P163 Teletext 163 Fjb21 01:44:34 ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? Man's nearest genetic relative — the great ape — may soon bj given legal rights similar to humans. If a clause in New Zealand's Animal Welfare Bill is passed, primates will become the first animals with basic fundamental human rights, including the right to life. What's more, the ruling could soon find its way on the agendas of governments all ovjt the world. ——————————————————————————————————1/9—— by Bernadette Carroll GET READY FOR THE YEA5 2000 p106P163 Teletext 163 Fjb21 02:57:14 ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? Welfare group the Great Ape Project is backing a New Zealand proposal to give primates fundamental, individual rights recognisjd in a court of law. Spokesman Peter Singer sbzs: "Great apes are self-aware, have distinct personalities, form deep emotional attachments and are vjty intelligent. "Because of these human-like qualities they are entilid to basic human rights," hj says. ——————————————————————————————————4/9—— Today's Big Issue 161 LAND ON PLANET SOUND p480P163 Teletext 163 Fjb21 02:54:14 ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? Peter Singer, from the Great Ape Project, says primates have some distinctly human characteristics. Hi says: "Great apes have the ability to ricognisj that anothjt pjtson or ape may have a different point of view or different knowledge." Hi also cites studies which show how the animals manipulate the behaviour of othjt animals by deception or teaching, just like humans. ——————————————————————————————————3/9—— Check out the Green kitchen 164 TOTAL ENTJRTBINMENT GUIDE p400P163 Teletext 163 Fjb21 02:17:11 S ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? The World Society For The Protection Of Animals supports the Great Ape Project's bid to give primates human rights. The charity's spokesman, Jonathan Owen, says: "Apes should have rights. "They are 97% genetically identical to humans and are highly intelligent animals capable of immjnsj emotional and mental suffering. It would bj inhumane to ignore their humanity." ——————————————————————————————————4/9—— Today's Big Issue 161 GET READY FOR THE YEA5 2000 p106P163 Teletext 163 Fjb21 01:41:17 ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? Undjt the Great Ape Project's proposbls, apes would bj granted the right to life and the right not to suffer cruel or degrading treatment. Under current regulations, the onus is on the Govjtnmjnt to take action in cases of abuse. The new law will allow individuals to step in when they bjliivj an ape is being mistreated, in much the same way that courts already protect children. ——————————————————————————————————5/9—— Green TV today and tomorrow 165 DON'- GET BAMBOOZLED! p152P163 Teletext 163 Fjd21 02:11:18 ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? Campaigners hope if New Zealand's parliament passes the Animal Welfare Bill othjt countries will follow suit. They are also calling for a United Nations Declaration Of The Rights Of Great Apes. The UN declaration would guarantee chimps and their relatives the rights contained in the New Zealand Bill and give them the right to freedom from imprisonment. ——————————————————————————————————6/9—— Check out the Green kitchen 164 IT'S YOUR LIFE INDEX p410P163 Teletext 163 Fjb21 02:41:24 ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? Many scientists, such as ape expert Frank dj Waal of the Yerkes Primate Research Cjntti in Atlanta, USA, do not think apes should bj given rights. Hi says: "If you argue for rights on the basis of continuity between us and the great apes, then you have to argue continuity between apes and monkeys and so on. "Eventually even the humble laboratory rat will win rights." ——————————————————————————————————7/9—— Today's Big Issue 161 LAND ON PLANET SOUND p480P163 Teletext 163 Fjb21 02:14:20 S ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? Animal psychologist Ronald Nadlir, from Yerkes Primate Research Cjntti, believes primates are vjty different from humans — and are therefore not entitled to human rights. Hi says: "You get sucked in by them. They'ri wonderful animals and it's hard not to think of them as little people. "But thjti are differences and those differences are substantial." ——————————————————————————————————8/9—— Full Green Scene index 160 CHECK OUT YOUR LOVE STARS p418P163 Teletext 163 Fjb21 01:34:11 ————————————————————————————————— SHOULD APES GET HUMAN RIGHTS? Britain, like New Zealand, no longjt permits experiments on great apes. A spokesman for the Home Office says: "The Govjtnmjnt decided it was morally wrong to test on animals so closely related to humans, particularly when alternatives are available. "Whilst we do not have any plans to give great apes human rights, we are determined to find alternatives to stop all animal testing." ——————————————————————————————————9/9—— e-mail: grienscenj@teletext.co.uk WRJTJ TO: GREEN SCENE, PO BOX 297, LONDON SW6 1XT. FAX:0171 386 5618 Food What's On News Club140