What"s Hot

My Dear Human，

I apparently need to keep you on a short leash1）， because you regularly forget why you are on this earth to begin with. You have one very simple job to do—feed me and pay attention to me when I am not asleep. I fail to understand why you allow anything with a keyboard or a remote2） to take your attention away from your only job， which is me. Technology has made you its slave and I prefer it when you are my slave. Freud3） would say that I have technology-envy， but he cant really say anything because hes dead.

While Im venting4）， I am concerned about your obsession with hoarding5） my excrement6）. When we go outside， you always lunge7） for it with your little blue baggie so you can get it before anyone else does and then you just throw it away. Can you explain that to me？ Never mind. Youre an odd duck8）， but I like you most of the time. Especially when you hand out the food.

But I feel compelled to ask who you really think is taking care of whom in this house？ You fetch and hand out the food， but who is guarding the food from the mice and burglars？ Who has the giant canine9） teeth？ And which one of us is on guard duty day and night because we dont like spending hours in front of the TV or the computer or yapping10） on the phone？ Just throwing it out there for you to think about.

As for the furniture， you like to sleep on the bed， same as me. Somewhat confusing to me is why you think I should sleep on the floor. You are a nice person， but you dont think things through very well. Just saying. By the way， I like the bed， especially when youre not at home.

Now， can we talk about the cat for a moment？ Such a kiss-ass11）. All that rubbing up against your legs when you come home as if he has done a damned thing since you left hours earlier. Let me enlighten12） you： He slept. He yawned. He stretched13）. I was on duty protecting the fat lazy cat and all of the food in the kitchen while you were gone. I was not sleeping. Except maybe on your bed for just a little bit.

Lastly， I would like to request that you not call me Sugar Pie or Honey Bun in front of that white poodle14） who lives down the street. Please. Stop. It. Youre killing me. Aside from not wanting to have my manhood doubted in front of the lady dogs， I may also need plausible15） deniability that you and I areacquainted16）. Just help me out， pal. No offense.

Is it dinner yet？ Can I have some food？ I want some food. Now. Please. Hello？ Step away from the computer and no one will get hurt. Not even the lazy cat. I promise. Hurry up！

Whats Hot

虽然宠物们不能说话，但这并不代表它们没有自己的想法，不想捍卫自己的权利。一起来看一只狗狗是如何“写信控诉”自家主人的吧！

亲爱的人类：

我显然需要把你拴得紧一点，因为你经常忘记你一开始来到这个地球上是为了什么。你有一件非常简单的工作要做，那就是喂我，以及在我醒着的时候关注我。我不明白你为什么要让所有那些带键盘或遥控器的东西转移你的注意力，而不去关注你唯一的工作——我。科技已经让你成了它的奴隶，但我更喜欢你做我的奴隶。弗洛伊德也许会说我得了科技嫉妒症，但他其实什么话都说不了，因为他已经死了。

当我拉臭臭的时候，我对你痴迷于藏起我的粪便这件事很感兴趣。我们外出时，你总会拿着你那蓝色的小塑料袋扑向我的粪便，这样你就能赶在其他所有人之前得到它，可接着你就那么把它扔掉了。你能向我解释一下这件事情吗？算了，你本来就是个奇怪的家伙。不过大多数时间里我还是喜欢你的，尤其是当你分发食物的时候。

但我觉得我必须得问一下，在这个屋子里，你认为究竟是谁在照顾谁呢？你拿来食物分给我吃，但是谁一直在看守着食物，使它们不落入老鼠和小偷之手？是谁长着一副巨大的犬齿？又是我们当中的谁日日夜夜在站岗放哨（因为我们狗狗可不喜欢花那么多时间坐在电视机或电脑前，也不喜欢拿着手机聊个没完）？我只把这个问题抛出来，你自己琢磨去吧。

至于家具，你喜欢睡在床上，我也是。让我有点困惑的是，你为什么会认为我就应该睡地板呢。你是个不错的家伙，但你想问题却并不是很透彻。我只是随口说说啦。顺便说一声，我喜欢待在床上，尤其是当你不在家的时候。

现在，我们能花点时间谈一谈那只猫吗？那可真是个马屁精。当你回到家时，他就靠着你的腿蹭来蹭去，好像自从你几小时前离开之后，他做了件什么事儿一样。让我给你讲讲吧：他睡了觉，打了哈欠，还伸了懒腰。而我却在你离开时坚守岗位，守护着那只又肥又懒的猫，以及厨房里的所有食物。我可没有睡觉，除了可能在你的床上小憩了那么一小会儿。

最后，我想请求你不要再在住在街上的那只白色贵妇犬面前叫我“亲爱的”或“小甜甜”了。求你了，别再这样叫了。你这是要杀了我。除了不想在那些母狗面前让自己的男子气概遭到质疑之外，我可能还需要一些看似可靠的证据，表明我和你并不认识。就帮我一把吧，兄弟。没有冒犯的意思。

这会儿是到晚饭时间了吗？我能吃点东西吗？我想要点吃的，现在就要。求你了。喂！离开那个电脑吧，没有谁会因此而受伤的，连那只懒猫都不会，我保证。快点儿吧！

Animal rights is about letting animals live on their own terms. Animal rights can be written into our laws， but is not an actual list or bill of rights as we have for human society. It begins with our commitment not to act like masters of others. Animal rights is about justice—treating animals fairly.

Because we humans often act as though we are the only beings on the planet. Humans are the only animals that have upset the balance of nature—yet we depend on other animals for our very survival. The environment in which we all live depends upon the rich diversity， and interplay3）， of nature.

There are lots of ways that humans exploit4） animals. We domesticate5） them and use them for food， even though our nutritional needs can be completely supplied by an animal-free diet. Although other materials are available， we use animals skin and other body parts for clothing， furs， hats， boots， rugs， jewelry and even pet toys.

Humans can talk about it and animals cannot. All animals wish to experience life in its fullness. Unlike many animals who have to kill to survive， humans do not. Why should humans cause misery to other beings when its not necessary？

Dominion is the idea that animals are ours to control. Animal rights challenges this by offering a way of living that strives6） to lessen the harm that humans inflict7） on the planet， each other and， of course， other animals. One way we can respect animals is to become vegans8）—people who do not eat or use animals or their products in any way.

What does dominion look like？ Here are some ways humans attempt to control nature and other animals：

*A government encouraging trapping and poisoning of animals to keep them off farms or ranches9） or out of our yards.

*A government attacks populations of free-living animals， such as birds， deer， wolves， coyotes， or black bears.

*Bounties10） （rewards of money） are offered to people who go out to kill certain animals.

*Artificial birth control is forced upon free-living animals to keep their numbers down.

Left to themselves， animals manage and balance their own populations naturally， according to how much food they have and the normal activities of predators.

"But they are only animals—arent they inferior to us？"

People often claim that because animals cannot talk or reason like us. Science， however， continuously teaches us that animals are highly complex beings who interact and communicate with each other.

What do you mean by animal rights？

动物权利到底指什么？

所有有意识的生物都享有被尊重的权利。任何意识到自身存在的生物都不应被贬低为“物品”，不应受人支配，不应用作“资源”或者“商品”。

被称为动物权利的这一观点的关键就是将道德关怀延伸到所有有意识的生物这样一种变化。

没有任何人需要展现特定的智力水平才能被给予道德关怀。没有任何人需要长得漂亮才能被给予道德关怀。没有任何生物需要对人类有益或者有能力承担“义务”才能得到道德关怀。其他动物真正需要的就是摆脱它们对于人类的义务。

动物权利关乎让动物按照自己的意志生活。动物权利可以被写入法律，但它并不像我们为人类社会制定的法律那样有实际的权利法规和法案。它始于我们人类承诺不再充当其他动物的主人。动物权利关乎公平——平等地对待动物。

因为我们人类往往表现得好像我们是地球上的唯一物种。人类是唯一已经打破自然平衡的动物，而我们自身却要依赖其他动物生存下去。我们所有人所生存的环境都要依赖自然界丰富的多样性以及与自然界的相互作用。

人类利用动物的手段有很多种。我们驯养它们、食用它们，尽管无动物成分的饮食完全可以满足我们的营养需求。尽管有其他材料可供使用，但是我们还是使用动物的皮毛和其身体的其他部分来制作服装、皮草、帽子、靴子、地毯、珠宝，甚至是宠物玩具。

人类可以说出自身的感受，而动物却不可以。所有动物都希望尽情体验生活。许多动物不得不通过猎杀而生存下来，而人类则不然。为什么人类要为其他生物带来不必要的苦难呢？

支配权指的是动物是为我们所掌控的这样一种观点。动物权利提出了一种生活方式来挑战这一观点，这种方式努力减少人类对地球、彼此，当然还有对其他动物所造成的伤害。我们尊重动物的一种方式是成为严格的素食主义者，即不以任何方式食用和使用动物以及动物制品的人。

支配权有何种表现呢？下面是人类试图控制自然和其他动物的一些手段。

*政府鼓励人们设置陷阱或者放置毒药使动物远离农场、牧场和我们的院子。

*政府袭击自由生长的动物群，比如鸟类、鹿、狼、郊狼以及黑熊。

*对外出捕杀某种特定动物的人群给予赏金（奖励的钱）。

*对于自由生长的动物进行人工节育，从而减少它们的数量。

把权利留给动物自己，它们可以通过食物的数量以及食肉动物的正常活动自然而然地控制和平衡它们的种群数量。

“但是它们只是动物啊——难道它们不比我们低等吗？”

人们经常那样说是因为动物不能像我们一样说话或者具有推理能力。然而，科学一直告诫我们动物是高度复杂的生物，彼此之间能够进行互动和交流。

◎ From friendsofanimals.org

译 / Fiona CAI

1. crux [kr?ks] n. 要点，关键；难点

2. accord [??k??d] vt. 给予（特殊对待）

3. interplay [??nt?ple?] n. 相互影响，相互作用

4. exploit [?k?spl??t] vt. 利用

5. domesticate [d??mest?ke?t] vt. 驯养，驯化

6. strive [stra?v] vi. 努力，奋斗

7. inflict [?n?fl?kt] vt. 使遭受（伤害或破坏等）

8. vegan [?vi?ɡ?n] n. 严格的素食主义者

9. ranch [rɑ?nt?] n. 大牧场

10. bounty [?ba?nti] n. （尤指政府对杀死害兽、提高产量所给的）奖赏，奖金，赏金