Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - June 13, 2019
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Feedback
  2. Animal Liberation through Legislation
  3. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

Editor’s note: I welcome to the CVA a few dozen members who signed up at a VegFest last fall. We apologize for the delay in getting their names into our database. As a reminder, the CVA does not share or sell member e-mails or other information.

1. Activist Feedback

At Winter Jam in Fort Wayne, IN, the two volunteers reported that the box of 600 booklets went fast! Katie shared, “The people were really nice (a lot nicer than the recent circus protest) and receptive to taking the leaflets. It was raining so we got drenched but it was so worth it. I would like to continue being more active.”

2. Animal Liberation through Legislation

The abolitionist approach has several attractions, including clarity of purpose and refusal to countenance unjust policies. Some people believe that the abolitionist approach is the only way to secure animal liberation, but I have raised doubts about this claim in prior essays. Whatever its merits, I do not think the abolitionist approach is well-suited to the legislative process.

Legislation almost always involves compromise, and compromise is not an attribute of the abolitionist approach. The only exception is when there is broad consensus on an issue, and that usually happens in response to a major event, such as relief after a natural disaster. On an issue such as animal protectionism, where there are huge industries with an interest in animal exploitation and abuse and where a large segment of the population does not favor animal liberation, legislation ending all animal exploitation has no chance at passage. If we want to reduce animal ill-fare on farms and elsewhere through legislation, then compromise will be necessary.

Nevertheless, some animal advocates believe that working through the political process is not an efficient use of time, energy, and money. They are often the dissatisfied by compromises resulting in watered-down legislation. Further, while animal advocates often declare victory and go home after legislation passes, animal exploitation industries rarely stop trying to undermine enforcement of legislation and to pass new laws that undercut animal protection laws. Therefore, I understand how many animal advocates would decide to focus their activism elsewhere. However, I disagree with those who opposing laws aimed at reducing animal ill-fare. Supporting my position is the observation that advocates of animal exploitation and abuse readily highlight this opposition of animal advocates.

Many animal advocates who take the abolitionist approach focus their attention on promoting veganism. I will discuss this next week.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

3. All-Creatures.Org Ministry

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