Marina Dawson’s Post

The more I reflect on it, the more convinced I am that the most powerful thing the animal rights movement can do to achieve liberation within our lifetime is to believe it’s possible. We know that even among ethical vegans, only a minority actively advocate for animal rights. And paradoxically, many people who do care deeply about animal rights haven't embraced veganism. That means the percentage of people actively working for animal liberation is just a tiny fraction of those who actually want it. Why is it that so many who want liberation don’t fight for it? The answer is simple: they don’t believe it can happen. When people don’t believe they can achieve their goals, they don’t try. And when they don’t try, they guarantee that those goals will never be achieved. This self-fulfilling prophecy means that as long as the majority of those who want animal liberation believe it’s unattainable, they’ll continue to be proven right. But what if we broke this cycle of doubt? What if those who wanted animal liberation genuinely believed it could happen within our lifetime? With conviction replacing doubt, the movement would gain unstoppable momentum, transforming apathy into action. Belief isn’t just a personal stance—it’s a catalyst for collective change. When people believe in a cause wholeheartedly, they naturally inspire others to believe as well. This ripple effect can create a powerful community of advocates who not only envision a world free of animal suffering, but actively work to make it real. History shows us that major societal changes were made possible when a critical mass of people believed they could create a better world. Our movement is no different. By choosing belief over defeat, we set the stage for meaningful progress towards, and ultimately achieve, animal liberation.

🐔 🐥 💔 Join Animal Liberation, Animal Rights Activism Sydney and Vegan Action Sydney for a memorial and vigil at Cordina Chicken Slaughterhouse. Chickens are remarkable creatures, known for their intelligence, emotional depth, and unique personalities. Countless rescue stories share the different personalities of chickens, including their likes and dislikes, how talkative they are, how they form bonds with others, or mourn their friends when they pass. Broiler chickens, who are raised specifically for their flesh, are the most slaughtered species globally, with over 70 billion killed annually. In Australia alone, more than 1.5 million broiler chickens are slaughtered every single day. Though they are typically slaughtered at between 4-6 weeks of age, chickens can live for up to 15 years. The conditions in which they are kept are often so poor that many die in the sheds before reaching the slaughterhouse. The journey to the slaughterhouse is fraught with stress and fear for these sentient beings. Often traveling at high speeds on freeways, chickens are subjected to high winds and unfamiliar noises. They are crammed into crates, with wings and feet in unnatural and painful positions. Loading and unloading are particularly stressful stages, frequently causing severe pain and suffering due to inappropriate and rough handling. Please note that although we cannot guarantee the presence of trucks or that they will stop for us, they are required to pause at the gate, potentially giving us the opportunity to witness the chickens before their lives are tragically taken. In 2008, Cordina slaughtered approximately 340,000 chickens every week at Girraween. With a national growth rate of 3.14% annually over the past 16 years, this number has tragically increased to over half a million chickens killed at this slaughterhouse per week. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/guDR9BJT

Have you heard of the Pistoia Alliance? We hadn't. Dive in to find out more... Welcome to the forty-fourth edition of our weekly curated articles newsletter. Below, you will find a 90-word summary of each article and a link to the full text. This week’s articles: - RSPCA Braces for Animal Welfare Crisis as Reports of Cruelty Soar - Lawyers Unite to Protect Animals: Celebrating National Animal Law Day and the Progress Made - Aldi and Lidl Commit to Selling More Plant-Based Products in Green Eating Push - Revolutionizing Research: Pistoia Alliance Takes on the Slow Adoption of Animal-Free Testing - Denmark's Bold Campaign to Turn Citizens Vegan - Can They Succeed? - Animal Rights Groups Rally Against Malaga City Council's Wild Boar Cull Plan - Surprising Study Reveals Almost Half of UK Plant-Based Population is Male - SeaWorld Releases Another Animal Resident, Celebrating Freedom and Rehabilitation - VFC Exposes KFC's Cruelty and Hypocrisy: 'Believe in Chickens' Instead of Chicken - V-Label Achieves Record-breaking Certification numbers, solidifying its position as a trusted industry leader - Preserving Wildlife: The Debate Over Access to Wild Habitats - Greyhound Racing Industry Under Scrutiny: Concerns and Questions About its Future https://lnkd.in/ehgtbRqb #animalrights #animalfreedom #veganism #veganlife #plantbased #ethicalworld

Today is #NationalAnimalRightsDay, and some of the more popular restaurant chains in North Dakota are under fire for how the meats they use are produced, including the local environmental impacts. Fast-food chains, like Subway and Taco Bell, are listed in a new report from the group Animal Equality, which says these restaurants are lagging behind others in ending the use of gestational crates for pregnant pigs. The authors say these animals are raised in extremely close confinement, with bars pressed against their skin. Devon Dear, Ph.D., institutional outreach manager with Animal Equality, said it also ties into broader health issues linked with factory farms. "When you have this many animals in one place, you're getting really high concentrations of feces, and you're having all of the environmental impacts of this. I mean, pigs produce a ton of waste, and this has to be disposed of properly to not make nearby communities sick," she said. The report says certain chains, such as McDonald's and The Wendy's Company, have made progress toward healthier supply-chain practices. However, more than a dozen others highlighted in the findings have not. Eleven states have banned the use of gestational crates, but #NorthDakota isn't among them. Some of the restaurant chains couldn't be reached for comment. As for other environmental impacts, Dear said the stress placed on these animals creates a ripple effect that goes beyond their well-being. "And more stress means more antibiotics. More and more antibiotics means, you know, higher chances of antibiotic-resistant germs coming into the environment," Dear continued. The organization also cites public opinion data from World Animal Protection. In its survey, 80% of U.S. consumers said they were concerned about the treatment of factory-farmed pigs.

Why Farmed Animal Advocacy in Africa? 🌍 In 2020 I co-founded Animal Advocacy Africa, driven by an opportunity to empower African advocates and reduce animal suffering where it’s most neglected. During my  journey, I was absolutely mindblown to discover the following: - A meagre estimated ~1% of total farmed animal advocacy $’s are spent on farmed animals in Africa. - 1 in 4 people are expected to be African by 2050 driving a skyrocket in meat production. - Africa is projected to have the largest growth in animal agriculture intensification in the next 50 years. - African animal advocacy is both talent and funding-constrained, meaning there are impactful ways to make a difference. Animal advocacy in LMIC’s can have an outsized impact (Follow me for more on other geographies later) Learn more about our work below 👇 https://lnkd.in/d3FzmbAU https://lnkd.in/dyFXUS_N https://lnkd.in/dA2ZDDDG

Did you know how neglected animal advocacy in Africa is? Only 1% of total funding in farmed animal advocacy goes to this region.

Ever wondered who picked your fresh coconut? In some parts of Thailand, coconuts are picked by monkeys. This traditional method is known as "monkey harvesting" or "monkey training." Monkeys, specifically long-tailed macaques, are trained to climb up coconut trees and pick ripe coconuts by their handlers, who are often referred to as "monkey trainers" or "monkey masters." The process involves a monkey trainer harnessing and guiding the monkey up the tree, where the monkey uses its dexterity to twist and pull the coconuts until they fall to the ground. The trainer then collects the coconuts. This method has been practiced for centuries and is still used in some rural areas of Thailand. However, it is important to note that the use of monkey labor in coconut harvesting has received criticism from animal rights activists. Concerns have been raised about the welfare and treatment of the monkeys involved in this practice. As a result, there has been a growing movement towards promoting ethical alternatives, such as mechanized coconut harvesting or using human labor, in order to ensure the well-being of animals.

RSPCA ADS AND ASSURED SCHEME UNDER FIRE! Welcome to the fifty-third edition of our weekly curated articles newsletter. Below, you will find a 120-word summary of each article and a link to the full text. This week’s articles: - Deliciously Ella Takes a Bold Leap: Vegan Brand Sold to Hero for Global Growth! - Target's Broken Promises: Animals Deserve Better—Join the Fight for Farm Animal Welfare! - Nottingham's Vegan Ban: A Bold Move or an Attack on Freedom of Choice? - New EU Animal Welfare Commissioner Sparks Hope Amid Concerns Over Controversial Appointment! - Historic Reform: 300 Million Animals Poised for Freedom from Cruel Cages! - RSPCA Ads Under Fire: Are Misleading Claims Harming Animal Welfare? - Councils worldwide embrace vegan initiatives for a greener future! - RSPCA Party Axed: Activists Rally Against 'Cruel' Assured Scheme! https://lnkd.in/e7b_PfJa #RSPCA #AnimalRights #AnimalFreedom #AnimalWelfare #Veganism #EthicalLiving #Compassion

Do you know the difference between Animal Rights, Animal Welfare, and Animal Protection? Do you belong to any of the movements associated with these concepts? In this article, I explain the difference between these concepts, and how they compare with Veganism. https://lnkd.in/eYhSqZrt #vegan #veganism #animalrights #animalwelfare #animalprotection #ethics #philosophy

It is interesting when we debate about animal rights. Keeping them safe in a confined environment is ethical? In my opinion, any creature including humans that do not interfere with a peace and harmony should not be confined. https://lnkd.in/gagPfNmH #AnimalRights #Ethics #Morals #Rights #Animals #Environment