Following up from the principles suggested by Patrice Jones on what I’ve named “how to be an effective animal advocate while recognizing and appreciating the rights versus welfare discourse,” she offers this “ten-step method” for how to determine what kinds of laws animal advocates should support:

Think about the animal.

Assess the suffering the measure is supposed to relieve.

What do the animals themselves have to say about this suffering?

Assess the extent to which the measure would relieve the suffering.

Assess the impact of the measure on other animals.

Assess the economic impact of the proposed measure.

Assess the strategic impact of the proposed measure.

Assess the validity of known arguments for the measure.

Assess the validity of known arguments against the measure.

Sum up your conclusions.

Read her entire article for more details >>

Jones gives an example analysis in her essay. It’s similar to a quick analysis I offered here regarding The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act >>

Ultimately, I wrote, “please do not use the inadequacies of current welfarist measures to justify inaction.” Whatever your talents, whatever your passion, whatever your commitment to animals, please just do something. Something is better than nothing.

Sections: Vegan Activism, Vegan Theory
Topics: activism, law, legal, rights versus welfare, Theory, veg, Vegan