Animal Activists Use Oil Spill to Push for Wildlife’s Day in Court

In the wake of the Gulf oil spill, numerous government agencies and private firms are working together to ensure that all those people whose livelihoods have been adversely affected receive just compensation.  But animal rights attorneys argue a major population is being overlooked and are seeking legal remedies on behalf of wildlife affected by the spill.

According to the American Bar Association, a number of organizations have recently tried to sue under the Endangered Species Act on behalf of sea turtles who have died in the Gulf.  In federal court, the groups sued to force BP into halting controlled burn operations meant to stem the spread of oil.  In early July, BP and the Coast Guard agreed to allow environmental scientists to “observe” burn efforts to ensure the turtles would be removed from danger.

In addition, the ABA reports that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called on the attorneys general of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to prosecute executives of BP on animal cruelty charges.  ”The oil leak represents an example where tremendous pain and death are brought to individual animals,” Michigan State University law professor David S. Favre says.  ”The law penalty has no easy way to deal with these individual deaths,” he says.  This is something animal activists want changed and some are pushing for new laws that would extend legal rights and protections–usually reserved for humans–to animals.

One of these activists is President Obama’s “regulatory czar” Cass Sunstein.  Sunstein has come under public scrutiny in the past for his controversial views surrounding “rights” for livestock, pets and wildlife.  “[T]here should be extensive regulation of the use of animals in entertainment, scientific experiments, and agriculture,” Sunstein wrote at the University of Chicago in 2002.

In a 2004 book he co-edited titled “Animal Rights: Current Debates and New Directions”, Sunstein also suggested:

[A]nimals should be permitted to bring suit, with human beings as their representatives, to prevent violations of current law … Any animals that are entitled to bring suit would be represented by (human) counsel, who would owe guardian like obligations and make decisions, subject to those obligations, on their clients’ behalf.

These kinds of pleas have even reached the U.S. Supreme Court.  In April, the high court struck down a law intended to ban the sale of “crush porn” videos, “a particularly offensive form of animal cruelty.” But even though the activists lost this round, the ABA observes “a shift toward the mainstream for animal advocacy.”

“It was noteworthy for the Supreme Court to accept cert and decide a case that involved animal cruelty which, in turn, brought attention to some of the most horrific acts of cruelty and, in turn, the need for laws to protect animals,” says Joan E. Schaffner, director of the animal law program at the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.

Comments (46)

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  • Wiz001
    Posted on September 7, 2010 at 11:22am

    My dog is the 1st in line to Sue… It wants to sue mr. obama for comparing himself to it.. It feels slighted by the fact that it has never ignored my commands, as this man does his bosses on a daily basis.. I want to know who gest the money and who pays the lawyers.. Follow the money to toxic al gore or peta??? Just a thought

    Report Post »  
  • mzmaj7
    Posted on September 7, 2010 at 1:18am

    Yes, we had far too much investment in Gulf oil anyway. God bless PETA for doing their darndest to stem it.

    Report Post »  
  • LEGION
    Posted on September 7, 2010 at 12:18am

    Just another part of the Cowerd and Piven destruction of America plan.

    Report Post » LEGION  
  • baldwin4freedom
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:31pm

    The federal government has wasted billions of tax payers dollars trying to save the spotted owl, wolves, bears and so on. I have no problem with PRIVATE individuals, through free speech, doing whatever floats their boat. Just do not spend my tax dollars to do it.

    Report Post »  
  • Freeman61
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 7:49pm

    Are you kidding me? These people send/waste more money on trying to give animals right than it would take to feed the homeless in a major city. How much habitat have they saved? None. How much time have they spent teaching the truth about nature to a kid? I hunt and I make no excuses for it. I am proud that I can feed my family. I also give back in time and money to groups that have “boots on the ground” helping wildlife. Not just sueing farmers and throwing blood on others. We are mankind. Let’s learn the live and let live.

    Report Post »  
  • Honcho
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 1:48pm

    So enriching lawyers benefits animals how??

    Report Post » Honcho  
  • ICanThinkForMyself
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 12:17pm

    Until mankind realizes that all of creation is one under God….connected and dependent on one another…all will suffer. All living things contain the spark of the divine. All have souls. Mankind is made in God’s image and given the gift of free will….animals and other living things are not, therefore they are depending on us to do what is in the best interest of all. How very sad that so many do not or will not see the connection….that they are so in-tuned to self alone. Thank God for the Paul Watson‘s and Steve Irwin’s of the world who truly see and do their best to help others see more clearly.

    Report Post »  
    • MzRed
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 3:08pm

      Steve Irwin would NEVER condone such foolishness.

      Report Post » MzRed  
    • baldwin4freedom
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:18pm

      I have no problem with PRIVATE individuals supporting the humane treatment of animals, but the federal government has no business being involved. If a state chooses to, that is different because when the laws get so stringent that it destroys local industry people can move so they can feed themselves and their families.

      Report Post »  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 10:53am

    Peta’s ulitmate goal is for everyone to become vegans, which they have freely admitted. That means not eating meat but no animal products such as eggs, milk, or cheese. Where will it end? Have you seen all of the dead animals along the sides of our highways? We need a 5mph speed limit so that animals can dodge traffic. Wait, that won’t work turtles and snakes are too slow. We need to outlaw cars all together. Everybody needs to walk to where ever they are going. Think of the health benefits! Not only would you loose weight from the exercise, but you would loose weight because of the lack of food being delivered to grocery stores. A win-win situation. Crazy liberals.

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
    • strongbad
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 11:18am

      Rick, you didn’t mention trains and their speeds. local growers would still profit, but even a small town, similar to one I live in, would suffocate due to lack of food if we were to have a supply line cutoff. I do believe that people need to be preparing for uncertain times, and for food storage within the home, simply due to the untenable position in which our current supply lines are in. gardens are great things as well.

      Report Post »  
  • Autonomous_System
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 10:11am

    Ghosts should have rights as well. Ghosts should be permitted to bring suit represented by human counsel against anyone that violates their civil, economic, social and legal rights.

    Report Post »  
  • America_First
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 9:02am

    It’s just a money grab…who will benefit…the lawyers…In 2010 don’t vote for a lawyer…they are the root of our problems…

    Report Post »  
  • usualsuspect
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:57am

    My thought is let only lawyers that do not or have not in the past used any petroleum product of any kind as if they have they are also part of the problem and not part of the solutions really they are in complicity with the big mean oil company’s, after all we wouldn’t someone that is contributing to environmental pollution representing the poor little sea turtles or wild life, and living A disingenuous life style representing those that do not use oil or oil based products

    Report Post » usualsuspect  
  • BackwardsBoy
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:03am

    It wasn’t that long ago that if you raised this idea, you would’ve rightfully been laughed out of the room for suggesting such an idiotic idea.

    Those days are about to return. People can see that this is just another way of restricting our rights and finding new ways to increase the market share of the legal industry

    I will, however, surrender my position when I see an animal sign it’s name to a lawsuit.

    Report Post »  
  • smartypoop
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 3:08am

    I hate PETA. Another good idea that morphed into wackadoodle world some where along the line!

    Report Post »  
    • candlekeep
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 11:19pm

      I’m with you, Smartypoop. PeTA kills animals. Their employees have been caught euthanizing animals in vans on the way to the Peta facility. A few people and former PETA employees know how they care for homeless pets in Hampton Roads, Virginia (Peta headquarters)…They kill them! They don’t try to find homes for them, they kill them right away. They could not find local veterinarians to euthanize them, so they set up their own death chambers. They do this all under the guise of a charity. If they are not investigated and shut down, then they at least should lose their tax free charity status.

      Report Post »  
  • Venom
    Posted on September 6, 2010 at 2:49am

    I think we need to fight injustice where there is actually injustice but sometimes its taken to far. I believe in Sea Shepard’s fight against the Japanese, for the simple reason that they are protected species. But when PETA comes along with the no eating burgers and chicken, thats when we draw the line. (Besides, who doesn’t like a burger from time to time.)

    Report Post » Venom  
    • orkydorky
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 4:23pm

      And all turtles are created equal, Haha,heehee,haha!

      Report Post » orkydorky  
  • profitsbeard
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 9:38pm

    Raise your right flipper and re-squeak after me…

    Report Post »  
  • GlennBeckIsADemagogue
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:22pm

    The only think as stupid as this is the Supreme Court‘s decision in the Citizen’s United case. Unfortunately, that is now the law of the land. If you aren’t familiar with that case, you better read about it asap. It will change completely the way America elects major politicians. The Robert’s court equated “free speech” with donating vast amounts of money to political candidates, and said that large corporations and labor unions have the same right to “free speech” as individuals. With the weakening of labor unions, one can rest assured that large corporations will control the political process. This court decision, which overturned a century worth of precedence, has diminished the role of the individual in the political process. Talk about judicial activism. This is not what the founding fathers had in mind. The future is coming, and it isn’t pretty.

    Report Post » GlennBeckIsADemagogue  
    • babysealclubber
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:47am

      This isn’t the Huffington Post where conservative comments are routinely removed, you have to defend moronic statements like corporations/unions aren’t individuals. Why are they any different from PETA, Hollywood stars with deep pockets with almost unlimited free access to the media, the NYTimes, the Center for Science in the Public (!?!) Interest? I’m an investor, some of it in energy/exploration company’s, We’re individuals & we have every right under the 1st Amend. to lobby/persuade/& cajole the public AND our elected reps on our behalf. For all the crap on the left about “openness” & free speech they sure are quick to shut down opposing viewpoints using any means available. It’s called “free speech”——-deal with it, I’m your equal in this society.

      Report Post »  
    • orkydorky
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 4:11pm

      It’s about time the advantage was removed from union leaders, and I repeat union leaders! When was the last time union members had a say in where their money went and to which politician was being supported by it? This ruling just leveled the playing field a bit, but if you really take notice, small, individual donations are what seems to be making the difference now and probably will in the future because of the advantage that special interests always had!

      Report Post » orkydorky  
    • baldwin4freedom
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:25pm

      All it does is force We The People to stand together to compete against opposing viewpoints. This could be a good thing.

      Report Post »  
  • dwh320
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:08pm

    What garbage. Have you Progressives lost all shame? Or is making yourselves out to look foolish a big part of your agenda. Because if it is your doing a darn good job of it.

    Report Post » dwh320  
  • alkmetro
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:44pm

    silliness…..waste of time, money and attention

    Report Post »  
  • truebearing
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:24pm

    This nonsense is just another tactic of the Cloward-Piven strategy of burdening the system until it fails, and the Marxists/Progressives can take over.

    Sunstein is for animals to have equal rights, but humans to have no rights. he opposes the 2nd Amendment. He is antagonistic to the !st Amendment rights we enjoy. He is a Statist and a massively arrogant one at that.

    Maybe the morons who want animals to have the right to sue should sue the government for forcing us to drill so deep when we could be drilling on land, mining oil shale, converting to more use of natural gas, etc.

    Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:48pm

      Cass Sunstein wrote about animal rights but is he actually one of the one suing over the rights of animals in this current situation? Just curious – we demonize Cass Sunstein so much but I can’t find where he has done anything but write articles about his beliefs. We need to keep honesty on our side and not indicate that a person believes one way, when in the situation being discussed, that same person has done nothing!

      walkwithme1966  
    • smartypoop
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 3:06am

      “Maybe the morons who want animals to have the right to sue should sue the government for forcing us to drill so deep when we could be drilling on land, mining oil shale, converting to more use of natural gas, etc.”
      There is a direct cause and effect that is lost on progressives. You speak logicly and that makes their heads explode.
      On a lighter note, if this takes off….I can anticipate my dogs suing me on a regular basis. They are spoiled rotten and do not belive that there is any such thing as too many cookies!
      Walkwithme, Susteen has written several books and a plethera of speaches, he believes and promotes all kinds of harmful isses. Read them, you will be disturbed and sickened.

      Report Post »  
  • Red Blooded
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:20pm

    I am tired of *******…..we do what we can for the environment, but sometimes accidents happen, still man reigns supreme….

    Report Post » Red Blooded  
  • saneromeo
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:17pm

    Where would this end? Hold on my lawyer’s calling me…apparently I’m being sued by the cow that supplied my lunchtime burger,,,

    Report Post » saneromeo  
  • MzRed
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:29pm

    Are these lawyers so bored?

    Are these lawyers taking “stupid pills”?

    There are plenty of laws that prevent animal cruelty.
    To go past that is a symptom of mental illness.
    These liberals have no common sense.
    None,nada ,zippo.

    Look at what this kind of reasoning allowed to happen in California this past year.
    Over a two inch minnow, these zealots turned the water off on all those family’s farms.
    Since when is a fish more important than humans?
    We are all God’s creatures but us humans WE are the ones who are paying the cost to be the boss.

    Report Post » MzRed  
    • GnomeChomsky
      Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:41pm

      Not to sound cold but perhaps they shouldn’t be growing rice IN THE DESERT!

      Report Post »  
    • truebearing
      Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:17pm

      Gnome,

      Why don’t you stop eating and taking up habitat that animals could use? Get rid of your car, electricty, heat, and go live in Death valley. You can survive on cacti.

      Report Post »  
    • metalmeisterdude
      Posted on September 15, 2010 at 6:55pm

      That 2 inch minnow isn’t even native to CA. It’s like the flying carp in the great lakes, an unwanted immigrant that causes more harm than good.

      Report Post » metalmeisterdude  
  • Taquoshi
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:20pm

    Oh, I love animals as much as the next person, just ask our two cats. But when I read this story, the thing that came to mind was when the Exxon Valdez spill happened. One town spent an enormous amount of time and effort rescuing and rehabilitating sea otters. And this is all well and good. But when the last one was release, they had the high school marching band there, along with a major portion of the residents. Unfortunately, as they were video taping the release, a passing whale made a fine mid-day snack out of the newly released animal.

    Sea turtles dying because of the oil spill is an unhappy event, but sea turtles die every day of natural causes, and some from unnatural causes. We, as a society, can’t even prevent or protect our own human brothers and sisters from being murdered by one another. Just read any newspaper, your choice. What makes these people think they can protect sea turtles and other wildlife from harm? And okay, what happens when a sea turtle dies because of a natural accident? Who will be held accountable then?

    Report Post » Taquoshi  
  • MISSGB
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:17pm

    We love our four dogs like children and are disgusted and angered with cruelty acts toward animals but on this matter I just have to say “Good Lord”…what next? I believe we have quite enough “laws” in force right now…what is needed is to enforce the current laws.

    Report Post » MISSGB  
  • DanniDee
    Posted on September 5, 2010 at 6:11pm

    Animals cannot speak for themselves and need our voices for their pain to be heard. From the tiniest mammal to baby seals of Canada to whales slaughtered by the Japanese, animals NEED our voices, yessirree!

    Report Post » DanniDee  
    • klstj
      Posted on September 5, 2010 at 8:31pm

      This is just one more step of regulation that “in the name of prevention of animal cruelty” that infringes on the rights of humans. People who want their heart and feelings to get in the way of survivalvare equally as guilty as the cause which you fight for. We are animals and have to eat to survive. It used to be more primal, now we cultivate for our food. All the bleeding hearts don’t even want that. Let’s go back to when we cut the guts of prey open, Hung and cured them, canned, smoked and ate. You’d rather let the human race die off than manage the resources we have responsibly. Go eat your tofu and when things get gritty you can bang on my door for some meat. I bet the bleeding hearts are the same bunch who want to outlaw swing sets….poor little knees (try showing your kid how to use one). By the way, I love my cat and my dog(rescued), they would be a tasty meal in most countries…just one more kudos for us awful Americans!

      Report Post »  
    • CorpsmanUp
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:05am

      Animals need Garlic, Butter and Onion with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon.
      I don‘t try to live in some fantasy land of imagination where I’m not the predator that God designed me to be. Why do people try and lie to themselves about this?

      Report Post »  
    • CorpsmanUp
      Posted on September 6, 2010 at 8:11am

      When “Animal Advocates/ PETA Types” get going about animals, they always seem to talk about the fuzzy wuzzy cute ones. I never hear of them bringing suits agains farmers who plow their fields to grow the lettuce for the Vegans. When a plow goes through a field, it will kill, mame and obliterat hundreds of thousands of living creatures for every acre plowed. Just because those creatures aren’t cute enough, the activists don’t go out of their way to protect them. What about the Earth Worms, the Grubs, the millions of ground dwelling inects?????? WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE POOR INSECTS?????
      Doc
      Life Member of PETA ( People for the Eating of Tasty Animals)

      Report Post »  
    • butler180
      Posted on September 7, 2010 at 10:28am

      When an animal can create a vaccine to prevent or cure an illness then I will put them on par with humans. Put the welfare of man first, But there is no excuse to mistreat or be intentionally cruel to an animal. PETA is made up of terrorist nuts And before you go off the cliff – I give money to 6 different animal charities (ex: Funds for Animals; Rainbow etc.) and two Nature organizations.

      Report Post » butler180  
    • ConstitutionalPatriot
      Posted on September 7, 2010 at 12:45pm

      They may not speak very well, but Boy O’ Boy do they taste great!! Duck la Orange’, or Seal steaks are incredible. I truly love Dolphin soup.

      Report Post » ConstitutionalPatriot  
    • metalmeisterdude
      Posted on September 15, 2010 at 6:48pm

      Animals don’t speak for themselves because that is how they were created. I also think that PETA stands for people eating tasty animals. But I have to go check on the roast in the oven.

      Later.

      Report Post » metalmeisterdude  
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