1. Upcoming Leafleting Opportunities
02/16/2016 TN, Memphis
Hillsong United Empires Tour 2016
02/18/2016 LA, Baton Rouge
Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour
02/19/2016 AL, Birmingham
Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour
02/19/2016 TX, Dallas
Hillsong United Empires Tour 2016
02/19/2016 OH, Cincinnati
Winter Jam 2016
02/21/2016 OH, Cleveland
Winter Jam 2016
02/25/2016 NC, Raleigh
Third Day
02/25/2016 CA, Sacramento
Jeremy Camp
02/26/2016 TN, Chattanooga
Third Day
02/26/2016 AZ, Phoenix
Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour
02/27/2016 OH, Canton
Third Day
02/28/2016 CA, San Diego
Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour
03/18/2016 CO, Denver
Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour
03/18/2016 IN, Indianapolis
Winter Jam 2016
03/20/2016 IL, Peoria
Winter Jam 2016
04/01/2016 LA, New Orleans
Winter Jam 2016
04/02/2016 AR, Little Rock
Winter Jam 2016
8/19-20/16 OH, Columbus
Belong Tour 2016
9/16-17/16 PA, Philadelphia
Belong Tour 2016
9/23-24-16 CO, Denver
Belong Tour 2016 (Loveland, CO)
09/30/2016 TX, Dallas
Belong Tour 2016
10/01/206 TX, Dallas
Belong Tour 2016
Good news! In recognition of our leafleting volunteers, the CVA is increasing to $20 its donation to the veg. advocacy or animal protection of your choice for up to two hours of leafleting. Winter Jam has been particularly productive for us. In particular, I’m hoping to get lots of people to join me in Cleveland on Feb. 21.
Contact Lorena at LorenaValenziVeg@gmail.com if you can help.
2. Advocating for Animals, part 4
Reflecting on whether advocating for animal welfare reforms undermine the
goal of animal liberation, I not that some have argued that if conditions of
animal exploitation are improved, there will be less incentive to push for
animal liberation. I find this argument problematic and flawed.
Sentencing many billions of innocent creatures to horrific abuse every year
indefinitely is a huge price for animals to pay today for other animals’
possible liberation in the future. Further, nearly all animals killed for
food, skins, experimentation, and other reasons suffer and die far from the
public eye. Their suffering would likely have no impact on the public
consciousness.
I also think the argument is flawed. If animal liberation were grounded in a
conviction that humans do not have the right to harm any creature
unnecessarily, then whether animals are mistreated a little or mistreated
badly would not matter. Opposing improvements in animal welfare presumes
that public support for animal liberation requires severe animal
mistreatment. However, if this were the case, animal abuse industries, if
ever threatened with the prospect of animal liberation, could simply improve
animal welfare and public support for animal liberation would then
evaporate.
Abolitionists often object when animal rights groups endorse animal welfare
initiatives that fall short of liberation. This, abolitionists assert,
confuses the public about the philosophy and goals of animal rights and
animal liberation. I will start to explore this concern next week.
Stephen R. Kaufman, MD
3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman