In his pilgrimage by North American courts, some already call him “Mister Habeas Corpus”. This 64-year-old lawyer, professor at Harvard University, writer and also a chemist, is an confess optimist and considers that it is near to a US Judge authorize an Habeas Corpus filed by him to rescue a great ape from bad treatment.

His latest case happened in New York and the Judge almost accepted the request, but the two chimpanzees – Leo and Hercules – finished released into a Sanctuary in Florida, as the University that tortured them realized that at any time the courts would decide in favor of Steven Wise, and the institution would be exposed as torturer of primates.

Steven Wise, as reported in an extensive interview in Spanish for the Argentine newspaper La Nación, became interested by the animal rights when he read the book of Australian philosopher Peter Singer, founder of GAP Project, “Animal Liberation”.

Here is some parts of the interview:

Newspaper – Only a few people support your struggle?

SW: More than you think. A Gallup poll made an appointment in the United States and asked: “Animals should have human rights?”. I would have said no, since I do not think they should have all the rights of humans. However, some 32% of Americans said yes. Of these, 44% were women. So nearly half of American women is in line with what we do. That’s how I explain to my students: “What I teach them is not about the world we live in today, but about the world’s coming and how you can help us to come to him.” Working for the future. And I know you’ll see results.

Newspapers – Why are you so optimistic?

SW: Because more and more scientists are revealing the brain of animals. And they are showing that they are much more complex in the cognitive than we thought. On the other hand, human rights, which appeared just 70 years after the Second World War, are increasingly rooted. We accepted it, and it is not a big leap to recognize the rights to some nonhuman animals.

Newspapers – How did you find the legal argument throughout the contrary legislation that exists?

SW: Once I realized that the legal vacuum was legal personality (animals are things) and wanted to understand what were the common values ​​in Western law. My argument today is oriented to show rationally that the judges embrace the values ​​of justice, freedom and equality; if the slaves, women and children were gaining rights that previously they did not have; in the case of chimpanzees, they have to legislate in my favor. Because there is nothing in humans that separates us from them; we share 99% of genes, we can even get their blood transfusions, they have a complex cognitive ability, they learn, they communicate and science can measure their level of autonomy. There is no reason why a corporation, a boat, a society or an unable person has legal entity and a chimpanzee has not. In New Zealand, even a river has legal personality. In India, a divinity and a mosque. Animals should be protected as an entity with fundamental rights. It is a central issue of the inalienable value of freedom and equality for sentient beings and autonomous. And the reason is the same because we have learned not to exploit or mistreat other humans.

Newspapers – In New York, some legislated against you and before too. Where does your fight end?

SW: It newly begins. Of the 13 points under discussion, the Judge accepted 12 of them, which sets legal precedent. She said that while not agreeing with an earlier decision that had denied the appeal, she was forced to follow this precedent. Shee wrote: “For now, I do not accept.” That “for now” allows us to continue struggling with the arguments we put the first time. And let’s face it, the main question for the courts is that if it entitles the great apes, there is a fear that people ask for equal rights also for other animals, like cattle.

Newspapers – Where ends the list?

SW: Each species is different. A deer is not the same of an ape. However, only the scientists who study them can tell and explain what each one is. Understand me: for me, lost in this instance does not take off my hope. All the time I have the impression that the every legal history has crossed over there. In the United States, the first time that an Indian, with an Habeas Corpus, was considered to be a person happened in 1879. So I wrote in my book how a black slave in England, James Somerset, in 1772, was released through a Habeas Corpus and was considered to be a person.

Steven is fighting for the rights of animals, particularly the great apes, for 30 years. His organization, the Non Human Rights Project (NHRP), has the support of 150,000 members that endorse it.

When the next Habeas Corpus will be? Steven Wise is already preparing his next meeting with the Justice and feels that victory is closer every day.

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian

President, GAP Project International