You might think that the protection of animals' rights is a modern, Western concern. In fact, people all over the world and down the ages have cared what happens to animals, and not just the cute mammals. Today animals need protecting more than ever: their lives are used and abused in laboratories, zoos and hunts, and they are reared intensively on farms. And out in the wild, animals are losing their habitats to logging and oil exploration. This "No-Nonsense Guide" explains the key issues, charts the growth of the animal rights movement and looks at welfare and protection laws. And it includes a practical day to day guide to what you can do to minimise exploitation.