Weekly Newsletter - January 22, 2015
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Article at Op Ed News
  2. Essay: Is Property Damage Violent?
  3. Commentaries at All-Creatures.org
  4. Upcoming Activist Opportunities
  5. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. Article at Op Ed News

I am pleased to announce that my essay "Why Humans Need Animal Rights" was the lead essay on January 18 at Op Ed News. To read the article, go here. If you like it, please share with Facebook, Twitter, and other social media contacts.

2. Essay: Is Property Damage Violent?

Last week, I argued that home demonstrations that appear threatening are a form of violence, and there are good ethical and practical reasons that the animal protection movement should be non-violent. Is damage to property dedicated to animal abuse violent?

In his book Growl, reviewed two weeks ago, Kim Stallwood says yes. If the intent, or perceived intent, of property damage appears to be intimidation, people generally understand that intimidation readily leads to actual violence if intimidation alone does not accomplish its goals. Some reply that the intent isn’t intimidation at all, but rather to drive up the cost of abusing animals. There are at least three rejoinders.

First, destruction of equipment such as cages or laboratory apparatus usually doesn’t amount to significant losses. Such damage would not perceptibly slow the multibillion dollar animal exploitation enterprises. Bombs or fires can cause much more extensive damage, but they carry very real and significant risks of injuring or killing humans and nonhumans. Activists are not absolved of guilt when individuals are harmed by inherently dangerous activities, even if the intent is not to harm anyone.

How opponents respond to a strategy can be an effective gauge of a strategy’s value. Critics of animal protectionism are quick to call property damage intimidation. So, whether or not intimidation is the intent, it is often seen as the intent by the public, and the public generally has little sympathy for intimidating acts that might be labeled “terrorist.”

Finally, to the degree that public property is damaged, the tax-paying public will often feel harmed.

Some people might find destruction of property viscerally satisfying, but the goal of our actions should not be what makes us feel better but what is best for God’s Creation.

Stephen R. Kaufman, MD

3. Commentaries at All-Creatures.Org

Veda at All-Creatures.org is posting past essays and reflections on the Lectionary from this e-newsletter. She’s posted 90 so far, and they can be viewed at Reflection on the Lectionary, Table of Contents.

4. Upcoming Activist Opportunities

01/30/2015 IL, Chicago Winter Jam 2015
01/31/2015 PA, Pittsburgh Winter Jam 2015
02/05/2015 AL, Mobile Winter Jam 2015
02/07/2015 FL, Jacksonville City Rock Fest Tour
02/07/2015 GA, Atlanta Winter Jam 2015
02/08/2015 TN, Nashville Winter Jam 2015
02/13/2015 NC, Greensboro Winter Jam 2015
02/15/2015 VA, Norfolk Winter Jam 2015
02/20/2015 OH, Cincinnati Winter Jam 2015
02/22/2015 OH, Cleveland Winter Jam 2015
02/28/2015 TX, Houston Winter Jam 2015
03/01/2015 OK, Tulsa Winter Jam 2015
03/05/2015 MO, Springfield Winter Jam 2015
03/06/2015 KS, Wichita Winter Jam 2015
03/07/2015 OK, Oklahoma City Winter Jam 2015
03/08/2015 TX, Ft Worth Winter Jam 2015
03/13/2015 NC, Raleigh Winter Jam 2015
03/14/2015 SC, Columbia Winter Jam 2015
03/20/2015 IN, Indianapolis Winter Jam 2015
03/22/2015 TN, Memphis Winter Jam 2015

Contact Lorena at lorenavalenziveg@gmail.com if you can help.

5. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Cowardly Submissive Clergy

Previous 2015 Newsletters
See Newsletter Archives