Thank you:
Media For Animal Liberation
veganTHIS.org

Organizing Student Groups

from No Compromise Issue 11

By Adam Weissman

In the tightly knit community of the college campus, animal rights groups have a chance to seize public attention to a degree that is impossible in any other forum. Campuses are limited and fairly uneventful communities (similar to small towns), where any news is big news. Additionally, because students are geographically concentrated over a comparatively small number of buildings, student activists can maintain an extremely high level of face-to-face visibility.

Getting Started

Most schools have activities offices where you can find out everything you need to know about acquiring formal recognition and funding for a new group. Many institutions require a statement of purpose, a member list, formal officers, and a proposed budget.

It is helpful to assemble a small steering committee of animal liberation-minded people on your campus. If you don't know any other pro-animal students, contact a local animal rights group and ask if they know of any students on your campus. Leave notes on windshields of people with animal rights bumper stickers on their cars. Approach clubs with similar goals--like environmental groups--and announce your intention to start a group and pass around a sign-up sheet to see if anyone wants to be involved. When you have a core group of about five or six students, hold a series of meetings to brainstorm potential club goals and to wade through the administrative red tape necessary to get a group started.

Below are some of the issues that need to be discussed in steering committee meetings and some of the work that must be completed before official meetings begin.

Budgeting

Some schools automatically fund new groups while others require students to appeal to the student government for funding. Most schools, though, will require that all budgeted funds be roughly pre-allocated, meaning that you will have to guess in advance on which issues/programs/events you will be spending the money. Don't forget to find out how much flexibility you have in reallocating at a later time.

Costs and Benefits of Formal Recognition

Formally recognized groups have access to meeting space and, possibly, offices, funding, and a level of respectability to administration that will facilitate dialogue. On the other hand, many schools place severe restrictions on what groups can and cannot do. In the past, animal rights groups, such as at Brown and the University of Guelph, have been forcibly disbanded following Animal Liberation Front raids. Some militant student animal rights groups deliberately avoid recognition so their school cannot threaten to disband them when they use tactics such as home demonstrations against vivisectors.

There is a simple way to enjoy the best of both worlds: operate an unrecognized group specifically for activities not approved of by school policy for recognized groups. For example, New York University requires that groups holding rallies and other street events formally register these actions. Worse, they can decide the time, place, and location. NYU student activists avoid being hampered by these policies by either making other local organizations the official demonstration sponsor or by using an ad-hoc name such as NYU Students against Animal Cruelty, as opposed to the formally recognized Students for Education on Animal Liberation.

Publicity

As people tend to make group commitments early in the school term, it is critical to begin outreach as soon as possible in the semester. Investigate activity/club fairs at your school, hang posters announcing your meetings all around the campus, make and distribute "show card"-sized handouts announcing your group, and table at concerts on campus and well-traveled areas (like student centers in colleges and main entrances in high schools). High schools students can stuff all faculty mailboxes, particular those of teachers with homerooms and, after a little research, possibly include information on your group in the school's daily announcements. Try to include a new announcement each day with a different animal rights fact. You should also approach the campus radio TV stations, as well as the student newspaper about running an announcement about your group's first meeting.

Even if there isn't a specific campaign that launches the group, a steering committee should try to define both long-term and short-term goals. This does not mean that the steering committee will define the whole agenda for the duration of the school year. Rather, the committee will develop a base of ideas to draw upon when the group is officially launched, regardless of whether they are actually used or not.

The First Meeting

Involve everyone. People come to animal rights meetings with a varying level of knowledge, experience, and commitment. It is important to balance the need to keep a meeting well-organized, structured, and fast-moving on the one hand, while making people feel like they are actively involved participants whose input is valued, on the other hand.

Stick to the agenda. The first meeting should have a very clearly-recognized facilitator and a formal agenda, as should all subsequent meetings, generally speaking. The facilitator should structure the meeting and keep things moving.

Provide give-aways. Animal rights literature on a range of issues should be available at the meeting. Supplying free vegan food, if possible, creates a welcoming environment.

Show an animal rights video. Starting meetings with a video is invariably an excellent ice-breaker. One of the best videos for this purpose is Their Future in Your Hands--short, informative, and powerful, but not overwhelmingly gory. If you do intend to show graphic videos, you should inform meeting attendees in advance and give them the opportunity to turn away or leave the room for the duration of the film. Following the video, have people in the room say their names, what brought them to the meeting, and any special interests.

Discuss some of your potential projects. It's fine to develop a few ideas through the steering committee and then discuss them with the group, but it is also important to be open to new ideas and to not force campaigns on people if they seem uninterested. Rather than taking on an intimidating, monster campaign from the outset, a group can building itself through smaller, simpler tasks and goals.

Assign specific tasks. At the end of the first meeting people should have specific things to do. Delegate jobs that require little experience but are critical and make people feel valued, such as tabling, postering, and leafleting. Tabling is effective because it inspires people to practice their facts and answers to animal rights questions. You can even hold an animal rights question and answer session to prep people for tabling. Practice is important, but be sure to avoid creating a set of memorized answers. Encourage people to think for themselves and keep reading and learning to better discuss these issues.

Reevaluate the group's structure. By the time the group is holding formal meetings, you may choose to dissolve the steering committee or open it to interested people. I've primarily used steering committees as tools to shelter potential new activists from very boring administrative work involved in launching a group, but other groups have held steering committees as a permanent fixture will into the group's life, to allow a highly motivated few to maintain group focus. This is particularly useful with very large high school groups that run meetings oriented more towards education than action and where members can be as much "audience" as activists.

The Power of Campus Media

It is easy to underestimate the importance of campus media on the grounds that very few students actually read their school papers. Ignoring your school paper causes you to miss out on great outreach and educational opportunities. It is fairly easy to develop one-on-one relationships with educators and reporters at your campus paper by simply visiting their office and talking about your issue. You can also send press releases a few days before every event you hold. Some school papers will allow the animal rights group to write a weekly column, so be sure to ask if this is possibility and find out if you can run photos with the articles.

Campaign for Change

Groups should choose campaigns considering their members' level of interest in an issue, the potential for the campaign to achieve change in policy, the likelihood of changing attitudes of members of the community, and the potential to further the animal liberation movement. Most importantly, the goal of the campaign must be attainable. Taking on a campaign with no chance of success will only promote frustration and apathy once it becomes clear that victory is impossible. It is far more meaningful to take on smaller--winnable--campaigns, thus building confidence and a formidable reputation, and training your members for the bigger battles that lie ahead.

There are many, many animal rights issues to address on campuses, including banning dissection, abolishing animal experiments, ending campus use of rodenticides and insecticides, stopping your school from investing in or purchasing products from companies that abuse animals such as Procter & Gamble, promoting veganism on campus, challenging campus animal agriculture programs, and educating the campus community on a wide range of animal rights issues.

Because the world will not go vegan overnight and meat consumption is such an entrenched practice, promoting veganism works best as a less confrontational campaign. It is hard, after all, to be accusatory, when the majority of the public are the accused.

Campus groups tend to have three major goals in promoting veganism on campus: education, increasing vegan food options, and specially eliminating particularly cruel animal "foods."

Tactics for education include tabling, holding veganism seminars, leafleting with literature such as Why Vegan, promoting awareness of campus vegan options through a vegan guide, and free food events:

Veganism Seminars: These can include videos on veganism, discussion of the ethical, health, and environmental implications of meat consumption, vegan cooking demonstrations, vegan purchasing tours of health food stores, and distribution of lists of vegan-friendly local restaurants. Members of your group can talk about what motivated them to go vegan and how they made the transition, and take questions from attendees.

Campus Vegan Guides: Vegan Guides briefly explain veganism and list all available vegan foods in school cafeterias and at restaurant vendors in food courts. They also flag items to watch out for that may seem to be vegan but may have hidden animal ingredients. These can be distributed far and wide on campus.

Food Distro Events: Vegan bake sales can raise money while informing people that tasty, attractive baked goods can be vegan. Attention-getting events such as "McVegan," where activists set up a vegan burger stand that satirically appropriates the McDonald's logo, catches people's attention, gets them to eat vegan burgers, and gets them thinking about meat consumption, all while keeping a smile on their faces.

Vegan Food in Cafeterias: Campuses have notoriously poor food choice for vegans. However in stark contrast to most other cases where activists request change, college food service programs are often open to requests for change by animal rights activists. It is important to be polite and provide clear options of what vegan foods cafeteria could be serving. You can also request that all food items be labeled with ingredients to make it easier for people to know what is in their food. Be wary of unkept promises by food bureaucrats and be persistent for change, without being critical of food services staff.

Selective Food Bans: Specific foods are so obviously cruel that even meat eaters may support their elimination from the menu. The most obvious is veal. Collect petition signatures from students and submit them to food service. Write editorials for the school paper. Hold educational events where students are asked to step into a human-sized veal crate to get a feel for what life in intensive confinement is like. Post anti-veal poster and stickers on bulletin boards, in bathroom stalls, and anywhere else on campus. Encourage students to write letters. Try to get the student newspaper to conduct a student opinion poll on veal. Try to pass a student government resolution supporting a veal ban. Offer food services a specific vegan alternative. If none of these steps work, consider escalating to protests and ultimately, direct actions.

Historically student organizations have been at the forefront of freedom struggles. Student animal rights groups, with proper planning, can help make animal rights one of the most powerful social justice movements of the 21st century.

Special thanks to Freeman Wicklund and Melanie Bartlett, whose ideas and experiences have been drawn upon heavily throughout this article.
LINK TO ARTICLE

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Reposted By: "Media for Animal Liberation"

Video: Mink Liberations, AETA, the Media, & Grand Juries



MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/xmfalx
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Moonwarriors

Cathy


To report animal cruelty on the internet plz read

Instead of getting someone's page taken off this is the best way to handle any animal abuse suspected on the internet!!!Keep the links below as we all know there will be more we need to report!!My thought you harm a animal you deal with us!!!
Cathy

To report animal cruelty on the internet

Why is it important to report suspected Internet animal cruelty?
*Reporting any type of suspected animal cruelty may save animals’ lives as well as people’s lives. When animals are abused, people are also at risk. The Link® between animal abuse and other forms of societal violence is well-documented..
That is why it is critical to immediately report conduct on the Internet that you suspect may be — or that you know is — animal abuse



If I see animal cruelty on the Internet, what should I do?

*Immediately contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, at http://www. ic3. gov/default. aspx The website will direct you to the page where you can file your complaint. At first glance, it may appear that the website will only consider complaints of Internet monetary fraud..
However, IC3 is the proper venue for all Internet crimes, including animal abuse
*IC3 can best process your complaint if the information you provide is as detailed and complete as possible..
This includes providing the complete URL (website address) for the website that displayed the suspected animal cruelty
*Even if you are located outside the United States, IC3 will review your report as long as the suspected abuser is located in the United States..



What happens after I file a report with the IC3?

*IC3 will email your report ID and password to you, along with a link to an area on the IC3 website where you can view your report and enter any additional information
*Upon receipt of your report, IC3 will carefully evaluate it and refer it to the appropriate federal, state, local or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies. Every report that is referred is sent to one or more law enforcement or regulatory agencies that have jurisdiction over the matter. At that point, the report may be assigned to an investigator..
IC3 cannot guarantee that your complaint will be investigated


What else can I do?

*Because abusive content often violates the user agreement that the creator of the website has signed with the Internet Service Provider (ISP), notifying the ISP about the abusive content may result in the website being removed from the Internet..

*To make a report to the ISP, you need to determine who hosts the website.. To do that, go to http://www. domaintools. com/, enter the website URL in the “Whois Lookup” search box and click on the search button. Scroll down the results page until you find the numerical Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the website.. Then go to http://www. arin. net/index. shtml(American Registry for Internet Numbers) and enter that IP address in the “Search WHOIS” box and click on the search button. The search results page will provide information about the ISP that hosts the website. The page also might display information about how to report abuse.. If it does not, go to http://www. search. org/programs/hightech/isp/ and find the complete contact information for the ISP on the list. All of this information should also be included in your FBI complaint form, where possible..

*If you believe an animal is in immediate harm, and if the location is known, contact local police and your local FBI branch office as soon as possible.. To locate your local FBI branch, visit http://www. fbi. gov/contact/fo/fo. htm

How does the law currently handle Internet animal cruelty?

*Because communications through the Internet have the ability to cross state lines, the Internet is largely governed by federal law. Improving the federal laws as they pertain to Internet animal abuse is critical..
Currently, only a few federal laws address the issue directly:
*The Crush Act (P.L.106-152) penalizes the display of acts of cruelty and sexual abuse of animals that is intended for interstate commerce. If convicted, offenders may receive up to five years in prison or a large fine. Two criteria must be met before this statute applies: 1) actual abuse must occur and 2) the website in question must intend to sell the images across state lines. In other words, a website may legally display images of animal cruelty and sexual abuse under this law as long as it is not charging visitors for access or otherwise selling the images. In 2005, the first conviction under this statute occurred in a federal district court in Virginia..


*The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act (P.L. 110-27) strengthens the ability of law enforcement to combat animal fighting by providing felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export related to animal fighting activities, including commerce in cockfighting weapons. Each violation of this federal law is punishable by up to three years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for perpetrators..

*Internet Hunting: The Computer-Assisted Remote Hunting Act (H.R. 2711/S. 2422) is a pending federal bill introduced by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). It seeks to prohibit knowingly making available a “computer-assisted remote hunt” (using a computer or other device, equipment or software to control the aiming and discharge of a weapon to hunt)




What You Can Do About Sites That Promote Animal Cruelty

Kindness of Strangers~Live Green saves Wildlife
Be kind to little things!
Elle-strangestangels. org
Cornwall's Voice for Animals



WE are forever faced with sites promoting hunting/dog fighting and video's of kids setting animals on fire for a laugh - so here is a good piece of advise - save it - post it - and let's get these people caught - and off the web !



What You Can Do about Web Sites that Promote Animal Cruelty

What You Can Do about Web Sites that Promote Animal Cruelty

The Humane Society of the United States frequently receives correspondence from individuals concerned about sites on the Internet that celebrate and encourage the exploitation of animals… In many cases, what appears to be illegal activity is actually protected under the law as free speech

If you see a web site that promotes or glorifies animal cruelty or exploitation, take these steps:

1) Do not contact the person running the site… In many cases, creators of offensive web sites are encouraged by the negative attention they receive in response to their site… For this reason, we discourage people from e-mailing or otherwise contacting the individuals who run offensive web sites

2) Contact the Internet Service Provider (ISP) hosting the site… In response to complaints they receive from concerned visitors, ISPs have in many cases removed sites because they determined that the sites' content violated the ISP's User's Agreement… Click here to find the ISP for a site that ends in com, net, or org… Click here to find the ISP for a site in an international domain (such as uk or ch

3) Resist spreading the word… If you have concerns about a web site, contact your elected officials… Please do not contact friends and neighbors… Many well-intentioned individuals believe that the best course of action is to tell all of their friends and relatives about such web sites… Sometimes …petitions against a site will be generated… Ultimately, such petitions or mass emails only increase the number of visitors to a web site, encouraging the site's creator



Link to all elected officials page with their e-mail links

http://www. conservativeusa. org/mega-cong. htm

This is a post taken from a friend of mine that discusses what I think are some of the most important issues going on right now. Seven friends of mine were recently unjustly and harshly sentenced to federal prison in the UK from 4 to 11 years for standing up for what they believed. Full article can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/inbox/readupdates.php?id=18106255564&start=5&hash=150e8a1d7af75b66473775913bb95edd
Injustices like this happen when the law fails to protect the citizens and instead protects the money making corporations.  It is important to know and understand what these groups are all about: 

/MDFodHRwOi8vczE2MC5waG90b2J1Y2tldC5jb20vYWxidW1zL3QxOTYvc29sZWltb29uLz9hY3Rpb249dmlldyZjdXJyZW50PTE2LTEuanBn" target="_blank">


I came out in favor of the ALF because after careful study of their history, arguments, and results, I concluded that their actions are effective, necessary, and just- Governments, animal exploitation industries, and most mass media characterize the ALF as violent terrorists, but I see them as freedom fighters and counter-terrorists- The ALF is a new justice movement defending innocent beings under attack and fighting the real terrorists who torture and kill animals without justification


Breaking and entering locked buildings, smashing fur store windows, torching delivery trucks — it all sounds nothing short of vandalism or even terrorism- But I believe ALF actions are defensible because (1) what happens to animals is wrong, and (2) legal channels to stop it are blocked by speciesism and corrupt governments that support the property rights of industries over the moral rights of animals



I believe that no door, no law, no profit margin, no government, and no cop should ever stand in the way between an animal and its freedom- I wish that legal methods of animal liberation were adequate to free animals from their oppressors, but unfortunately they are not- Governments are grotesquely corrupt and speciesist and serve their corporate masters- Animals are too important a resource and commodity for corporations to voluntarily free them, and so animal liberation requires militant tactics such as raids to rescue animals and property destruction to weaken, cripple, or eliminate oppressors

It is unfortunate that the problem of animal exploitation is so extreme that some people have been moved to take extreme measures to address it- We should direct our moral criticism to the causes of the ALF, rather than the ALF response to them



If you do not support the ALF, you need a lesson in history and a logical consistency check-Despite the lies of the corporate-state-media complex, and the ignorance of many animal advocates, the ALF has nothing to do with Al Qaeda, the SS, or the Republican Guard that tyrannized the Iraqi people before Bush-Cheney got their turn- The ALF is the animal rights version of the Underground Railroad, the anti-Nazi resistance movement, and contemporary peace and justice struggles- Like the Underground Railroad, the ALF breaks the law in order to rescue exploited animal slaves and shuttle them to freedom in loving homes- Like the anti-Nazi resistance, the ALF will smash the oppressors' property and any implements of violence or death in order to slow down or stop their killing machines

Unlike some brave warriors fighting Nazis, however, the ALF has never used physical violence against any animal exploiter- And like all contemporary movements fighting for peace, justice, and human rights, the ALF intends to help secure all these values for the most defenseless victims of all, the animals who are utterly dependent upon us for their liberation

..

The ALF belongs to the long and noble traditions of direct action and civil disobedience that include the Quakers, Henry David Thoreau, Harriet Tubman, the Suffragettes, Mohandas Gandhi, and Dr Martin Luther King Jr - From the Boston Tea Party to the Battle of Seattle, there are important historical anticipations of or parallels to the ALF whenever oppressed people find they have to break the law and destroy property in order to realize ideals of freedom, rights, justice, and democracy

Whereas some argue that property destruction is violence, the ALF correctly identifies itself as a non-violent movement — one that attacks only the property of animal exploiters, and never the exploiters themselves in order to stop their obscene violence, create conditions of peace, and rescue animals from their bloody hands- Only in our perverse capitalist world, one that values property over life, does it make sense to demonize the ALF and elevate these freedom fighters – these counter-terrorists — to Public Enemy 1 on the domestic terrorism list- The real terrorists occupy the corporate suites and highest political offices of the land-They wear suits, not balaclavas; they terrorize with money and banks not guns and bombs- Their actions are legal, but what does that tell you about the scandal of the law?



The defense of direct action, civil disobedience, sabotage, and armed resistance rests on the distinction between what is legal and what is ethical, between the Law and the Right- There are textbook cases where legal codes violate codes of ethics and justice: Nazi Germany, U S slavery, and South African apartheid

In such situations, not only is it legitimate to break the law, it is obligatory- In the words of Dr King, "I became convinced that non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good "

The true forces of ethics and justice have involved groups such as the Jewish Resistance, Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, Gandhi and the Indian independence movement, the Suffragettes, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, and Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress

All of them broke the law, destroyed the enemy's property, or committed violence; they were beaten, jailed, killed, and denounced as extremists or the equivalent of terrorists

Yet who will argue that their actions were wrong? Today we lionize Nelson Mandela as a great hero, but he and the ANC used violence to win their freedom- People forget that the much-heralded Suffragettes in England and the U S used arson and bombs to help win the emancipation of women- No movement for social change has succeeded without a radical fringe, without civil disobedience, property destruction, and even violence — so why should one expect it to be any different with the animal liberation struggle?



Opponents of direct action, civil disobedience, and sabotage (typically those with vested interests in the status quo) believe that illegal actions undermine the rule of law and they view principled lawbreaking and "criminal" actions as a threat to social order-Among other things, this perspective presupposes that the system in question is legitimate or that it cannot be improved upon- It also misrepresents direct activists as people who disrespect the law, when arguably they have a higher regard for the spirit of law and its relation to justice than those who fetishize political order for its own sake- Champions of direct action renounce uncritical allegiance to a legal system- To paraphrase Karl Marx, the law is the opiate of the people, and blind obedience to laws and social decorum led millions of German Jews to their death with almost no resistance- All too often, the legal system is a structure to absorb opposition and induce paralysis by delay

Despite the incriminations of animal exploitation industries, the state, and the mass media, the ALF is not a terrorist organization; rather they are a counter-terrorist outfit and the newest form of freedom fighters -There are indeed real terrorists in today's world, but they are not the ALF- The most violent and dangerous criminals occupy the top positions of US

corporate and state office; they are the ones most responsible for the exploitation of people, the massacre of animals, and the rape of the planet


So give us some sense of what "violence" means for you and -- is violence always wrong in all conditions?

If violence is the intentional infliction of bodily harm against another person, then how can one "hurt," "abuse," or "injure" a nonsentient thing that does not feel pain or have awareness of any sort? How can one be "violent" toward a van or be a "terrorist" toward brick and mortar? How does one harm or terrorize a laboratory or fur farm with spray paint or a firebomb?

One simply does not – unless someone owning or associated with the property is adversely affected- People whose homes, cars, or offices are damaged suffer fear, anxiety, and trauma - Their business, livelihood, research, or careers may be ruined, and they are harmed psychologically, economically, professionally, and in other ways



Admittedly, none of this is good from the point of view of an ALF victim such as a vivisector, foie gras chef, or fur farmer- But is it sound to call sabotage "violence"? Perhaps, if one relied on a general psychological definition involving something like "mental trauma," but one could just as well argue that sabotage is the lesser violence compared to what it tries to prevent, that it simply is not violence, or that violence, including physical attacks against human persons, is acceptable and legitimate in a war against the warmongers



If any definition of violence is warranted, it should be in our understanding of a "person" – any being that is sentient and the "subject of a life" - Since animals are not only sentient, but also psychologically and socially complex beings, they are subjects in every significant way human beings are- Thus, every injury to an animal ought to be considered injury to a person, and hence violence- And if destruction to corporate property is violence then why is it not violence of a far greater magnitude to slash and burn forests, annihilate oral reefs and ocean floors with massive fishing trawlers, dump endless tons of carcinogenic wastes into waterways, and industrial strip mine mountains until their peaks are reduced to pebbles?

Typically, those who vilify saboteurs as "violent" leap to the conclusion that they are "terrorists," failing to realize that there is an important difference insofar as one can use violence in morally legitimate ways in conditions ranging from self-defense to a "just war" - The ALF is not a terrorist organization because (1) they never physically injure people, and (2) they never target anyone but those directly involved in the war against animals




Truth be told, one can use violence in morally legitimate ways in conditions ranging from self-defense to a "just war"- One could plausibly argue that the ALF are acting in defense of the defenseless, that they are combatants in a just war, and that animal exploiters are legitimate military targets- Pacifist arguments assume that nonviolent methods of resistance can solve all major social conflicts (they cannot) and that a human life has absolute value (it does not)- Philosophically speaking, one has to wonder what kind of absolute value is attached to the life of a vicious killer such as a famous Safari Club member who wins prizes for "bagging" endangered species in comparison to the life of the rare elephants, lions, and gorillas the bastard kills- Why ought the human "right" to kill to be protected over an animal's right to live through a code of nonviolence?



Let's do away with any false absolutist position and some serious hypocrisy while we are at it- Just as causing physical violence to another "person" is not always right, nor is it always wrong- There is wide assent that violence is legitimate to defend innocent human beings from being wrongly harmed or killed by others- In the paradigm case, who truly condemns the use of property destruction and violence to free Jewish prisoners from Nazi genocide? Resistance fighters blew up train tracks, gas ovens, and killed German soldiers at every possible opportunity- Bravo!



But if discussion turns to the use of property destruction or physical violence to liberate animals from oppression, suddenly there is outcry that this tactic is wrong, violent, and counter-productive - Appealing to critics to overcome the fallacy of speciesism and to think in a rigorously consistent manner, I simply ask: why? Why are the anti-Nazi resistance fighters heroes while the ALF are terrorists? Why is violence acceptable to use in defense of human beings but not animals? This gross inconsistency ought to embarrass every unprejudiced and logical person and it is a scandal when paraded about by a so-called "animal advocate" - It is just a disguised form of speciesism whereby extraordinary actions are courageous and laudable if done on behalf of human animals but despicable and deplorable if taken for nonhuman animals





Beginning in 1976, the ALF declared war against animal oppressors and the state that defends them, but the ALF did not start the conflict- The ALF did not so much wage war as it entered into a war that animal exploiters long ago began- If one party succumbs to a war initiated by another party, it employs violence in self-defense and so its actions are legitimate- Animals too have the right to self defense- But since they cannot defend themselves (except for instances such as where elephants or tigers justly kill their trainers), humans must act on their behalf- And if violence is needed to save an animal from attack, then violence is legitimate as a means of self defense for animals- If one likes, this could be called extensional self defense, since humans are acting on behalf of animals who are so vulnerable and oppressed they cannot fight back to attack or kill their oppressors

For the full article "Evolve or die: Can we shed our moral primitivism before it's too late?" click here


DR. STEPHEN BEST



Direct Action & The Politics Of Nature



America's 1 Terrorists



"As ye sow, so shall ye reap…"










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Show All Bulletins Mama Kimberly ♥'s animals Has Posted

From: Animal Rights
Date: Dec 10, 2008 4:16 PM


Animal Cruelty

There are many different reasons why individuals abuse animals. Animal cruelty covers a wide range of actions (or lack of action), so one certain answer simply is not possible. Each type of abuse has displayed certain patterns of behavior that we can use to help understand more about why people commit the crimes we encounter and causes these beautiful animals to suffer in silence almost every day..

Animal cruelty is often broken down into two main categories: active and passive, but often referred as intentional cruelty and neglect

Neglect (Passive Cruelty)

Passive cruelty is typified by cases of neglect, where the crime is a lack of action rather than the action itself - however do not let the terminology fool you. Severe animal neglect can cause incredible pain and suffering to an animal..

Examples of neglect are starvation, dehydration, parasite infestations, allowing a collar to grow into an animal's skin, inadequate shelter in extreme weather conditions, and failure to seek veterinary care when an animal needs medical attention

In many cases of neglect where an investigator feels that the cruelty occurred as a result of ignorance, they may attempt to educate the pet owner and then revisit the situation to check for improvements. In more severe cases however, exigent circumstances may require that the animal is removed from the site immediately and taken in for urgent medical care..

Intentional Cruelty (Active Cruelty)

Active cruelty implies malicious intent, where a person has deliberately and intentionally caused harm to an animal, and is sometimes referred to as NAI (Non-Accidental Injury). Acts of intentional cruelty are often some of the most disturbing and should be considered signs of serious psychological problems. This type of behavior is often associated with sociopathic behavior and should be taken very seriously..


Animal abuse in violent homes can take many forms and can occur for many reasons. Many times a parent or domestic partner who is abusive may kill, or threaten to kill, the household pets to intimidate family members into sexual abuse, to remain silent about previous or current abuse, or simply to psychologically torture the victims, flexing their "power"..

In cases of violent animal cruelty or severe neglect, the abuse is clear and unquestionable.  In other scenarios, however, the situation may be less clear..

Many times what appears to be neglect seen from over the neighbor's fence is simply misinterpreted. If you believe the dog is not being fed, or left for hours without water, or has no way to get out of the rain, sun, or wind, look more closely during different times of the day to be sure..

"Sometimes the food and water bowls are kept inside an animal's shelter to keep them away from bugs or to prevent them from freezing. Maybe the owner feeds the dog every day before he goes to work at 3 am when you're asleep, and then takes the bowl back inside. Maybe the pet's shelter is a cleverly disguised dog door into the shed or garage. Perhaps the dog just prefers to be outside no matter what the weather, so you never see him go inside." - American Humane..

Because animal neglect is vaguely defined, identifying neglect can be difficult, so it is critical that you look at the entire situation or recognize the signs that indicate severe negligence that  can and is endangering the neglected animal

Is it animal cruelty a crime?

There may be situations where you feel an animal is being neglected because they are not being treated the way you yourself would treat a pet. As long as the pet owner provides adequate food, water, medical care and shelter, they may not actually be violating any laws - which means you have to take a different approach if you want to get involved..

To ensure that no one is harming or neglecting animals within your area, try to get to know and befriend neighbors within your neighborhood and gently suggesting different approaches to how their animals are treated. This can show your neighborhood as well as your community that animal cruelty is a crime and not something to be taken lightly of. It also shows that your concern for animals and their well-being, as well as your concern about the issue of animal cruelty/neglect which can result in people also showing their concern for these beautiful animals and preventing animal cruelty from occurring..

However, even if you are unsure if animal abuse or neglect is occurring - report it.  You can report the suspected abuse to your local law enforcement and/or humane rescue organization, and a patrol officer will be sent to the resident to verify whether abuse or neglect is actually taking place. You can choose to report animal cruelty/neglect to your local law enforcement or humane rescue organizations anonymously..

Although, it does help to give your name and information because if the suspected animal cruelty is confirmed and severe, the abuser(s) will be arrested and taken to court. Law enforcement may need you as a witness to the abuse which can help put the abuser in prison and prevent him/her from ever harming another innocent animal..

Please report animal cruelty to your local law enforcement and/or humane rescue organizations immediately. These innocent animals need our help. If not you, who? If not now when? Please be their voice..

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us and we will respond as soon as we are able

Support animal rights

-Olivia

www. myspace. com/blessings_of_the_merciful

for more information, please visit
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=237882595

From:One Voice
From: FURocious

Coats for Cubs:

Donate Your Old Furs to Wildlife

Do you have an old fur coat in your closet?
Is your grandmother's mink stole stored in the attic?
Many of us have fur apparel that we no longer want or that was left to us by a family member. Some aren't comfortable selling it or giving it to charity, because they feel people should not wear animal fur. And storing, cleaning, and remodeling old fur coats are highly profitable services for furriers and helps keep them in the fur business.

So what should people do with it?

Give it back to the animals.

If you would like to see that old fur put to a good use, donate it to The Humane Society of the United States' Coats for Cubs program. The fur will aid and comfort wildlife.

Where Do the Furs Go?

All of the furs received by The HSUS are sent to wildlife rehabilitators, who use the furs to warm and comfort orphaned and injured wildlife. More than 200 rehabilitators from across the United States and Canada now participate in the program.

How Do the Furs Help Wildlife?

The furs are cut into an appropriate size for the animal, whether it be a bobcat, fox, raccoon, squirrel, or rabbit, and placed inside the animal's enclosure. The furry blanket becomes a surrogate mother to orphaned animals, reducing stress and giving comfort. One rehabilitator related a story about a restless orphaned river otter who chirped constantly. Once she was given a fur blanket, she settled right down. Turning the sleeve of a fur coat inside out, a rehabilitator can also create a warm nest for a burrowing animal such as an opossum. Some animals adopt a piece of fur as a playmate, jumping on it and wrestling with it.

How Do I Donate?

Donating is easy: Place your fur in a sturdy box (a large padded envelope is fine for small items) and mail it to The HSUS at the following address:

The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St.
, NW
Washington, D.C.
20037
Attn: Coats for Cubs

Another way to donate furs is to drop them off at Buffalo Exchange. The HSUS is partnering with Buffalo Exchange, a resale clothing chain with 36 stores across the country, to collect fur items. From Nov. 15, 2008 through Earth Day, April 22, 2009, you can bring your fur to any Buffalo Exchange store and let the staff know it is a donation for The HSUS.
Click here for a list of store locations. However, if you want to claim a tax deduction for your donation, please mail your fur(s) directly to HSUS.

The HSUS accepts all fur apparel, fur trims, and fur accessories (such as hats, gloves, and muffs).

How Will I Know That The HSUS Has Received
My Donation?

If you want to receive a letter of thanks, please include a note inside the box stating your email address or your mailing address requesting an acknowledgment.  If you've requested an acknowledgment, you will be sent a letter of thanks 2-3 weeks after the fur has arrived.  Please save this letter if you want to claim a tax deduction.

What Do I Need to Do If I Want to Claim a
Tax Deduction?

If you itemize deductions, you can claim the fair market value of your donation. The fair market value is the amount for which you could sell the fur today—not how much it cost to purchase the fur. This is a judgment call that you will have to make, based on the condition and type of the fur. If you value the fur at $5,000 or more, the Internal Revenue Service will require a "Qualified Appraisal." You must have this appraisal performed before you donate the fur. You may need to include the letter of receipt from The HSUS in your tax returns. If you have any questions, you may want to consult your tax attorney.

I Am a Wildlife Rehabilitator—How Can I Participate?

As more people hear about this wonderful way to aid wildlife, fur donations to The HSUS increase. We are always looking for wildlife rehabilitators who will give the fur back to the animals.
If you would like to help, just send an e-mail to furfree@hsus. org, call 301-721-6434, or write to

The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St.
, NW
Washington, D.C.
20037
Attn: Coats for Cubs

..

From: Animal Rights
Date: Nov 24, 2008 3:36 PM


What To Do If You Witness Animal Abuse

If you think that an animal is being abused or neglected, it is important that you do something about it. Your involvement may be the animal's only hope..

Where to Start

First, find out which agency is responsible for investigating and enforcing the anti-cruelty laws in your state, county, or town. This may be a local humane society or SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) or a taxpayer-funded animal shelter (animal control). In jurisdictions without a humane society or animal-management department, citizens can call upon the police or sheriff's department to enforce the law..

If the animal victim is not in immediate need of rescue, check state and local animal-protection laws by visiting your local library or city hall or by conducting an online search. Print out a copy of any laws that you believe are being violated, and be ready to cite these laws to authorities. In most states, causing an animal "unnecessary suffering" is illegal. That term can include everything from beating an animal to depriving him or her of clean water, food, or shelter..

If the animal is in a life-threatening situation, call authorities immediately. Follow up with them in a timely manner to determine their findings and course of action. If they do not respond right away, call your local animal rescue organization such as SPCA..

What to Look For

Physical Observations

•    Does the animal have access to food, water and shelter?
•    Is his/her area clean?
•    Does the animal have apparent injuries that have not been treated?
•    Does the animal appear to be overly aggressive or timid?
•    Does the animal appear to be neglected?
**Neglect is vaguely defined as failure to provide an animal with necessary food, water, shelter, rest, sanitation, ventilation, space, or medical attention
•    Did you witness the owner physically abuse the animal?

Gathering Evidence

Once you have determined which law-enforcement agency to contact (and ensured that the animal is not in imminent danger), provide authorities with a short, concise, factual, written statement, detailing the key points of what you have observed and giving dates, locations, and approximate times. Timely fact-gathering is crucial—the more time that passes, the greater the risk that specifics will be forgotten, witnesses will move, evidence will disappear, injuries will heal, etc. If you can, take pictures and date them; photographic or videotaped evidence fortifies your case, and short, factual, written statements from other witnesses will back up your observations..

Documenting the incident with photographs and videotape can be very helpful in prosecution. If such cruelty is not witnessed directly but is suspected, animal control authorities should be notified. Reports of animal cruelty should be as detailed as possible. Dates, times and circumstances should be noted and related to animal control authorities, who should also be made aware of any physical evidence (photos, video, etc.)..

Always keep a record of everyone you contact (official or otherwise), the dates of the contacts, and the content and outcome of your discussions. Never pass on a letter, photograph, or any documentation without first creating a copy for your file. Make it crystal clear to authorities that you wish to pursue this case and are willing to lend your assistance if necessary, and be sure to follow up! If you stay involved, they're more likely to do the same..

Law-enforcement officials should inspect the animal visually, and if possible, conduct a hands-on field exam (referred to as "palpating" the animal) in order to find injuries or an otherwise unhealthy physical condition that may be obscured by the victim's fur. Officials will often be fooled by a dog who "acts happy," but manic or social behavior does not mean that the animal is safe; he or she may just be anxious to please or desperate for attention. A more thorough examination is necessary, and an injured or clearly endangered animal must not be left behind..

The crime scene should also be thoroughly inspected for any indication that abuse has occurred. Suspects and neighbors (potential witnesses) should be interviewed. If the investigator agrees that your complaint has merit, a warning may be issued, charges filed, a warrant served, and/or the animal(s) removed..

Pursuing Your Case

Persistence has saved countless animals from abusive people. If you are unable to get satisfaction from law-enforcement officers, go straight to their supervisors. If necessary, appeal to local government officials, such as the mayor, prosecutor, city council members, or county commissioners. A simple call to the media (TV and print) in your area can move mountains. News coverage often forces officials to act and can also scare the abuser into stopping the cruel behavior. News coverage may also inspire viewers who have seen similar acts to step forward and share their own accounts..

If you have personally witnessed an act of cruelty, you can go to your local magistrate or police commissioner and swear out a warrant to summon the abuser to court. Expert witnesses can be very helpful—a veterinarian, for example, can sign a statement that it is his or her "expert opinion" that a dog suffers if swung by a leash, deprived of food, etc. If you know a sympathetic veterinarian, seek his or her assistance, and let officials know that you have expert support..

Reporting Cruelty

A person reporting animal cruelty should ask for the name of the animal control officer and ask what action is planned. Follow up, and report any change observed in the animal's condition and situation. A person reporting animal cruelty need not be concerned with confidentiality. An investigating officer is not likely to identify the source of the complaint. Should the keeper of the animal be prosecuted, witnesses may be called to testify, but the immediate condition of the animal should outweigh concerns about having to testify months from now. You may be that animal's only hope of survival..

As frightening it may be to think about testifying in court, an innocent animal's life is at stake. Please think of that animal and remember that he/she cannot speak for themselves so they need you to be their voice and rescue them from this cruelty. These animals are worth saving..

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us and we will respond as soon as we are able

Support animal rights

-Olivia

www. myspace. com/blessings_of_the_merciful

Wow, wow, wow! What an awful week! We as a nation have been faced with financial ruin. We're seeing greed in Wall street, incompetence in Washington, economic meltdown, yadda yadda yadda. You would think that Bush would eventually run out of things to screw up. We all saw his special report Wednesday night as he interrupted David Blaine's latest publicity stunt, the Dive of Death  to discuss the economy's, well, dive of death. I almost chuckled deep down inside as Bush all but said that we  are all f**ked royally.  And if that wasnt enough, what about that Sarah Palin interview with CBS's Katie Couric? At first I thought I was watching a Tina Fey clip all over again. But no, this was really Sarah Palin herself. All by herself. And by the looks of it, that is not a good idea.
Here is just a small clip from that interview:
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/09/25/palin_russia/index.html

COURIC: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

PALIN: That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land boundary that we have with Canada. It's funny that a comment like that was -- kind of made to -- carry -- I don't know, you know? Reporters --

COURIC: Mocked?

PALIN: Yeah, mocked, I guess that's the word, yeah.

COURIC: Well, explain to me why that enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does because our -- our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia --

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We -- we do -- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America, where -- where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to -- to our state.

Um...What?! So...your claim to international experience is that you truly can see Russia...from your house? Ya know! OHHHhhhhhhh, ssssiiiiiiggghhhhh. And some people thought Tina Fey  tough on her. This woman is truly proving herself unfit to run. John McCain should be ashamed of himself.






  

Last night McCain and Palin officially won the republican nomination, and should they suceed as president, a deadly new environmental policy will be set into motion. She certainly made clear her pro-war stance clear while bashing democratic nominee Obama. While evangelicals sing her praises simply because she did not abort her downy-baby (i still dont understnd how this is supposed to make her a good leader) she is all about greed, money and celebrity and her track record speaks for itself.

If you want to know Palin's values, please take the time to read the following and educate yourself:

http://www.defendersactionfund.org/releases/090308.html

http://www.defendersactionfund.org/newsroom/sarah_palin.html
 
And please watch this video.  Warning: the images displaying Palin's values are graphic:

http://actionfund.defenders.org/palinvideo

What kind of values puts special interest groups above the need to protect our ever crumbling natural world, and sound science? Giving the federal government the power to force a rape victim to go thru even more trauma is not family values. Taking the polar bear off the endangered species list so your husband can drill in sensitive ecosystems is not values. (it is important to take note that her husband stands to make a LOT of money should the drilling be alowed.) Pushing for the beyond brutal aerial slaughter of natural predators so one has more game prey to hunt is NOT values. How can someone get up and talk about their values while wearing the skins of slaughtered animals?

I fear that it comes to this: Palin vs. the environment. I'm afraid we can't have both.

"How Can 56 Million Americans Be So STUPID!"
-The Times in London headlined when bush "won" the last election

As if things were not bad enough under the current presidents administration, McCain has chosen Sarah Palin, the most vile (a word I do not use often) heartless, evil, and dangerous,  person to be his running mate. If anyone knows me at all, then you know that for the last 2 years I and many other wildlife activists have been fighting her and her bill to slaughter Alaska's Wolves by gunning them down from choppers. If she were to have her way, no land would be safe from strip mining, logging, oil drilling, or urbanization. The fact is, the Earth is already under so much pressure as it is with the ever expanding human population, big oil, slash-and-burn industry, deadly run-off from overflowing landfills, pesticides seeping into groundwater,  states attempts to eradicate certain species, and climate change. EXTRA care and consideration MUST be taken to protect the exploited and already crumbling environment. A country that levels its forest, drains its aquifers, and washes its topsoil downstream is a country traveling blind!

You need to be aware of Governor Palin's dismal record, from her staunch support for special interests and Big Oil to her terrible assault on wolves and other wildlife.
There are several things that you need to know about Palin:

1) She is presently under investigation in Alaska for abuse of power

2) She strongly supports big oil (her husband works for an oil company)

3) She is adamantly opposed to reproductive rights for women

4) She has no federal or international experience & has only been mayor of a small town and a beauty queen!

5) She supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

6) She is pro-war

7) She supports Alaska's Pebble Mine which will destroy Bristol Bay and the richest salmon run in the world

8) She is opposed to listing the Polar Bear as an engangered species and believes global warming is a farce

9) She supports aerial shooting of bears and wolves in Alaska

10) She believes creationism only should be taught in schools

Senator McCain's choice for a running mate is beyond belief. By choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has clearly made a decision to continue the Bush legacy of destructive environmental policies.

Sarah Palin, whose husband works for BP (formerly British Petroleum), has repeatedly put special interests first when it comes to the environment. In her scant two years as governor, she has lobbied aggressively to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, pushed for more drilling off of Alaska's coasts, and put special interests above science. Ms. Palin has made it clear through her actions that she is unwilling to do even as much as the Bush administration to address the impacts of global warming. Her most recent effort has been to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list, putting Big Oil before sound science. As unbelievable as this may sound, this actually puts her to the right of the Bush administration.

This is Senator McCain's first significant choice in building his executive team and it's a bad one. It has to raise serious doubts in the minds of voters about John McCain's commitment to conservation, to addressing the impacts of global warming and to ensuring our country ends its dependency on oil.

I think it is blatantly obvious mccain picked palin because he thought it would sway all the voters who would have voted for clinton!