Thursday, March 29, 2007

We the ...people

BBC: Should apes have civil rights?
"Show a gibbon a mirror and the reaction suggests he or she thinks the reflection is another gibbon. But all the great apes have passed the 'mirror self-recognition' test and soon begin checking their teeth or examining parts of their body they couldn't see without the mirror. This self-awareness surely suggests that they know they exist." [Gibbons have tails, so they are monkeys, not apes -ed.]
...
"Apes also share a range of human emotions, says zoologist Charlotte Uhlenbroek, who thinks they should be afforded legal protection enshrined in law.
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"Chimps and humans share similar DNA... and a sweet tooth.
...
"They have a similar lifespan to humans and form strong family bonds which they maintain for life, she says. And apes have displayed a tenderness which could be described as love, anxiety when separated, and fear, jealousy and trauma.
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"If I was an alien from Mars and looked at human society and a society of apes then in terms of the emotional life I would see no distinct difference, although we live very different lives because of language and technology."


And in unrelated news, a message from Gov. Bill Richardson.

Where have all the leaders gone? Great essay from Lee Iacocca.