About that Meme

Animal advocacy is a funny ‘thing’ to be involved in.

The more vocal, or talk about issues, the more likely you are to become a target of those who want to maintain the status quo.

Though one thing you don’t expect is to be the target of those within the animal advocacy movement.

And that is exactly what has happened to me recently.

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Why Highchester ‘Shutdown’ Was A Failure

This article is a follow up piece to the article “Activists Shut Down Slaughterhouse… For Nothing“.

Since that time, I have received all sorts of condemnation and abuse.

Ranging from:

  • I don’t know what I am talking about
  • I am anti-vegan
  • I am a meat industry shill
  • I can’t see the bigger picture

So, I decided that another article, clearing up things up was warranted.

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Activists Shut Down Slaughterhouse… For Nothing

In what some say is a huge win “for the animals”, activists “shut down” a slaughterhouse in Gleneagle, Queensland.

For a whole four hours.

Yes, you read that right. 4 hours.

In the scheme of things, that’s hardly being shut down now is it?

The stunt was organised by Animal Liberation Queensland and Aussie Farms.

They claim it was done to bring awareness to the plight of bobby calves, and encourage people to “ditch dairy”.

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More Animal Justice Party Lies

In less than a week Queenslanders will go to the polls to vote for a new government.

As is always the case with election campaigns, those standing come out with all sorts of rhetoric.

And this one is no different.

Unlike other campaigns, the level of contempt for voters is overwhelming.

Though what really gets to me, is how much of it is coming from the so-called “Animal Justice Party”.

While I have written about their misinformation in the past, and why I wouldn’t be voting for them. I did think that this time around things would be different.

Except it isn’t.

Regardless of what you have been told, the Animal justice Party is lying to you.

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Do ‘Animal Groups’ Need An Ethics Committee?

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Photo Credit: myCAES via Compfight cc

With the increase in the number of animal “matters” being ‘exposed’ through the media, is it time for animal protection groups to refer campaigns to an ethics committee?

In an ideal world, before any campaign or investigation was started, the group would lodge a submission with the ethics review board to assess the long and short term impact to the animals, and how the action compares to the aims of the organisation.

That way, only those activities which aligned with the aims/objectives of the group and had a long term positive benefit on the lives of other animals would see the light of day. Instead of how it is at the moment where groups are doing anything and everything for their share of the spotlight.

What’s More Important, Animals Or Attention?

For arguments sake, let’s use the recent greyhound live-baiting expose as an example.

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Profiting From Inexperience and Naivety

Its been nearly two years since I wrote the article, Shh. Don’t talk about the elephant in the room, where I discussed the obvious lack of training that people are getting within the animal advocacy movement.

Unfortunately for the animals, nothing seems to have changed with regards to the animal groups doing any sort of training for their volunteers or members.

That is, except for an organisational psychologist who is a relatively new vegan and is running a series of workshops titled “Skills For Conversations That Matter”.

Whilst I do think it is great that someone has taken the initiative where all the other organisations haven’t, I am concerned that this person is charging for the event, and rather exorbitantly too.

The price for the Brisbane event is currently $156.00 if you pay in full or $195.00 in installments, blatantly exploiting those who may be on a budget or limited income.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that the training should be given away freely, if it is of value. Training of any kind that will help people promote veganism and ending the use of other animals is surely of value.

I just have concerns that this event may be more set up to benefit the presenter than the animals or those who attend.

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The Speciesist Nature Of Animal Advocacy

3345Have you noticed how it is becoming more and more popular and acceptable to ‘advocate’ for a particular animal at the expense of another?

We see it most weekends at our local supermarkets/hardware store where a Save The ‘X’ group is having a sausage sizzle to raise funds for their designated animal.

Unfortunately for the animals, these types of campaigns aren’t only reserved for those ‘small’ groups that don’t know any better.

Animals Australia does it with their Make It Possible campaign, and their continual focus on land based food animals who are kept in factory farms, show total disregard for those animals raised for research or aquatic animals raised in aquaculture.

The Animal Liberation franchise does it in nearly everything that they do.

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