Quickie Book Review: The Animal Activist's Handbook

Do you have a free afternoon? Then read this book.



All at once, this book upset me enough to feel that I had to take action, and gave me a profound sense of hope and optimism. The Animal Activist's Handbook is a concise primer on the art of animal activism through outreach. Initially, the prospect of approaching strangers about animal welfare turned my stomach, but after reading this guide, I felt not only that I could do it, but that I should do it.

Authors Matt Ball and Bruce Friedrich provide background and justification for choosing to advocate for animals; methods, strategies, ideas and tips for animal advocacy; and a discussion on the the possibilities for animal liberation. The text is clear and concise, and I was able to move through this book in one sitting. When I went to leaflet, I found that I had confidence in my actions and in approaching other people. Though I ran into no opposition, I was prepared to discuss my position with even the angriest and meanest of adversaries.

At several points in my reading, I would think, "well, yes, that is pretty obvious," but the fact is that these were things I'd never thought about before, and though they made perfect sense when read, I don't know that I would have thought of them in preparing on my own.

This book is well-researched and in addition to offering tips on how to interact with people, Ball and Friedrich suggest other resources for the budding activist including The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and Stumbling on Happiness . The authors recognize that activism is not just what happens when we're handing out leaflets, or volunteering our time, but rather, it is a component of a lifestyle. The most effective advocate is one who is prepared in mind, body, and soul to tackle these issues.

Even if you have no plans to do any outreach, I encourage you to read this book. The information is valuable, and it'll make dealing insufferable anti-vegans much easier. Besides, it's my hope that the overwhelming call to duty will hit you too, and you'll hop online to order some booklets.

Share a Book

I have to do two posts a day for the rest of January to catch up to my goal, so get ready! I'll try to keep from going on too long in any one of them.

I love to read and have made reading several of the major AR works one of my goals for the year, but reading is much more fun and becomes an effective method of activism when you share.

You should be reading these books anyway. I thought I was pretty well versed in AR ideas, concepts, campaigns, and history, but I've already read two short books that changed my mind on that. The knowledge I've gained is invaluable, and I feel inspired and creative. Now I want to parlay the time I've spent reading into direct action for the animals, and here's the plan.

1. Buy two copies of one of the following:
Eating Animals
Ethics into Action
Meat Market
Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating
Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism

2. Donate one copy to your local library or school.

3. Read your copy, and take notes. Believe me, you'll engage with the text more thoroughly this way and it really forces your brain to work.

4. Lend your copy to someone (or several someones) you'd like to read it. Exact a promise from them to do so, and to discuss it with you after.

5. Have that discussion. Invite them over for tea and vegan scones, or pizza, or beer - you get the idea - and listen to their thoughts and ideas. Ask questions. Answer questions. In fact, I strongly recommend reading The Animal Activist's Handbook prior to the discussion to help inform your methods of interaction.

6. Ask for something. What you ask for depends on the outcome of the discussion, and the reaction of your chosen reading buddy, but come armed with a few ideas. You could try asking that they replace a particular product, like milk, with an analogue; that they try veganism for 30 days; that they go vegan for good; that they observe meatless Monday; that they visit a sanctuary with you; or that they spend a day volunteering with you somewhere. The key is to pick something that will be meaningful, that they'll be likely to commit to, and that you can provide alternatives or resources for.

Easy!

Saints and Sinners

I've been reading Peter's Singer's Ethics into Action and plan to review it once I'm finished, but there is so much material in this little book, and it's got me thinking a lot about how to go about effecting change.

If you don't know, Ethics into Action serves as an overview on the life of animal activist, Henry Spira. Though I haven't finished, I can tell you that this book is a must read for any who care to end animal suffering. Not only does it provide important history of the AR movement and the efforts of one of its key players, but it illustrates the attitudes and actions that are instrumental in reducing animal suffering.

One attitude that is repeated throughout the book is one that must guide all of our interactions. Spira's success with people, even before he was fighting for animal rights, can be traced to his ability to communicate with people, most notably, his adversaries.

When approaching the executives of companies like Revlon, Avon, and Proctor & Gamble, he tried to present a case for action that would benefit both the animals and the corporations using them in testing. Besides providing incentive, the option gave people the opportunity to do the right thing. Spira never cast his adversaries as the villain without giving them ample chance to choose their own role in his campaigns. He was said to understand the pressures that faced a business and its employees (Singer, 1998, p. 101) and that helped him to build a rapport with the very people he was fighting against.

Though these people were in direct opposition to Spira's goals, he knew that he would never reach them "by saying we're saints, and you're sinners" (p. 113). He understood that vilifying the people with the power to make change would get him nowhere, and thanks to this attitude, "he made it possible for all the people in the industry to respond to him and his ideas" (p. 100).

In fact, he took every chance to interact with the opposition. Some were surprised that he agreed to give an interview in Lab Animal, a trade magazine, but he saw it as the opportunity to "reach people who were in a position to to make a real difference to the welfare of the animals under their care" (p. 100). He also met with anyone he could from executives, to scientists, to politicians to get answers, to propose solutions, and to make his case known.

This model of meeting with people, listening to their ideas, and understanding their concerns is an important one. It's tempting to rail against those who commit or support the atrocities we're fighting against, but if you hail these people as monsters, you're doing a disservice to your own efforts.

People accused of atrocity will generally jump to defend themselves and defensive people tend to be dismissive of ideas that counter their own. Further, when people are viewed as monsters, they have no chance for redemption. To label a person as such dismisses their motivations and will keep us from understanding the roots of the problem we are trying to solve.

So get angry, and then channel that rage into positive actions. Talk to your adversaries, learn what moves them, and then make a change.

If you haven't, read Singer's works, including Ethics into Action. If you can't get to it right away, check out Ten Ways to Make a Difference as a primer.


Works Cited
Singer, P. (1998). Ethics into action. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.