Animals' Platform
Integral to the future success of the animal protection movement is our ability to position animal issues in the arena of public policy. Heretofore, the focus has mainly been on a strategy of public education. Increasingly, however, positive developments (e.g., the passage of pro-animal citizen initiatives) indicate that now is the time for action in the mainstream political arena. There are significant lessons to be learned from the U.K. animal protection movement, which since 1976 has used the opportunity of general elections to form coalitions and advance a “manifesto for animals.” A core belief upon which ASI was founded is that animal protection is more than a matter of personal conviction and lifestyle choice – it is also a public policy issue. By applying scholarly research to inform public policy we will successfully facilitate the passage of effective legislation for animals.
The Animals’ Platform is our central program to advance animal protection as a public policy issue. Modeled after a document developed over a span of three decades by animal protection groups in the UK, the Animals’ Platform underwent several years of extensive public comment before the present version was released. The platform consists of six sections that address: companion animals; wildlife; captive wildlife; animals in agriculture; animals in research, testing and education; and humane education. Updated and revised editions of the platform will be produced on a two-year cycle timed to coincide with the U.S. presidential and off-year elections.
The Animals' Platform CD-Rom
The platform is available on CD-Rom and has been distributed to activists and others interested in the political process. To order The Animals’ Platform CD-ROM click here.
