International Animal Rights Day (IARD), December 10
An Animal Rights Article from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Uncaged
November 2009

This is a sign of the growing maturity of our cause and its wider acceptance as a valid and plausible ethical stance, rather than being dismissed as eccentric and irrelevant. A growing community of authoritative experts will give us greater credibility, thereby making it more likely that our views will be listened to and adopted.

Well, it’s not long to go now until this year’s International Animal Rights Day (IARD) on 10 December, when animal activists across the world will remember the innocent nonhuman victims of human tyranny and call for the recognition of their basic moral rights. It is a fantastic opportunity to unite with fellow compassionate campaigners and proclaim the basic values that underpin our movement.

With animal abusers only too willing to paint a negative and distorted picture of ‘animal rights,’ it is vitally important that we reclaim the concept and ensure that the wider public comprehend our message of truth and hope. On International Animal Rights Day (IARD) we need to announce our principles with pride and passion if our ideals are to transform our society. To bring new people into our movement it is essential to tell people what we are for, as well as what we are against!

It is truly heartening to report enormous enthusiasm for IARD from campaigners from all four corners of the globe, from Australia to Argentina, Canada to Croatia. We are truly humbled by the dedication of activists who will be organizing vigils and protests to honour the stolen lives of innocent animals and advance our vision of a compassionate future.

In our most recent campaign bulletin I stated my firm belief that the cause of animal rights, particularly the principle that it is wrong to deliberately inflict suffering on animals, has the potential to become the dominant idea or attitude that influences humanity. One of the positive developments that can help realize that potential is the huge increase in academic research into the ethics of our treatment of animals. This is a sign of the growing maturity of our cause and its wider acceptance as a valid and plausible ethical stance, rather than being dismissed as eccentric and irrelevant. A growing community of authoritative experts will give us greater credibility, thereby making it more likely that our views will be listened to and adopted.

I’m pleased that the feedback I’ve received about my comments shows that they are inspiring to activists, giving new hope in what, let’s be frank, can often be a difficult and challenging vocation. But I also think that this is a sign of how the foundations of our movement are growing stronger. Now, IARD provides a chance for you to help our cause by building upon these foundations to create a stronger animal rights movement.

It is also significant that there is a growing realisation that the abuse of animals not only corrupts our consciences, but also contributes to our very destruction as a species through the greenhouse gas emissions of animals bred for food and the inability of animal experiments to protect human health. This new information can only increase the willingness of people to accept animal rights.

It is easy and fulfilling to take part in IARD – just click here for tips and ideas, and links to leaflets and posters to download. I hope you can join us in solidarity for animal rights!


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