Greetings of love and gratitude from Judy Carman

Rights and personhood for chimpanzees have a day in court on May 27: Steven Wise, an animal rights attorney and founder of the NonHuman Rights Project explains in a recent TED talk some of the progress that has been made over the last 30 years.  It is very important to watch the talk so that we can help others understand the enormous significance of this work for animals.  In late April, Justice Barbara Jaffe issued an “Order to Show Cause,” which means that on May 27 Stony Brook University has to justify experimenting on two chimps, Hercules and Leo, and imprisoning them. The NonHuman Rights Project is working to gain “personhood” for chimpanzees and several other chimpanzees are plaintiffs in other cases.  When slaves, women and children gained personhood, the world changed and human ethics evolved to a higher level.  Now it is time for animals, who are legally considered “things,” to gain their legal personhood.  The first step is to gain personhood for chimpanzees.

Prayers and focused thoughts for this consciousness raising week surrounding May 27: We give thanks for Steven Wise and everyone involved in the NonHuman Rights Project, for their vision, compassion, decades-long faithfulness to the cause, and the wise use of their skills.  We celebrate Justice Jaffe’s breaking through the species barrier and issuing her groundbreaking “Order to Show Cause.” With our own steady determination, we envision the court seeing beyond the immoral justifications of Stony Brook to the higher truth that chimpanzees are equal to human beings in their capacity to suffer and in their longing for freedom and self-determination. Because of that, it becomes clear that Stony Brook does not have the right to keep them in prison and must release them.  We see Hercules and Leo, and ultimately all chimpanzees who are suffering under human domination, being liberated at last and living lives of joy and companionship at sanctuaries, never to be tortured again. And as we hold this beautiful vision for Hercules and Leo and all those chimpanzees who follow after them, we see a joyous future of freedom for all beings.  We see human beings everywhere erasing the line between human and nonhuman animals and finally understanding that none of us are “things,” and that all species have the right to happiness and freedom.  This is the truth that we carry in our hearts every day, and as we feel the ecstasy of that truth, we draw it ever closer to being made visible.      

As always, with tears of gratitude, I send my thanks to each of you, dear Prayer Circle members, for joining this circle of compassion and shining the Light of Truth for all to see, so that one day soon, all beings will live in peace together.

May compassion and love reign over all the earth for all beings everywhere. 
Thank you all for your devotion to truth, love, liberation and peace for all beings.
With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy Carman, and greetings from Will, Madeleine, Tara and the Circle of Compassion team

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