Dyreaktivisme: Etiske dilemmaer ved ekstreme metoder

Is it all right to use extreme methods to fight for animal rights? The Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty activists seem to think so, according to the judge Mr. Justice Butterfield, who brand them as “urban terrorists”, as they made life a “living hell” for thousands of men and women.

The plotters, who are a mix of veteran activists and their young disciples, who are seduce by the “excitement and glamour” of the group according to the article writer, the journalist Tom Kelly. Have been jailed between four to eleven years. Their goal was to end Dealings with Huntingdon Life science, as they are known to use animals to medical research. The methods they use was as an example sending letters to the workers’ of the firms, who are dealing with Huntingdon Life science, neighbourhoods claiming that they were paedophiles. It was also normal that the activist would vandalise the workers` houses and cars.

Butterfield describe the activities as a clocked crime. “You cloaked your activities in what was a hypocritical sham pretence that Shac was a vehicle for legitimate lawful protest. It was nothing of the sort.” Furthermore, he tells the activists, that some may see them as martyrs, but they are not going to jail because of their belief, but because of the way, they have chosen to executed their beliefs. Instead of a peaceful protest, they have made peoples life a “living nightmare” “Hundreds, probably thousands of decent, men, women and children have had their lives made a living hell by your activities.”