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As an Animal rights activist, I can definitely identify with a few of the reasons on this list. It almost goes without saying that a lot of people really do love to hate Animal rights activists. Sometimes we even annoy each other, even though we’re all in this movement for the same reasons. Share this with a friend who might be giving you a hard time, or a fellow activist that needs a laugh.
Let’s break it down now.
1. Even if we’re not trying, everyone thinks we’re in their face.
Often times, simply by eating “differently” around others, you’re challenging people’s values. A meat eater is just an “eater” until a vegetarian walks in. Sometimes, it can go like this:
“Oh, you’re getting the veggie burger? Why? You don’t like meat?”
“No, I’m actually vegan.”
“Well, bacon is delicious.”
“For some people, but I choose not to eat it because of the conditions in which the pigs are raised. The veggie burger is really delicious too.”
“Sure, but bacon is the best. I even have this bacon themed iPhone case.”
Another scenario arises when sharing undercover footage. It’s a great way to get the word out, and it can wake people up to what’s going on in labs, fur farms, factory farms, and other places of animal abuse. Just try and remember to respond to those negative comments by taking a deep breath and using kind words.
2. We can be self-righteous.
Merriam Webster defines self-righteous as “having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people’s are wrong.” As much as we may feel like this, it’s so important to be an educator rather than a preacher. Shaming others and causing them to feel bad won’t create change. Inviting others to share a meal you’ve made, telling them your story about activism in a personal way, or approaching issues with a sense of understanding (as hard as that can be) will be more effective.
3. Hippies seem to make people mad.
Some people apply the hippie label to animal activists, and others may use it themselves. You’re just doing your thing communing with the animals, and sometimes that can make others feel like, ugh. what. a. hippie. Perhaps it’s better to be seen as a hippie than incredibly angry, so we’ve got that on our side. However, in order to make animal activism accepted by the “mainstream,” it can’t be seen as a subculture. Thankfully, that seems to be the trend in society. Helping animals is surely something everyone can Support!
4. Why are you naked?
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Naked demonstrations distract from the core issues, and frankly give animal activists an “extreme” image. Instead of going naked to protest wearing fur this winter, talk with others about how warm your non-fur jacket is and where people can get it. Practical shopping advice works because, frankly, going naked is not really a viable option for most people in the winter, it’s cold.
5. Protests can make people feel that their livelihoods are threatened.
Let me explain. Activities that abuse animals are inherently wrong, but many people for whatever reason, are still working in those industries. Sometimes, it is choice, but sometimes, it’s because people see, or simply have, no other option. When we protest slaughter, animal research, the use of fur (to name a few), it’s important to avoid laying blame on the humans that are also exploited in these industries.
I hate PETA entirely because of their stance on zoos. They believe that all zoos are prisons that are inherently horrible and cruel, which is patently not the case.
Thoughtful people everywhere need to acknowledge these fundamental problems: More than 3,000 species are endangered, and hundreds are lost every year. Some scientists predict that, within a century, 50% of large mammals will be extinct.
Wild animals and wild places will continue to disappear — in the greatest biodiversity crisis since the K-T event — unless humans awaken and take action.
In this impending crisis, the real enemies of wildlife are poaching, pollution, unsustainable human development and man-made disasters such as oil spills — not zoos and aquariums.
Good zoos take their responsibility to preserve wildlife in all corners of the planet very seriously. These institutions oversee robust and sophisticated breeding programs that nurture threatened species and sustain genetic biodiversity, aiming to ultimately reintroduce the animals back into the wild, with the Arabian Oryx, the black-footed ferret, and the California condor among the most notable examples of endangered species saved through the breeding programs of zoos and aquariums.
Zoos also donate money to preserve animals in their natural habitats – last year alone, AZA-accredited zoos spent over $160 million towards the further conservation of wildlife in all corners of the world. Conversely, no information could be found on PETA’s website about any conservation programs they are involved in or fund. In fact there is no information at all on their website on how any of their programs benefit animals in the wild.