Advocacy Strategies
The Power of Tracking Studies
Submitted by Che on Jul 01, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | General Animal Protection | Research Tools and MethodsA survey of public opinion can be very informative, but it covers only a snapshot in time. Without the ability to compare and contrast results over years, even decades, it’s difficult to know if the results were influenced by external factors (e.g., a major news item). With tracking studies, however, the results are more like a video than a snapshot. Tracking polls provide consistency, comparability, and context for otherwise isolated data – and that means more meaningful results for advocates.
Why Population Growth is Animal Enemy #1
Submitted by Che on Jun 23, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | Diet and Nutrition | Farmed Animals | General Animal Protection | Vegetarianism and VeganismThe so-called "developing" world is growing quickly and in most cases adopting Western lifestyles and diets as they do so. Feeding a global population of more than 9.3 billion (by 2050) will therefore mean the consumption of billions more animals. With references to Thomas Malthus and a recent study by David and Marcia Pimentel, we take a closer look at this population problem.
Evaluation for Normal People (audio/podcast)
Submitted on Jun 20, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | General Animal Protection | Research Tools and Methods
by Stanford Social Innovation Review
Alana Conner, senior editor of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, describes the trials and tribulations of evaluating program effectiveness. An experimental social psychologist by training, she illustrates how many evaluation practices in the nonprofit sector may actually mislead funders and organizations. Although most programs would love to implement "Cadillac" evaluations, they can only afford "second-hand Yugos." Following Dr. Conner's talk, Rick Aubry, executive director of Rubicon Programs Inc., describes how his organization secured funding for a state-of-the-art evaluation system. [Abstract excerpted from website]
How to End 98% of Animal Abuse in the Next 25 Years
Submitted by Che on Jun 11, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | Diet and Nutrition | Farmed Animals | General Animal Protection | Vegetarianism and VeganismSo-called "lab meat" is the future of farmed animal advocacy, with the potential to completely replace the hundreds of billions of animals consumed every year throughout the world. While it still faces major science- and business-related hurdles, the promise of in vitro meat is eliminating the vast majority of animal suffering caused by humans. More than just another example of "system-wide change," the successful commercialization of lab meat would be downright revolutionary.
The Road to Helping Animals is Paved with Good Intentions (AV Magazine Article)
Submitted by Che on Jun 07, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | Animal Experimentation | Companion Animals | Farmed Animals | General Animal Protection | Wildlife and Exotics[This article will appear in the summer 2008 edition of AV Magazine] People love animals. And while people mostly love their companion animals and fellow primates, they also indicate strong support for the welfare of farmed animals, wildlife, and research animals. Most also think we should have strict laws enforcing protection for all types of animals. In an abstract sense, a strong majority of people support not just reducing animal suffering, but even eliminating it entirely. This is the good news about the public's attitude toward animals... [Continued]
Social Networks' Sway May Be Underestimated
Submitted on Jun 05, 2008 Advocacy Strategies
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Research suggests that traditional social networks play a significant role in influencing how people behave. An earlier study showed that obesity appeared to spread through social networks, and in a follow up study, similar findings were made about quitting the habit of smoking.
A Pragmatist's Guide to Animal Advocacy
Submitted by Che on Jun 04, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | Farmed Animals | General Animal ProtectionIn this final part of our 4-part series discussing Martin Balluch's essay, "Abolitionism vs. Reformism," we look at what it will take to achieve meaningful change for animals in the next couple of decades. A pragmatic and/or utilitarian approach to animal protection very clearly indicates that one should focus on incremental behavior change and mainstream advocacy approaches.
Between Social Media Visibility on YouTube and Fundraising Efficiency
Submitted on Jun 02, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | General Animal Protection
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There exists a correlation between social media visibility on YouTube and fundraising efficiency of large nonprofits in the U.S., according to research from Collactive. Specifically, the leading social media savvy nonprofits were found to be 13% more efficient in fundraising than the average national nonprofit.
Changing the Tide to Save the Starfish
Submitted by Che on May 27, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | General Animal ProtectionIn part 3 of our four-part series discussing Martin Balluch’s essay, "Abolitionism vs. Reformism," we dive deeper into the concept of system change and the need for advocates to think bigger than just education and outreach campaigns. The paramount importance of lasting, system-wide progress for animals requires using more than just persuasion as the lone tool in the advocacy arsenal. It also requires looking for legal, political, social, economic, technical, and other solutions to "lock in" changes for animals.
Does Being Ethical Pay?
Submitted on May 26, 2008 Advocacy Strategies | Diet and Nutrition | Farmed Animals
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Companies spend a large amount of money to be socially responsible and research shows that consumers are willing to reward companies that adhere to higher standards and punish companies that do not. Additionally, research has identified that companies engaging more deeply in ethical practices reap the same rewards from consumers as those who do not engage as extensively.