Animal advocacy in the time of coronavirus

For many of us, the last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions. We’re all grappling with a sense of powerlessness right now. For Changemakers, the immediate instinct in a time of crisis is to start doing. As we reflect on our circumstances and the choices that our movement is now faced with, we must balance our commitment to animals with compassion for our communities.

The current state of the world is heartbreaking. I fear for my loved ones who are working on the front lines in the healthcare and food industries. I grieve for those who have lost their lives to this disease, and for those who are facing job-loss and other devastating consequences.

That said, those of us who have been fighting factory farming for some time can’t help but hope for some positive change to come from this global tragedy. Zoonotic diseases and antibiotic-resistant drugs were already killing hundreds of thousands, and factory farms continue to present a massive threat to our public health. For those of us who see the connection between animal abuse and disease, now feels like a crucial time to advocate for change.

I’d like to offer a few suggestions for continuing to advocate for a better world for the animals while supporting one another through this crisis.

As ever, our mission to end the abuse of animals raised for food is supported by the notion, largely accepted by the general public, that animal cruelty is wrong. As we advocate for animals, it’s important to avoid appearing opportunistic, out-of-touch, or superior. If we feel compelled to place blame on others for their eating choices, let’s remember that people are not likely to open up to our cause when feeling judged, shamed, or attacked.

Be mindful that many of our community members are going through difficult times. When we reach out to these people, we must meet them where they are. Before taking action, ask yourself how you would react if you were not already a Changemaker bought into our cause. Remember that a message is more effective when it’s informed, reliable, relatable, and clear.

Let’s continue to spread the word and educate the public. Animals are still counting on us to speak up, but let’s do it strategically. Focus your criticisms on the institutions that put all of us at risk: massive Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), industrial slaughter facilities, sprawling wet markets, and food systems focused entirely on profit over public health or animal welfare.

Here are five impactful ways you can get started:

1. We can educate ourselves around the connection between animal cruelty and the pandemic. I’d recommend that we all take the time to read this excellent, free ebook, Pandemics, global health and consumer choices, that two public health researchers have generously provided to our community. I also suggest reading these recent opinion pieces that strive to ground our thinking in both research and compassion:

• “Reducing pandemic risk begins with ending factory farming” by Leah Garcés at Mercy For Animals
• “Let’s socially distance ourselves from animals: A coronavirus lesson” by me, David Coman-Hidy, President of The Humane League
• A fact-filled op-ed by Viveca Morris, executive director of the Law, Ethics & Animals Program at Yale Law School: “COVID-19 shows that what we’re doing to animals is killing us, too”

2. Once you’ve done your homework, you can take action by writing a letter to the editor or op-ed to share your concerns. Here are some general tips from THL for writing a letter to the editor.

3. Make sure that you’re signed up for THL’s Fast Action Network, which will keep you up to date with quick and easy campaign activities that you can take from home. You can also sign up to volunteer with us locally. We’ll have plenty of virtual get-togethers and training opportunities in the coming weeks as we weather these times together.

4. I encourage you to support and learn from similar movements. “There's no going back. Here's how our network of campaigners is responding to and collaborating in this crisis”, an excellent piece from the campaign experts at Mobilisation Lab, highlights that this is a moment to build new coalitions and support our fellow Changemakers. To this end, The Humane League has been actively reaching out to and supporting workers groups who are being hurt and put at risk by the meat industry.

5. Let’s take this time to prepare for life on the other side of our current circumstances by reading and watching materials to inspire us for greater advocacy. Here are three books that have had an impact on me. If you prefer video, the excellent Conference for Animal Rights in Europe has put up a treasure trove of presentations by leaders in the animal movement.

The Humane League is working every day, alongside our coalition partners, to determine the next steps in our campaign strategy. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be rolling out more ways to get involved remotely as we work, together, to end the abuse of animals raised for food. In the meantime, take action from home. And above all please, please stay safe, healthy, and well.