making a difference for animals: what one person can do
TRANSCRIPT
Valerie Lang Waldin, J.D., Valerie Lang Waldin, J.D., M.L.S.M.L.S.
Winter/Spring 2015Winter/Spring 2015
Making a Difference for Animals:Making a Difference for Animals:What One Person Can DoWhat One Person Can Do
20062006
Duke University School of Law hosts Duke University School of Law hosts conference on Animal Law:conference on Animal Law: Dean Katharine Bartlett opens Dean Katharine Bartlett opens
conference with short address:conference with short address: Future generations will look back on our Future generations will look back on our
treatment of animals with shame… the time treatment of animals with shame… the time is ripe for dramatic changes in Animal Law…is ripe for dramatic changes in Animal Law…
The future is not so far The future is not so far off.off.
Birth of a MovementBirth of a Movement
Many people consider Many people consider the modern animal rights the modern animal rights movement to have movement to have begun in 1975 with a begun in 1975 with a publication by Australian publication by Australian philosopher Peter Singer. philosopher Peter Singer.
Animal Liberation - 1975Animal Liberation - 1975Written by philosopher Peter Singer in 1975, Written by philosopher Peter Singer in 1975, Animal Liberation Animal Liberation
approached animal rights from a utilitarian perspective- he thought approached animal rights from a utilitarian perspective- he thought that the greatest good for the greatest number should include good that the greatest good for the greatest number should include good
for animals, as for animals, as they feel pain and experience pleasure as we dothey feel pain and experience pleasure as we do..
Silver Spring Monkeys - 1981Silver Spring Monkeys - 1981 In 1981, PETA's founders participated in the case that In 1981, PETA's founders participated in the case that
launched the animal rights movement in America. This launched the animal rights movement in America. This case, alleging cruelty and mistreatment of laboratory case, alleging cruelty and mistreatment of laboratory animals, eventually reached the Supreme Court. animals, eventually reached the Supreme Court.
The Silver Spring monkeys were subjects in deafferentation research- they had nerves severed The Silver Spring monkeys were subjects in deafferentation research- they had nerves severed in their limbs, which then atrophied. The monkeys lived in filthy conditions. The researcher, Dr. in their limbs, which then atrophied. The monkeys lived in filthy conditions. The researcher, Dr. Taub, was convicted of several counts of cruelty, which were overturned on technicalities. The Taub, was convicted of several counts of cruelty, which were overturned on technicalities. The AR community fought for years for custody of the remaining monkeys, but never won it. AR community fought for years for custody of the remaining monkeys, but never won it. Eventually, all the operated monkeys were killed at a primate research facility, while the Eventually, all the operated monkeys were killed at a primate research facility, while the control group which had never been experimented on went to the San Diego Zoo.control group which had never been experimented on went to the San Diego Zoo.
Summer 1990Summer 1990March for the Animals March for the Animals
10,000 people 10,000 people
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
19991999First law school class in First law school class in
Animal LawAnimal Law
(Harvard)(Harvard)
Hello Animal LawHello Animal Law
150 law schools Undergraduate studiesUndergraduate studies Animal law reviewsAnimal law reviews Attorneys in private practiceAttorneys in private practice Bar associationsBar associations ListservsListservs
Bob Barker has helped this process Bob Barker has helped this process along to date by giving at least 8 law along to date by giving at least 8 law schools and the schools and the Drury University Forum on Animal Rights approximately $10 million to approximately $10 million to promote the study of animal ethics promote the study of animal ethics and law.and law. HVCC Animal Policy certificate
……an unusual topican unusual topic
Visual natureVisual nature While I try not to offend students While I try not to offend students
with graphic pictures, exposure to with graphic pictures, exposure to animals in negative situations is animals in negative situations is essential for many students to begin essential for many students to begin to understand the nature of the to understand the nature of the issues.issues.
There is a moral and emotional There is a moral and emotional component to this topic which should component to this topic which should be recognized and dealt with be recognized and dealt with directly.directly.
There may be hunters and animal There may be hunters and animal rights advocates in this same room.rights advocates in this same room.
I promise you I will try to build I promise you I will try to build bridges with you, and respect your bridges with you, and respect your positions on controversial issues.positions on controversial issues. But please also know it is virtually But please also know it is virtually
impossible to develop and teach a class impossible to develop and teach a class like this, and do what I do, and like this, and do what I do, and notnot find find some practices and laws unjustifiable.some practices and laws unjustifiable.
Fueled by Reality = ChangeFueled by Reality = ChangeYou can read 20 pages about the fur industry but a video You can read 20 pages about the fur industry but a video will have a more profound impact for those of you who will have a more profound impact for those of you who have never seen the conditions being written about.have never seen the conditions being written about.
ChallengesChallenges
Lawyers who work for big agribusiness, Lawyers who work for big agribusiness, the biomedical industry, the fur & clothing the biomedical industry, the fur & clothing industry, the entertainment industry, and industry, the entertainment industry, and criminal defense lawyers in generalcriminal defense lawyers in general
Lack of protection for farm animalsLack of protection for farm animals Federal protection is pretty much non-existent.Federal protection is pretty much non-existent. State laws simply do not protect farm animals.State laws simply do not protect farm animals.
You will probably be very You will probably be very surprised by how surprised by how littlelittle the the USA’s laws protect farm USA’s laws protect farm
animals.animals.
And More Challenges…And More Challenges…
Municipal (city, county) ordinances Municipal (city, county) ordinances rarely deal with animal hoardersrarely deal with animal hoarders
Disinterested or uneducated police Disinterested or uneducated police and district attorneysand district attorneys
People who think animal rights People who think animal rights activists are wacko activists are wacko
And so much more…And so much more…
You are needed:You are needed:
……to be educated and to educate.to be educated and to educate.
And you …And you …
……present or future leaders, humane present or future leaders, humane educators, moms and dads, educators, moms and dads,
concerned citizens, cowboys, concerned citizens, cowboys, lobbyists , nannies, nurses, cops, lobbyists , nannies, nurses, cops, presidents and regular folks, need presidents and regular folks, need
basic training, guidance and basic training, guidance and encouragement.encouragement.
Making a DifferenceMaking a Difference
If animals are your thing, listen
to it.
Don’t get stuck in a desk job if you were
meant to do something else.
When we work together, the obstacles aren’t as big as we see them.
Rules of engagem
ent
Be kind to each other.
We can butt heads.
WARNING
The next few slides are graphic and disturbing.
Ignorance is not bliss, and a dose of reality is
needed when it comes to animals, because they can’t tell us what’s going on.
There are
dumb people
out there.
Or maybe
they are lazy.
But it’s against the law.
We can’t get inside people’s
heads and know why they
do these things,
but we have a pretty
good idea.
It’s up to us to make them accountable.
I am only one,But still I am one.I cannot do everything,But still I can do something;And because I cannot do everything,I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. Edward Everett Hale (3 April 1822 – 10 June 1909), American author and Unitarian clergyman.
The animals can’t.
The animal cruelty laws need to be enforced and in some cases, made tougher.
Animal fighting is brutal,
and there is
a lot more to it than a little dog
fight. And it’s a felony.
The Unquestionable LinkThe Unquestionable Link
Every serial killer on record began with animals. Every one.
Animal HoardersAnimal Hoarders Not everyone is purposely cruel, but
it’s still cruel.
Puppy MillsPuppy Mills
Don’t buy from puppy
stores.
Our majestic horses deserve a better end than this.
They need their fur more than we do.
Don’t be fooled by the factory farming industry.
"Few will ... bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all
those acts will be written the history of this generation." Robert F. Kennedy
Undercover work really CAN make a difference. But we can’t relax and think someone else is doing it. Organizations that do
this work need support.
Take time out to recharge your batteries – it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
When you’re walking down
the street, look straight ahead and then look back. Chances are, by the end
of this class, you will know more about
what goes on and what to do about it than
the people you see.
I hope you will
think back on
the class as, at least, eye-
opening.
And not just when
it comes to cats and
dogs.
It is 2015; it is time.
Elephants are reported to be virtually as intelligent as dolphins. Elephants cry.
Being in a circus hurts. The choices you make and what
you support matters.
You will know what the animals have known all along
– and it’s got to change.
But change doesn’t happen
until people
are ready for it.
The animals
are ready,
though, and they have
been.
Think globally, act
locally.
Kids learn what they live. Question authority, because just because it’s always been done that way doesn’t mean it should stay that
way.
Maybe you will look at things differently after this class, maybe you won’t.
The animals are ready, they have been ready.
And we better not let them down.
Earthlings: Make the Earthlings: Make the ConnectionConnection
Full Documentary
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“The greatness of a nation and
its moral progress can be
judged by the way its animals are treated.” We can do
better.
HopeHope
Some would say what we do to the animals is similar to the Holocaust. Or slavery. Or other injustices. We’ve been
here before.
The incredible thing is, animals
are forgiving. Even after everything humans have done to them,
they forgive.
We need good people in this field and even more importantly, educated, persistent citizens.
With everything
else we face every day,
humans sometimes
need a wake up call.
Most people are basically
good.
15 or 20 years ago, Michael Vick would not have seen a prison cell. Prosecutors would have been laughed at. Things are changing.
Tom Brady and Lua
Eddie Lama had to take action when he learned about how
the fur industry
works, and what
happens to the animals. This 3 pack-a-
day Camel smoking Brooklyn
dude had a life change. The way he
put – “A miracle is a change in
perception.” He thanked a cat for that.
Maybe you will look at things differently after this
class, maybe you won’t.
November 2014 – Voters in Rensselaer County elect Joel
Abelove as District Attorney.
Joel has successfully prosecuted many animal
cruelty cases, including the state’s first case of Buster’s Law, which brought harsher
consequences for animal abuse.
Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world; indeed, it's
the only thing that ever has.
– Margaret Mead
There are answers if we look for them, or even better, create
them.
Advocating for
better laws and knowing HOW to
advocate for better
laws DOES
make a difference
.
Watch for New York.
The power of networki
ng
Each of you has a voice, a say in where this country goes and what matters to you.
New York mandates humane education at the elementary school level if supported by public funds.
Next
10
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Next
10
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Next
10
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Just reach inside yourself to that
good place, because it’s in
every one of you.
What can I do today?What can I do today? Join Julie Tanner’s Capital Region Animal Cruelty listservJoin Julie Tanner’s Capital Region Animal Cruelty listserv..
Email Julie at Email Julie at [email protected]@nycap.rr.com. Tell her you are in my class and you want . Tell her you are in my class and you want to be on her distribution list.to be on her distribution list.
Call Assemblyman Bill Magee – 518.455.4807Call Assemblyman Bill Magee – 518.455.4807. . He is the Chairman of the He is the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, and to date he has not allowed a bill to move forward, which Agriculture Committee, and to date he has not allowed a bill to move forward, which would move the anti-cruelty laws from Agriculture and Markets Law to the Penal Law. would move the anti-cruelty laws from Agriculture and Markets Law to the Penal Law.
New York State Police learn the Penal Law when they go through the Academy. New York State Police learn the Penal Law when they go through the Academy. Tell him that you want him to bring bill A-352 (which would put the laws into the Tell him that you want him to bring bill A-352 (which would put the laws into the
PL) up for a vote in Ag. Committee. Pass this along to as many people as you can PL) up for a vote in Ag. Committee. Pass this along to as many people as you can and ask them to do the same. and ask them to do the same.
Believe. Look at 2014 animal victories.Believe. Look at 2014 animal victories.
Wrap-UpWrap-Up
Never doubt that a small group of Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.only thing that ever has.
Margaret MeadMargaret Mead
What I’ve LearnedWhat I’ve Learned
You can’t do everything, but that’s You can’t do everything, but that’s not reason to not try. Find your not reason to not try. Find your balance.balance.
What I’ve LearnedWhat I’ve Learned
Supporting organizations already in Supporting organizations already in existence [that share your views] existence [that share your views] worksworks. If there aren’t any, create . If there aren’t any, create them.them. Locally NYSHALocally NYSHA
What I’ve LearnedWhat I’ve Learned
Pick yourself up. Pick yourself up. Never give up. Never give up. Never.Never.
What I’ve LearnedWhat I’ve Learned
It takes time. But it’s happening. It takes time. But it’s happening. Write letters. Visit legislators. Be Write letters. Visit legislators. Be
heard. But…heard. But… Know the issues and know the law.Know the issues and know the law. Know who to call.Know who to call. Know when to back off.Know when to back off.
What I’ve LearnedWhat I’ve Learned
Most people will be glad you started Most people will be glad you started something. People want this. And for something. People want this. And for
those who don’t, you control what you can those who don’t, you control what you can control. control.