View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE

provided by DigitalCommons@CalPoly

52 E&A 111/2111/2

REPORT�REPORT campaign, and the effort to convince major food chains to pt'ovide alterna­ tive vegetarian options; a report by Regional Planning Conference,�Conference, Daryl Elliot on the current status of co-sponsored by Action for�for the ARM coalition; an account by Life, �Rights Sheila Schwartz of the humane educa­ Mobilization, and AnimalAnimal� tion task force's college outreach Rights Network�Network effort; a report by George P. Cave on March 12-14, 1982�1982 Trans-Species Unlimited's campaign to Washington, D.C.�D.C. ban the decompression chamber in Pennsylvania; an account by Lia Albo of the Fund for Animals' effort to halt The principal purpose of the rabbit clubbing in Idaho; an update Regional Planning Conference held by and Alex Pacheco March 12-14 at George Washington of PETA on the status of seventeen University in Washington, D. C. was to monkeys removed last September from · give participants in the various task the Institute of Behavioral Research forces formed at the Action for Life under Maryland cruelty laws; and a Conference last July (see E&A 11/3) report by Holly Jensen of the effort and the Mobilization for Animal Rights to outlaw pound seizure in Florida. Conference last October (see E&A 11/4) the opportunity to get together The .conference also included a to discuss progress to date, compare "Personal Development and Public Per­ notes, and plan further strategy. suasion Workshop" directed by Alex The whole of the thi rd day of the Hershaft of the Vegetarian Information conference was accordingly devoted to Service, in which a philosophically meetings of these task forces, the interesting, ideological conflict AFL groups (alternative diets, farm emerged concerning the strategic rela­ animals, , humane education, tion of radicaI vs. reform ist pol itics. language, and religion) meeting in the Tom Hartman, director of Salem Chil­ · morning, the ARM groups (media, dren's Trust, in speaking of effective animals in politics, bloodsports) meet­ techniques of persuasion, gave as an ing in the afternoon. Mobilization for example of a successful strategy for Animals, formerly the ARM task force reducing animal suffering the appeal on laboratory experimentation, now to the profit motive in trying to con­ incorporated as an independent entity vince fast food establishments to (see E&A 111/1 lalso met during the introduce salad bars, the idea being afternoon. that this might reduce the level of meat consumption by patrons and even In addition to these valuable, encourage . work-oriented meetings, there was time allotted at this conference for Tom McNichol and other members of some sessions for which there was no Trans-Species Unlimited objected vig­ opportunity at the previous confer­ orously to this approach, claiming that ences. In these sessions pa rticipants such reforms undermine the true goals had the chance to communicate infor­ of the , by mally with one another about strategy, appealing to the very economic motives and to report on their various cam­ which are ingrained in the institu­ paigns on behalf of animals. These tional structures of a capitalist society project and activity reports incl uded: and are ultimately responsible for ani­ an update by Nellie Shriver, of Amer­ mal abuse, and by directly supporting ·ican Vegetarians, on the progress of businesses whose survival depends the international Boycott Bu rger King almost exclusively on the exploitation E&A 111/2 53 and slaughter of animals. According counter to, the ultimate goal of com­ toto McNicol, no effort should be spared pletely liberating non-human animals to promote, for the short run, from man's tyranny and oppression. reforms wh ich relieve animal suffer­ ing, but on"lyon'ly so long as such meas­ George P. Cave,Cave, PresidentPresident u res in no way interfere with, or run Trans-Species UnlimitedUnlimited