Richard D. Ryder is one of the founding fathers of the modern animal rights movement. He invented the term speciesism in Oxford in 1970.
Ryder developed a moral theory called Painism. Like Utilitarianism, Painism emphasizes the importance of pain. However, Painism rejects the aggregation of pains across individuals and the trade-off between pleasures and pains. Instead, Painism focuses on the Maximum Sufferer.
Barbara Gardner is the founder of the inter-religious animal protection initiative Animal Interfaith Alliance. She is also editor of the Animal Spirit and The Ark magazines, and treasurer of the RSPCA.
Gardner is a chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. Barbara Gardner is the author of the book The Compassionate Animal.
Steven Wise is an American lawyer. Wise is founder and president of the civil rights organization "Nonhuman Rights Project" which aims at extending some basic liberties to nonhuman animals.
Steven Wise taught animal law at Harvard, Vermont, John Marshall Law School, Lewis & Clark Law School, and at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.
He is author of the animal rights bestseller "Rattling the Cage" in which he argues that some animals should legally be recognized as persons.
