Animal Writings

Recently a small cadre of independent DC-area animal activists, including me, decided to be a little less independent and form our own group. For the past few years (or more, depending on the individual), each of us has leafleted, tabled, protested, written letters, and done other types of advocacy on behalf of animals, who suffer severely at the hands of humans, who are mass-slaughtered in numbers almost too vast to comprehend, and who—unlike other victims of human exploitation—cannot organize marches or author letters to the editor on their own; we are their voices.

To be honest, our decision to band together was not based on an epiphany or a radical new idea in animal advocacy. We figured as long as we're purchasing leaflets, tables, tents, carrying cases, and other activism supplies, we may as well get a tax break and form an official tax-exempt, charitable organization.

What to call it? That was one of the first big challenges. Do we focus on rights? Cruelty? Suffering? Peace? Veganism? We cover all those issues in our outreach. Also—what names haven't been taken? There are only so many combinations of keywords.

After considering a couple hundred names, we decided on Compassion for Animals. Our general thinking was that we eventually want a world in which all sentient beings are treated with respect and kindness, and in which our actions and attitudes toward living beings regardless of species are guided by compassion. If that happens, I think we all will be in good shape.

More in the next post...

Labels: activism, Compassion for Animals