by James Johnson

Created on: January 22, 2009   Last Updated: February 06, 2009

"Green Peace helps to save the Whales!" "Sports Hero caught fighting Dogs." "Learn about sea kittens." All of these topics have recently been featured in international papers or on the television in the past few months. They are all examples of Animal rights in the media. Then there are the movies such as "101 Dalmatians" which are more directly involved with animal rights issues. This means animal rights issues and headlines are found throughout the media all around the world everyday of every week. Is this good or bad, both or neither? Could it possibly be all three?

Saving animals that are endangered is extremely important. They are fellow beings not only sharing the planet, but often filling vital niches; they also have possible use in the future. Extinction, unless cloning of lost species becomes much more successful, is forever, All creatures should have a right to life. Some media exposure helps protect this right, and this is good.

Articles and media exposure about cruelty to animals is both good and bad. It is good that the people preforming these cruelties are stopped. Animals do not fight that frequently in the wild and forcing them is extremely cruel, better to have the owners fight! Unfortunately the media coverage can also be bad as it gives other people ideas. They will then either start doing it themselves or justify what they are doing by saying "The great "So and So" does it, it can't be wrong".

Also media exposure of this nature can actually encourage the person to do it again or something similar. The "stars" of these atrocities are getting press, which is all that many may want. Criminals often do horrendous crimes and then leave clues or turn themselves in just to see it in the news, animal abusers are often no different! This is bad for animal rights!

As for movies and television shows, they have been around for decades. Some actually hurt animal rights issues (How many remember Tramp being chased by the horrible dog catcher and taken to the Pound in "Lady and the Tramp"?), but some help. They are mainly just entertainment that generates a love of animals. An example of little effect.

And then there were "Sea Kittens", the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals recent campaign to stop fishing as PETA considers fish animals and are trying to "protect" fish rights! This made media across the United States and around the world, but does it help fish or animal rights? The people here in the Caribbean laughed at it and then used it as an example of how the Americans were losing touch with reality. Animal rights activists in many places actually lost credibility and funding through the media exposure of this ploy.

It is for sure that the media will continue to promote and feature animal rights articles because it is a growing popular issue, popular issues generastes sales and "feeds the press". It would be better if they promoted more of the benefits of animals such as pets being used to help the elderly or as valuable companions for challenged people rather than cruelty to animals; the cruelty articles either seem to give people ideas or creates indifference to what is happening.

Animal rights in the media: good, bad and indifference! No matter what, animal rights will continue to get exposure.

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