A philosophy that suggests some or all animals have the right to possess their own lives. Contrary to popular opinion, animal rights activists do not ask for voting rights for chickens or pigs. Rather they ask that animals not be used for food, entertainment, medical research or clothing. Some activists maintain that there is a distinction between sentient, or self-aware animals, and those with a large degree of self-awareness are to be afforded the right to possess their own lives. Animal rights is also largely tied to dietary lifestyles such as vegetarianism and veganism which abhor the consumption of meat products in accordance with the principles of animal rights.

Animal rights movements are not the same as animal welfare which take into account, the suffering of animals (and seek to prohibit it) but do not grant them specific rights

The Great Ape Project is seen by many animal rights activists, to be a step towards granting other animals the fundamental rights such as the right to life, liberty and prohibition of torture

On December 10 Barack Obama receivedthe Nobel Peace Prize. He used his acceptance speech to defend the USrole in Afghanistan, and to argue that the use of force could bringlasting peace to the world. Praised by the Nobel committee for his"extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy andco-operation between peoples," just 9 days earlier he had announced hewas sending 30,000 additional troops to the battlefield in Afghanistanbecause "war is sometimes necessary."

There were a number of absurdities inObama's speech. He resurrected the concept of a "just war" to defendhumanity from evil. He portrayed the U.S. as a moral agent striving tomaintain global security, and claimed that the "use of force not onlynecessary but morally justified." Nevertheless, he admitted, "we willnot eradicate violent conflict in our lifetimes."

I think, there are quite few people who actually believe that the war is something good, wholesome and useful. It is and has always been one of the worst and most disgusting, destructive events that can happen. But it is to the same degree wrong to accuse it of all the deadly sins existing in the world. Although war is always evil, sometimes it is the lesser evil, in some cases it is inevitable.

I, of course, don’t support the idea that the war is necessary in socio-economical sense – there is such a point of view, stating that the war is the motive power of progress and effective method of keeping demographic situation stable. Of course, some inventions were first applied in military, but also because this research has always been better supplied. And, although a lot of people die in the course of wars, it is not enough to really influence demographics, especially nowadays.

I am speaking about the war as the conflict of interests and state that yes, in certain situations war is necessary and even turns out into a thing to be proud of. War may be offensive and defensive and, just like in the case of self-defense, in the event of armed attack from another country any kind of violence used in retaliation is acceptable, because any other course of action will mean suicide. Looking at the same analogy, there is no much difference between a country attacking another country from a mugger on the street. The fact that the offenders are numerous, wear uniforms and deliver speeches makes absolutely no difference.