10 Easy Ways To Become An Animal Activist
Thankfully these days, more and more people are speaking up for animals, and it is absolutely true that the more of us that speak up, the more powerful we will be in causing a positive change for those that are unable to speak for themselves. Below I have provided you with 10 Easy Ways To Become An Animal Activist.
Please don’t worry, for those of you who are a little more conservative, or unable to participate in the more radical animal activism activities; e.g. protesting in-front of slaughterhouses and animal laboratories, or bravely jumping onboard Sea Shepherd, to stop those horrific mass whale and dolphin slaughters. The ideas I am suggesting below, really are very simple and easy ways to help animals, and yes they are every bit as important and powerful as the fore-mentioned activism activities.
Activism put simply means…“taking action and becoming involved in order to bring around a change”, and there are many ways to do this that don’t involve personal risk or sacrificing anything.
So I implore you all to please, for the sake of the animals, try out the below ideas.
1. Sign as much as you can
I am a huge advocate for signing every animal cause petition that comes into my inbox. The power of our signatures on a petition is not to be underestimated. Why do you think nearly every supermarket in the western world now stocks vegan products and and free-range eggs? It was our voices and signatures that pushed these products onto the shelves.
Personally, I spend 5 minutes only, once a day signing all the petitions in my inbox.
To begin with, you will need to subscribe to the animal activist organizations through their websites, or alternatively visit their websites and sign any petitions they are currently running.
*At the end of this article, I have given you a list of links to animal rights organizations to get you started.
2. Power in Cruelty Free Purchasing
Your dollar is extremely powerful. Every penny you spend in a supermarket, department or variety store, on either a vegan food product, or an accredited cruelty free cosmetic, personal care, or household cleaning item, shows the store buyers that these products are in demand.
The bigger the increase in sales of these types of products, it will encourage the stores to stock more of them and less of the cruelly derived products. Money speaks volumes!
3. Displaying Animal Campaigns
I personally do this in a few ways that are super easy to do, but at the same time very in your face.
- The back of my car is covered in animal advocacy /rights stickers that I have purchased from various animal rights groups that I support. I drive a lot as a freelance hair and makeup artist and believe me they get noticed!
- Often I can be seen wearing my Choose Cruelty Free and vegan t-shirts when working , or when out and about where I know there will be people around to see it. Yes, they stare at my chest, but in this case I really don’t mind!
- When I shop, I take along reusable shopping bags that I have purchased from animal rights organizations such as; Animals Australia and Choose Cruelty Free. It is a very satisfying feeling to see other people in the supermarket noticing the statements printed on my bags!
4. Donating Funds To Animal Charities
If you can, donate money to various animal charities and non-profit organizations that align with your beliefs. Every cent you give is appreciated and needed no matter how small!
*Many of these donations are actually tax deductible too.
5. Spread the Word
- Educate your family, friends and work colleagues about different animal rights groups and organizations. Share with them, just how easy it is to help fight for animal rights. In fact simply share this article with them.
- Remember to share the petitions you sign across all your social media pages.
- Some animal rights organizations, such as Choose Cruelty Free for example, have postcard campaigns and cruelty free shopping guides, which they need the public’s help in spreading around. Contact the animal rights organizations that you are interested in. Ask them if they can send you out any campaign postcards, or flyers, that you can hand out or letterbox drop around your area.
6. Boycott The Cruelty
Boycott the following;
- Companies that test on animals.
- Fashion labels that use animal skins and fur.
- Food brands and restaurant chains that obtain their animal ingredients from factory farming.
- Shows, theme parks and even movies that use animals purely for human entertainment.
By boycotting the above you are making a powerful stand.
You can make your boycotting actions even more powerful by writing to these companies through their Facebook pages and twitter accounts, letting them know why you are boycotting them. By commenting on their social media pages, your comments will get the most visibility and hopefully traction. Alternatively send them a polite, yet strong email and then post their replies along with your initial email on all your social media pages, so they are seen by as many people as possible. This in turn increases awareness and hopefully encourages others to boycott these companies until they make a humane change.
7. Volunteering at Animal Shelters & Rescue Groups
Contact your local animal shelters and animal rescue organizations and offer your services. These places are always needing and welcoming of any help they can get. Even if you only have one spare day every couple of months to help out, this will be greatly appreciated.
8. Share Your Specialized Skills Around
Non profit animal organizations and charities are also very welcoming and appreciative of anyone who can lend a hand with their campaign work. For example, perhaps you are a graphic artist, or a marketing/social media guru, your skills can be put towards creating powerful visual campaigns and helping them go viral.
9. Donate Goods To Animal Charities
Often animal shelters are in desperate need of bedding, towels, blankets, bowls, toys and even food. If you have any of these, do a quick google search for your local shelters and offer these items to them.
10. Hold A Fund Raising Night For An Animal Charity
This a fun way to raise much needed funding and also spread the word to others about the animal charity, or non profit organization of your choice. You can do a movie night for instance, where you ask a cinema for a discounted group booking deal and you make the price of the tickets double the price. You pay back the cinema with one half and the other half are proceeds that go to the animal organization of your choosing.
My List of Australian Animal Charities To Sign Up To
Choose Cruelty Free – yes I am biased, as I volunteer as their PR Director and cruelty free hair and makeup artist.
MAWA – Medical Advances Without Animal Research
Voiceless – Animal Rights Australia
GAP – Greyhound Adoption Program
Save A Dog – No Kill Shelter
PETA Australia – although I do not recommend following their cruelty free shopping guide, as to date it is not strict enough and their are many questionable companies currently on their list. Instead follow Choose Cruelty Free’s list.
MORE IMPORTANT READING ON CRUELTY FREE LIVING
How To Live A Cruelty Free Lifestyle Checklist
Animal Testing Of Cosmetics -Do Your Part To Stop It – Learn How To Shop Cruelty Free
Botox – Not Safe – Not Cruelty Free – Yes Animal Tested
Cruelty Free Cosmetics, How To Be Sure Your Cosmetics Truly Are Not Being Tested On Animals.
Using Natural, Cruelty Free Cosmetics Is Not A Compromise. Cruelty Free Beauty Is True Beauty.
How To Fake Tan Safely And Naturally Using Cruelty Free Products.