by Christine Pesta
If you were to ask people what they think animal rights activists do, their definitions may be many and varied. Most will agree that they advocate for the rights of animals, but from there, their opinions might take different paths.
Some will just speak of them as being vegan or vegetarian hippies, or think of them as, “those people that wear ‘Save the Whales’ t-shirts; yet others see them as criminals who trespass on or destroy private property in the hopes of making headlines.
In all honesty, there is some truth to all of those things; I don’t personally know any animal rights advocate who isn’t vegan. If you’re going to talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk, as it were. Yes, I’m sure many do have some sort of article of clothing that speaks in some way to the rights of animals, whether directly or indirectly. As for those who go the extra mile – those who lay their freedom and, in some cases, their lives on the line for the sake of our fellow Earthlings who cannot defend or speak for themselves, some do go outside the letter of the law, while others stay just within its boundaries so that they may be able to, “…fight another day”.
While people become vegan for different reasons, most, if not all, in the end, do it for the sake of the animals. Those who do become vegan for ethical reasons, are the most likely to remain vegan for the rest of their lives. While some are drawn to veganism for the sake of the environment, upon hearing the positive effect it can have on climate change, they quickly become aware of its impact on animals and soon find themselves to not only be defenders of the Earth, but of animal rights as well.
If you feel that would like to do something to help where animal rights are concerned, you’ve already taken that first step if you are vegan. The difference just one person can make in terms of the lives of animals, the conservation of water, along with the decrease in pollution and deforestation, is a benefit to the Earth that only grows as you continue to remain vegan.
But what to do from there? If you wish to contribute further to the plight of animals around the world, there are a number of things you can choose to do. It will mostly depend on your location, the time you have available, and the resources you have at hand.
Advocates and Activists
What is the difference between advocates and activists? To put it simply, advocates work for change within the system, while some activists, at times, may believe that the only way is to bring about change by going outside the system. Not all activists do. Activists are more likely to be at protests than advocates, who might prefer to work to get legislation passed by sitting down with those of an opposing viewpoint, and some sort of mediator or lawmaker, with hopes that all can come to some sort of an agreement. Some people believe the two words are interchangeable, and don’t really see a difference. No matter how one sees it, both are wanting to bring about change that they feel is for the better.
If you are just looking to change people’s minds in a quiet, more subtle way then perhaps you are more of an advocate. Maybe starting a blog or podcast could be your niche. Writing to political representatives, or becoming a lobbyist could be more the pursuit for you. There’s no reason you can’t join a protest march on occasion, or write an article for a magazine or newspaper as well. It’s all about getting the word out there and trying to get as many people onboard as you can.
Animal activists fight for animal rights. They want to shut down factory farms, experimental testing labs, and animal parks that exploit various species for entertainment purposes. We all do, of course, but what makes some activists different is they are willing to chain themselves to a tree, stand between a harpoon and a whale, or go inside a factory farm pretending to be a regular employee, but all the while filming the atrocities that take place inside such facilities. It can be a dangerous and heart-breaking position they put themselves in, but they do it to make sure all can see just what is taking place in our world – trying to bring attention to what many turn a blind eye to, or what has fallen on deaf ears.
What Can You Do?
As stated earlier, if you’re vegan, you’re already on the path. If you wish to further contribute to the animal rights cause, there are many ways in which you can lend your voice to those speaking up for animals.
You must first decide on how you wish to go about it. You must also educate yourself regarding animal rights and activism in general. You can choose a particular area such as animal testing or factory farming. Find out what laws exist that you wish to see changed. Learn what steps you can take, including how far you can go without breaking any laws. Keep in mind that some may choose to join groups that are okay with overstepping legal boundaries, and if you are not prepared to do so, those will not be groups you should join. There are many other groups that organize peaceful protests or marches, educate the public through websites or passing out printed materials, etc.
However, you can also go it alone if you’d prefer. There’s no reason not to start your own form of protest or education of the public through any number of means. Start a podcast or a blog, organize a fundraiser for an animal sanctuary that rescues animals from factory farms, create a YouTube channel that shows the horrors of animal exploitation or how fishing our oceans and deforestation is destroying the planet.
Among other ways to get the word out might be to create something that brings awareness to people. If you are artistic, perhaps create paintings or drawings that depict the plight of animals, then hold an exhibit or auction to which the proceeds could be donated to an animal charity. Get together with a local urban restoration group and propose a mural that many will see along a large wall, building, or bridge. That will not only serve their cause in creating a beautiful art piece to uplift a depressed area of the city, but will further your cause in the statement it makes regarding animal rights and the need to take steps to save their lives and the environment in which they live.
You can also start your own activist group. Your group may focus on one area that you feel strongly about, or the well-being of animals in general. Maybe your group will rescue animals – be it from the streets or factory farms. The group could raise awareness through peaceful protest outside of medical testing facilities, slaughterhouses, or racetracks. Silent marches can be a very powerful form of protest and education – nothing captures people’s attention quicker than a large group of people not making any noise. Keep in mind that if you do form a group, you will want those joining to all be of like mind. If everyone is not onboard with your plan of action, and has their own ideas about carrying out an agenda using your group as its vehicle, things can go terribly wrong rather quickly. Depending on what you choose to do, there may sometimes need to be a screening process – at least for some events – just to be sure no one starts any trouble unexpectedly that could give your group a bad name. Remember also, that violence and unlawfulness is never the best way to get a message across. People only tend to focus on the problem it caused rather than the information you were trying to impart.
Social media accounts, where you can post facts as well as your opinions on animal rights, is both a subtle and easy way to practice activism. You can do it from pretty much anywhere, and if you were at a protest, for instance, you could film some of it and post it on your page for everyone to see. Getting the message out to those who are too far away, or do not have the ability to travel to where an event is taking place, can be a very helpful and powerful tool in the fight for animal rights. Many on social media are inclined to share – that’s what it’s all about. In this way, what you post can reach to all corners of the globe and have an impact that could reach much further than you may have ever dreamed it could.
Getting Started
Alice Walker once said, “Activism is the rent I pay for living on the planet.” It is our job as custodians of the Earth to take care of this planet and all who live upon it. We should all take an active part in its well-being. Unfortunately, there are those who take the Earth for granted, and believe that humans have a right to do whatever they like to many of its inhabitants.
If you wish to take a stand, your efforts will not be in vain. The smallest group, or even the voice of one, can have an impact that may not only be far-reaching in the number of ears on which it falls, but could change the course of history and the fate of the planet itself. For a list of some groups you can get started with contributing to or volunteering for, be sure to check out our Organizations page.
