Humans may have the strongest cognitive powers of the animals, but brains alone do not make us superior. We are ethically equal to all animals. However, many children never get the chance to meet an animal at a young age, and never associate the animal with the food they eat. People are usually desensitized by the time they grow up, but the ability to recognize animals as sentient beings can be learned. A person who has this belief must be able to identify with animals and to see that animals aren't significantly different from humans, and be humble enough to accept that animals are essentially our equals.
Humans have an enormous capacity for both good and evil.
Our intellectual power should be tempered by our capacity for compassion for all creatures. I am not up to date on news or information about vegetarian events. Most of this website was written two years ago and I do not have ANY information on current events in vivisection or animal rights. I only cover the philosophy and reasoning. Go to the Animal Rights Resource Site for that.