Activists Update/Activist Watch
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Activists Update/Activist Watch Kay Johnson Smith, President & CEO American Meat Science Association October 25, 2013 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org About the Animal Agriculture Alliance Established in 1987, the Alliance is the oldest and largest national coalition of farmers, ranchers, agriculture associations, allied industry, veterinarians, scientists, and retailers. Alliance Mission Alliance Primary Roles To communicate the important Connect stakeholders across role of animal agriculture to our the food chain nation's economy, productivity, vitality, security and that animal Educate media and the and well-being is central to public producing safe, high-quality, Protect consumer choice and affordable food and other producers’ ability to provide products essential to our safe, affordable food daily lives. 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org American Farm Bureau Federation Alltech Inc. American Feed Industry Assn. Bayer Animal Health American National Cattlewomen Dr. Robert Hagevoort, NMSU American Sheep Industry Assn. Diamond V American Veal Association Elanco Animal Health Iowa Soybean Association Genus/PIC/ABS Nat’l Cattlemen's Beef Assn. Hy-Line North America National Chicken Council Merck Animal Health National Milk Producers Fed. Morning Fresh Farms, Inc National Pork Board Murphy-Brown, LLC National Pork Producers Council 2013 Board of Directors of Board 2013 - Potash Corp. National Turkey Federation Vance Publishing United Egg Producers United Soybean Board 2012 U.S. Poultry & Egg Association 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Meet Animal Rights Leaders 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Wayne Pacelle, HSUS President & CEO “HSUS’ goal is to be “a National Rifle Association of the animal rights movement.” “We would be foolish and silly not to unite with people in the public health sector, the environmental community, [and] unions, to try to challenge corporate agriculture.” President /CEO — “Animal Rights Conference” July 2002 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org John ‘J.P.’ Goodwin, HSUS Director of Animal Cruelty Policy (for (former Animal Liberation Front spokesperson) "My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture.“ -As quoted on AR-Views discussion board 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Matthew Prescott, HSUS Corporate Outreach Director, Factory Farming (formerly with PETA) “We're saying people who eat meat are like the non-Nazi Europeans in the Holocaust who knew generally what was going on but chose to turn their back,” Prescott also made the news in 2008 when he purchased a plot in the cemetery where Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Col. Harland Sanders is buried. The epitaph on the gravestone reads "KFC Tortures Birds.” 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Josh Balk, HSUS Director of Corporate Policy “The way for farm animals to be happy would be to stop eating them.” - HSUS’ Taking Action for Animals Conference, 2012 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary Founder "I dream of a vegan world - that's where I want everything to go.“ -2010 Taking Action for Animals “At Farm Sanctuary farm animals are friends not our food and being vegan is normal.” - 2012 Taking Action for Animals 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Bruce Friedrich, Farm Sanctuary Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives (formerly with PETA) "The point at which society moves towards our views is a point where we are significantly closer to the vegan world that we are all working toward." -2010 Animal Rights Conference 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Paul Shapiro, HSUS Vice President of Farm Animal Protection “Nothing is more important than promoting veganism." 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Animal Rights in the USA Today $400+ Million 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Activist Rights in the USA - Today 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org But the Issues Go On & On • Confinement/Housing (includes cattle feedlots) • Large/Modern/Conventional vs. Small/Local/Organic/ Natural/Free Range • Stocking Density (“factory farms”) • Antibiotics/ Hormones/Steroids • Surgical procedures, especially without analgesics • Branding • Transportation • Use of Equipment/Technology • Genetics • Euthanasia • GHG Emissions/Environment/Use of Natural Resources • Human Health Issues • Food Safety Issues • Animal Cruelty leading to Human Cruelty 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Primary Activist Tactics 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Strategic Tactic Against Ag: Illicit Employment & Videos 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Activists are Hiring! 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Undercover Videos in USA Big Business for Activists 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org “Undercover” Videos Nathan Runkle Mercy for Animals “The lifeblood of Mercy For Animals is our undercover investigations of animal agriculture.” -2011 National Conference to End Factory Farming 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Alliance Monitors Animal Rights Conferences 2013 Key Targets: • Retailers and Restaurants • Students—Elementary thru College • Health Conscious Consumers 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org 2013 Animal Rights National Conference “The only goal should be eliminating the use of animals,” Gary Francione (Abolitionist Approach) “Veganism must become the world baseline.” –Bruce Friedrich, Farm Sanctuary “The undercover videos are helping cast negative attention on businesses so they are more willing to work towards animal welfare reforms.” – Matt Rice, Mercy for Animals “The Humane Society of the U.S. is going around making appointments with dining directors of schools, hospitals and other public eating places to convince them to adopt the Meatless Mondays campaign.” - Paul Shapiro, HSUS 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Mercy For Animals is giving one dollar to every person who will watch a video clip of Farm to Fridge. Mercy For Animals’ latest marketing initiative targeting college students… MFA reports the video segments have left most viewers completely shocked and determined to give up meat, and has posted several pictures of viewers covering their faces and looking at the screen in disbelief on the group’s blog. 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org 2013 Animal Rights National Conference “We must tell stories, not statistics, and appeal to the audience by citing the popularity of the movement,” - Nathan Runkle, Mercy for Animals In order to get through to the public one must appeal to the social norms; tell people that veganism is popular and that everyone is doing it. Most people won’t take any action or change their lifestyle unless they see that everyone around them is doing it, and “we must use this to our advantage,” - Nick Cooney, Farm Sanctuary 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Use of Social Media to Influence Public Opinion 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Influencing Public Opinion 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org “CHILDREN have been reduced to tears by a confronting protest featuring 200 animal carcasses in Federation Square.” Melbourne, Australia October 1, 2013 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Blurring Lines Between Pets and Farm Animals 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Is their Goal to Improve Animal Care? NO! True Goal: “To end animal agriculture the movement has to drive down demand and raise the costs and people will stop purchasing so much meat, thus bringing an end to the industry.” - Pattrice Jones, Vine Sanctuary at Animal Rights 2013 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington, VA 22201 (703)562-5160 animalagalliance.org Influencing Retailers/Shareholders MATT PRESCOTT, 26, is one of the pioneers of a new kind of corporate- savvy activism: One minute he might parade around with a bucket of fake blood and a sign that charges torture, and the next he's dressed in a tie and jacket, addressing the CEO at a stockholders' meeting. In the past year, this wunderkind has forged agreements with Carl's Jr., Hardee's, and Burger King, all of which have changed their menus to include eggs from cage-free hens. …Prescott accomplishes his wins by playing to both the fears and desires of corporate executives. 2101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 916-B Arlington,