And People Say We Monkey Around

In some ways, Hiasl is like any other Viennese: He indulges a weakness for pastry, likes to paint and enjoys chilling out watching TV.

But he doesn’t care for coffee, and he isn’t actually a person—at least not yet.

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.”

“If we can get Hiasl declared a person, he would have the right to own property. Then, if people wanted to donate something to him, he’d have the right to receive it,” said Theuer, who has vowed to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

Are they insane? They vow to take the case, which involves a chimpanzee, to the European Court of Human Rights.? Before they can do that, don’t they have to have him declared a human?

I understand that people from certain European countries may act like apes, and some might even smell like them, but to help him, do they really need to have him declared a “person”?

Why don’t they try changing the laws that govern personal donations? Wouldn’t that be the smarter option?

Of course not. It makes much more sense to monkey around and try to get a chimpanzee granted human rights.

Technorati Tags: Hiasl, Rosi, chimpanzee, Austria, human rights
Sphere: Related Content

Posted on May 4, 2007
235 words · print

Comments are closed.

Leave a reply

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Comments

If this is your first time commenting on Slobokan's Site O' Schtuff, your comment will be held for moderation. Once your comment is approved by Slobokan, any future comments will not be held for moderation. Comments may be edited or deleted at the discretion of Slobokan, and may be re-produced at any time for the purpose of discussion, argument, or ridicule. This policy is not open for debate. If you do not agree, do not comment. It's that simple.