where science and ethics intersect with politics
Empathy rests on the assumption that we are more likely to feel empathic with those with whom we share similarities. What about the empathy of difference? Not everyone is going to look into the eyes of a rattlesnake and be able to see from the eyes of the rattlesnake. Assuming sentience and therefore, being empathic, underlies the Humane Party’s “ecosystem-neutral” philosophical approach to the environment.
Joanne Kong is a new volunteer with the Humane Party, speaking at public events to advocate plant-based eating, centered ethically in raising awareness that greater compassion for animals and our planet is vitally necessary for transformative growth and positive world change. To her, veganism has the most powerful potential to truly change the world and embrace what is to her the most important quality of humanity—compassion.
The Canadian seal slaughter began off the coast of Newfoundland this year on March 28th. This is two weeks earlier than usually allowed, as climate change is affecting the seal population. With disappearing ice, Canadian seal hunters are worried that there will be fewer seal pups to hunt, so the Canadian government has allowed the killing of pups as young as 4 weeks this year instead of the usual 6.
Seeking more accuracy and less stereotyping, the Humane Party has updated its approach to titles for individual organizational roles.
¡Feliz Día de los Derechos Civiles! El 9 de abril de 2017 marca la segunda celebración anual del Día de los Derechos Civiles organizada por el Partido Humanitario. Este día está dedicado a conmemorar los hitos en la historia de los derechos civiles y promover el progreso continuo en su protección. La fecha fue elegida por su asociación con la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1866, la primera ley importante promulgada por el Congreso con base en los fundamentos establecidos por la Enmienda 13.
The federal Wildlife Services program killed 2.7 million animals in 2016. In its annual “kill report,” the agency data shows that 1.6 million of the 2.7 million deaths were of native wildlife species. Wildlife Services maintains that it “manages the damages” caused by so-called invasive species, yet less than half of the animals in the report are actually considered invasive. The Center for Biological Diversity asserts that of the almost 3 million animals killed yearly, many are unintentional kills that include household pets.
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James Videle has joined the Humane Party’s all-volunteer staff as co-leader of the Agricultural Policy Transition Team. The team’s mission is to transition the entire U.S. economy to a post-abolition—i.e., 100% plant-based—economy.
Opioid addiction is categorized as an epidemic by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (A.S.A.M.)1 and the CDC.2 The numbers are such that most of us are directly affected or know somebody in our inner circle dealing with the disease. In 2015 the CDC estimated that “91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose,”2 a number that adds up to 2,730 people a month and 33,215 a year.
We’re attuned to the suffering of sentient beings and so, as part of our daily self-care, it’s worthwhile to remind ourselves and our compassionate readers of the individuals and organizations which are doing so much to promote a kind world—four examples follow along with a prescription: no less than one belly laugh daily!
Is supporting animal rights terrorism? Is nonviolent activism terrorism? According to some interpretations of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), they are.
The green iguana, found in South Florida, where I live, is considered to be an invasive species. Despite the rather benign behavior of these docile creatures, local citizens view them as pests. Iguana hunting, especially in South Florida, is legal. Homeowners possess the right to “kill-on-sight” if they believe that an iguana is becoming a nuisance.
On April 1st, 2017, the Position of Chief Executive Officer of the Humane Party Rotates from Clifton Roberts to Shelley Harrison
It’s likely that your coconut-infused products are made with coconuts gathered by child slave labor, that is, the labor of baby primates. Their mothers have been murdered. They’re then chained, whipped and beaten into submission. They are hung by the neck to develop strong back legs. Why? Because they can then pick 1200 coconuts each day in contrast to humans who can only pick a few hundred each day.
The lesser of two evils is still evil. We can choose to do less evil, or we can choose to do good. The Humane Party is the first American political party committed to humane values; a healthy population is part of that vision.
Reports of poisoned drinking water, polluted air, animal deaths, as well as industrial disasters and explosions—all the result of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking—are termed “fraccidents” by the group Earth Justice. “The dangers of fracking to the food supply are not something that’s been investigated very much. ” And, “For sustainable agriculture, fracking is a disaster.”
During his first speech to Congress, President Trump announced that he would be forming a new committee focused on publishing criminal acts committed by immigrants, legal and illegal. VOICE, Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement, can be viewed as the Trump administration’s latest attempt to taint the public’s opinion of immigrants and create discord between “us” and “them.”
The Humane Herald 