The More Things Change

Abstract

Among other notable accomplishments, Richard Ryder is a survivor. Whereas others have come and gone, or seen their star rise only to fall, Ryder has demonstrated true British grit Today, after more than twenty years of activism on behalf of nonhuman animals, he is more not less committed, and his influence is larger not smaller. While this former young Turk, an original member of Oxford Group, has become partof animal welfare establishment (Ryder is past chairman ofthe Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [RSPCA] and currently serves as its vice-chairman), he has not lost his fITe or his vision. With publication ofhis impressive historical work, Animal Revolution: Changing Attitudes Towards Speciesism, Ryder has consolidated his position as of world's most informed, articulate and politically astute voices being raised against those speciesist attitudes and practices that keep nonhuman animals in bondage. Ryder's own career understandably is part of history he tells. Though small in number, members of Oxford Group played-and many of them continue to play-a decisive role in struggle for animal rights. In addition to Ryder, Andrew Linzey and Stephen Clark were part of Group that was fonned in Oxford in late 19608 and early 1970s, as were three young Oxford philosophers: Roslind and Stanley Godloviteh, and John Harris, who, in 1971, with publication ofAnimals, Men and Morals: AnInquiry into Maltreatment ofNon-humans (Gollancz), fired what many regard as frrst volley in the modem movement for animal rights, a not altogether accurate characterization given earlier, pioneering work of such figures as Helen Jones, for example. Peter Singer, who knew members of Oxford Group but was not himself a member while a student in Oxford, fired next volley when, in 1973, he published his seminal review of Animals, Men and Morals in New York Review ofBooks. Here was a case where a review proved to be even more important than important book that was reviewed. Singer's briefagainst animal exploitation was clear, concise and compelling, and reader response was overwhelmingly favorable-so favorable, in fact, that New York Review ofBooks itself took unusual step ofactually publishing a book by Singer. That book was Animal Liberation. The year was 1975, same year Ryder published Victims ofScience: The Use ofAnimals in Science (Davis-Poynter), one of centIal books of animal liberation movement, in Brigid Brophy's words. A year laterAndrew Linzey's Animal Rights: A Christian Assessment of Man's