendangeredanimals.

JoinforceswiththeprogressiveUKGreenPartyandglobalGreenstoadvocateforstrict
internationallawsthatprotectendangeredspeciesacrosstheglobeandwildanimal
populationsbeforeirrevocablemassextinctionoccurs.

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FarmedAnimals
Endtheabuseoffarmedanimalsforfoodandclothing,andstrengthenanimalcruelty
lawsandenforcementofexistinglaws.Phaseoutallformsoffactoryfarmingprohibit
allcagedrearingofpoultryincludingenrichedcages,vealcrates,andgestationcrates
banliveanimalmarketsandauctionsprohibitmacerationoflivemalechicksandall
painfulmutilationssuchasbeakandtoetrimmingofpoultry,taildockingandcastration
ofpigs,brandingofcattle,etc.andphaseoutroutineandprophylacticuseofantibiotics
andgrowthhormones.SupportabanontheuseofGMOsinanimalfeedandopposeall
geneticmodificationofanimals.

Eliminatepublicsubsidiesthatfinancelivestockgrazingpermitsonpubliclands.Amend
theFarmBilltoeliminatesubsidiesandotherpricesupportprogramstothemeatand
dairyindustries,includingtheUSDAcheckoffprogram.

Ceasetheimport,production,andsaleoffoiegrasandanyproductthatistheresultof
forcefeedinganimals.

ExtendtheAnimalWelfareActandHumaneMethodsofSlaughterActtoincludeall
birds,whichaccountforapproximately9billionanimalsraisedandkilledforfoodinthe
U.S.annually.Enacttougherregulationsonanimaltransport,includingamaximumof
eighthours,andanendtoliveimport/exportoffarmedanimals.

RequiremandatoryCCTVinallslaughterhousestoactasadeterrentandprovide
evidenceforanimalabuseprosecutions.

ProhibitintensivefishfarmingandrestricttheuseofantibioticsandGMOfishmealand
animalbyproductsforanimalfeed.ExtendtheAnimalWelfareActtocoverallfishing
activities.Endtheoverfishingofwildmarineanimalsandpracticesthatharmthemarine
ecosystemincludingavoidablebycatchesandtrawling.

INTERSECTIONALITY:
Theinterconnectednatureofsocialcategorizationssuchasrace,class,andgendercreate
overlappingandinterdependentsystemsofdiscriminationordisadvantageinapatriarchal
society.Manycivilrightsleaderspastandpresent(eg.CesarChavez,RosaParks,SusanB.
Anthony,CorettaScottKing,DickGregory,AngelaDavis,etc.)havemaintainedthataslongas
oneformofoppressionexists,noformofoppressioncanbecompletelyeradicated,whether
becauseofthecolorofonesskin,race,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentityandexpression,
physicalability,age,class,orsocialstatus.Similarly,webelievethatanimalrightsisthesocial
justicemovementofthe21stcentury.

Enactstrongfederalandstatelawsthatresultincriminalprosecutionandconvictionin
casesinvolvinganimalcruelty.Demandthatcrimesagainstanimalsbetakenseriously

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andworkwithstateandfederalagenciestoaddressthesystemicproblemofdomestic
violence.[SeeFactsAboutAnimalAbuseandDomesticViolence]

SupportbillssuchasthePreventAnimalCrueltyandTortureAct,advocatestiffer
penaltiesforthosewhoareconvicted,andmaintainanationalanimalabuserregistryof
thoseconvictedofanimalcrueltycrimes.Thereisastrongconnectionbetweenviolence
againstanimalsanddomesticviolence.Wethereforealsoneedtoadvocatenonviolence
trainingandconflictresolutioneducation,andnetworkwithchildprotectionagenciesto
addressthissystemicproblem.

ExpandandenforcethefederalAnimalWelfareActwhichregulatesthetreatmentof
animalsinresearch,exhibition,transport,andbydealers.

AETAANDAGGAGLAWS:
Theterm"aggag"referstostatelawsthatforbidtheactofundercoverfilmingorphotographyof
activityonfarmswithouttheconsentoftheirownerparticularlytargetingwhistleblowersof
animalrightsabusesatthesefacilities.TheAnimalEnterpriseTerrorismAct(AETA)was
passedin2006toprohibitactivistsfromnegativelyimpactinganimalenterprisesandgivesthe
U.S.DepartmentofJusticegreaterauthoritytotargetanimalrightsactivists.TheCenterfor
ConstitutionalRightsbelievesthattheAETAunlawfullycriminalizesconstitutionallyprotected
activityinthenameofcorporateprofitandisonesmallpartofalargercorporateand
governmentagendatoconstrainsocialactivismandexploitthepublicsfearofterrorism.

RepealtheAETAandaggaglawswhichinfringeoncivillibertiesandfirstamendment
rightsoffreespeech.Activistswhoinvestigatethehorrificconditionsthatanimal
industrieshidefromthegeneralpublicshouldbegiventhesameprotectionaswhistle
blowerswhoexposecorruption,nottreatedasterrorists.

SENTIENTBEINGS:
Thereisagrowingmovementinthelegalcommunityrecognizinganimalrightsasasocial
justiceissue(eg.,TheNonhumanRightsProject,TheAnimalLegalDefenseFund,NYUReview
ofLawandSocialChange,andTheCenterforConstitutionalRights).In2015,theOregon
SupremeCourtruledthatanyanimalcanbeseenasalegalvictiminacase,affording
animalsbasicrightstoprotectthemfromabuse.

GPUSadherestotheprinciplessetforthintheCambridgeDeclarationon
Consciousness(2012)whichcametothescientificconclusionthatmanynonhuman
animalsaresentientbeings.

GPUSrecognizesnonhumananimalsassentientbeingswhopossessinherentrightstolive
anaturallifefreefromhumanexploitationandabuse,andadvocateslegislationsupporting
theserights.Assuch,nonhumananimalsshouldbegrantedthelegalstatusofperson
notproperty,affordingthemthelegalrighttoberepresentedinacourtoflaw.

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Inalignmentwiththesevaluesandinsolidaritywithallsocialjusticemovements,the
GPUSAnimalRightsCommitteecallsforGreenPartymemberstoseektoexcludeas
farasispossibleandpracticableallformsofexploitationof,andcrueltyto,animalsfor
food,clothing,sport,entertainment,oranyotherpurpose,andbyextension,promotethe
developmentanduseofanimalfreealternativesforthebenefitofhumans,animals,and
theplanet.

RESOURCES
AnimalLegalDefenseFundwww.aldf.org
BestFriendsAnimalSocietywww.bestfriends.org
EUGreenPartyManifestoonAnimalProtection
www.greenparty.org.uk/resources/2014/AnimalProtectionManifesto.pdf
GPUSPlatformhttp://www.gp.org/ecological_sustainability
HumaneSocietyoftheUnitedStateswww.humanesociety.org
NoKillAdvocacyCentersPreventionofCrueltytoAnimalsAct
http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/uploads/4/8/6/2/48624081/pca_act.pdf
NonhumanRightsProjecthttp://www.nonhumanrightsproject.org
UKGreenPartyAnimalManifesto
www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/04/17/greenpartyreleaseanimalmanifesto/
TheWhaleSanctuaryProjecthttp://www.whalesanctuaryproject.org

EXPERTS
Legal:LeeHall(WhatAreAnimalRights?),MariannSullivan(TheAnimalLawPodcast),
StevenWise(TEDTalk)
BioethicsandAnimalBehavior:JonathanBalcombe(TheInnerLivesofAnimals),Marc
Bekoff(EncyclopediaofAnimalRightsandAnimalWelfare),LoriGruen(EntangledEmpathy),
BarbaraKing(HowAnimalsGrieve)
AnimalsandtheEnvironment:Dr.RichardOppenlander(FoodChoiceandSustainability)
Intersectionality:GretaGaard(Ecofeminism:Women,Animals,Nature),pattricejones
(IntersectionalityandAnimals),LisaKemmerer(SisterSpecies:Women,AnimalsandSocial
Justice),CaseyTaft(WhyImaProIntersectionalAnimalAdvocate)