World without Cats Read Online Free PDF Page A

in pitch, but not volume. Oh no, thought Noah, they’re going to think George is in pain. The audience responded in unison to the cry with a drawn-out, “Oooohhh.” They then laughed heartily, seemingly at their own reaction. Noah was relieved that the crowd seemed to be amused.
    Soon the merriment died down, and Anneke was able to continue. “For over a century, civilized nations have accepted the idea of racial equality and, for half a century, gender equality. Now it is time for us to adopt the moral equivalent—species equality, or at least mammalian equality.”
    This elicited scattered applause from the audience and a shout of “Bravo!”
    She went on. “Peter Singer, the noted philosopher and former Princeton professor, has written: ‘Dogs are conscious beings. They can feel pain, and they evidently enjoy many aspects of their lives. In that respect they are like you and me …
    “… the ethical principle on which human equality rests requires us to extend equal consideration to animals too.’”
    At the mention of Peter Singer, Noah rolled his eyes. Noah had once read a book by Singer in which the philosopher had defended the animal liberation movement. He turned to Stanaland to respond, but Anneke continued.
    “Now I’d like to turn to the question of gene-cloning and recombinant DNA. We live in a time when this kind of tinkering with the genomes of living things is taken for granted. We are told that it will help us solve all manner of problems. It will cure diseases, allow insect-resistant crops, even let us create plants that make plastic. However, many thinking people have raised serious questions about recombinant DNA technology.” Another card made its journey to the underside.
    “For example, Jeremy Rifkin, past president of the Foundation on Economic Trends in Washington, DC, wrote ‘Most recombinant-DNA experiments are done with E. coli bacteria, which exists in the intestinal tracts of all human beings. The chief danger involved here is that a research accident could produce a particularly virulent virus that causes a disease for which there is no immunization. A lab technician who accidentally breathed or swallowed a few of its particles could then begin rapidly spreading the virus to others—perhaps eventually to a whole population.”
    When he heard the name Jeremy Rifkin, Noah groaned. Rifkin was widely known among molecular biologists as an arch enemy who had even gone to court to stop some forms of cloning research.
    Anneke again looked out over the audience and said, “I apologize for presenting my argument against recombinant DNA research by reading the words of others, but I think that these great thinkers, on the basis of their much more extensive knowledge, are able to state the case much better than I could. In conclusion, because of the grave threat posed to the environment by the research going on at this university, speaking for the students of CSUCI, I urge that all experiments involving recombinant DNA, especially where cats are used, be banned.”
    As Anneke put down her cards, the audience again began applauding. Here and there a few individuals stood up and finally, almost all were giving her a standing ovation.
    Lowell Stanaland waited for the applause to stop. “We have heard Dr. Chamberlin’s description of his proposed research,” he noted, “and we have listened to Ms. Weiss provide arguments against his investigation. I should point out that there are many other scientists here at the institute who are engaged in recombinant DNA work. If such research were stopped, it would effectively put us out of business. I will, however, be happy to entertain any discussion.”
    A bespectacled, lanky, dark-skinned young man in the center of the auditorium rose with a flourish. “Sir, my name is Jaime Leal. I’m president of the student body. May I say something?” The boy spoke with a confident voice. Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “In view of the real