Essay, Research Paper: The Great Ape Project

Society: The Great Ape Project
Animals are a lot smarter than anyone gives them credit. Chimpanzees and apes are some of the smartest animals on this planet. They have feelings that are very prominent in the way they act, and they have a memory, which are something other animals on this planet lack. These animals are put in cages and either is forced to perform or are used for scientific testing. At the beginning of "The Great Ape Project" this is said "We demand the extension of the community of equals to include all great apes: human beings, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans." As harsh as this sounds I believe these animals deserve some basic rights.
Suppose aliens conquered the planet (as unrealistic as this sounds). They could think we are lower beings and decide to use us as we use apes. What then? We would be given no basic rights and be injected with fatal diseases. I think any intelligent creature should be given the right to live.
The most important reason why Apes and chimps should be given rights is the fact that they do have feelings and they do remember things. They deserve to have a safe environment and have the right not to cruel and unusual punishment and to life. If they are intelligent enough to remember people and events then why should we make them be horrible memories.
Chimps and apes should have some basic rights so we can stop the injustices happening around us. At this day and age we should be able to have the technology to be beyond animal testing. Scientist should create a software for this so we can, at very least, cut down the amount of testing done.


Word Count: 287