I mean to work within mainstream politics to establish animal rights as a legitimate political issue. This is not an impossible goal. Within my lifetime, such issues as the prohibition of smoking in public places, the wearing of seat belts, the right to same-sex marriage, and many other issues have successfully made the transition from political obscurity to political acceptance.
Animal advocates often moan about politicians because they don’t care
about animals. They also complain about how existing legislation for animals
is often biased in favour of those abusing animals. I share these
frustrations. I also believe there’s a way forward for the animal rights
movement to ensure our elected representatives and governments do care about
animals and act effectively on their behalf. I advocate a strategy to put
animals into politics. By this, I mean to work within mainstream politics to
establish animal rights as a legitimate political issue. This is not an
impossible goal. Within my lifetime, such issues as the prohibition of
smoking in public places, the wearing of seat belts, the right to same-sex
marriage, and many other issues have successfully made the transition from
political obscurity to political acceptance.
I have been writing and speaking about putting animals into politics since
the 1970s and 1980s when I participated in the first campaigns of this kind
in the UK. They laid the foundation for the political progress that has been
made to date. These gains, while having mixed effectiveness, lay the
foundation to further legislation for animals. But this can only be achieved
if the animal rights movement prioritises political action. Presently, the
movement is primarily focussed on optional lifestyle choice campaigns (“Go
vegan!”). While they’re essential and important, we cannot rely only upon
consumerism and market forces to achieve legislative change.
Recently, I spoke at the World Conference on Mainstreaming Animal Protection
organised by the Center For Animal Defence in Denmark. The conference
brought together 100 plus invited experts from different fields (academics,
scientists, lawyers, decision-makers, etc.) who are dedicated to improving
the situation for animals. I’m truly grateful to the conference organisers,
Sacha Lucassen and Sidse Kærsgaard, for giving me the opportunity to make my
presentation “Putting Animals into Politics.” A video of my talk is now
available to watch.
Go HERE to watch Kim's presentation at the World Conference on Mainstreaming Animal Protection organised by the Center For Animal Defence in Denmark.