| If you feel helpless when it comes to animal | | | | love animals and may not know that much about |
| rights, perhaps you should consider joining a local | | | | animal rights. Still they could add value to your |
| animal rights group, or if one doesn't exist, start | | | | group and you could help them learn more about |
| your own! | | | | animal rights. |
| One of my favorite times of the month is I | | | | How Often Do You Want to Hold a Meeting? |
| attend the local Animal Liberation meetings. It is a | | | | Organizing an animal action group does take work, |
| great chance to be around like-minded people and | | | | so don't set your sights too high to start with. |
| think of ideas to help animals. It is amazing how | | | | Most people will not be able to attend a meeting |
| when we all put our heads together we can get | | | | every week. A Monthly meeting is a good place |
| things done. Jobs like making placards are so | | | | to start. You may want to hold the meeting on a |
| much more fun when you are in a group. You can | | | | weekday evening (around 7pm) or on the |
| also do things just for fun, like hold a vegan pot | | | | weekend. Choose one and then listen to your |
| luck, or BBQ, making it a great chance to socialize. | | | | members to see what would work best for them |
| Not only can you organize leaflet drops, stalls and | | | | (and you) in the future. |
| protests as a group. You can also enjoy the | | | | Book a Venue |
| company of other animal activists and feel good | | | | Usually a local youth club, church or leisure centre |
| knowing you are taking action for something you | | | | will have rooms you can rent out for the meeting. |
| believe in. | | | | You will probably not need much room to start |
| If you live in Australia you can check out Animal | | | | with. If there is a place you can plug the kettle in |
| Liberation and Animals Australia websites to see | | | | that is great. Ask for a gold coin donation from |
| whether there is already an animal action group in | | | | members to help you pay, or talk to the venue |
| your local area. If you live elsewhere just Google | | | | and see whether they will give you a reduced |
| animal rights organizations in your area and see | | | | price or a free room for the meeting. |
| what comes up. You can also contact | | | | When it comes to the day of the meeting put a |
| organizations like PETA to see whether they can | | | | sign on the door with your Animal Rights Group |
| put you in touch with a local group. | | | | name, so people know they have come to the |
| If there is no group local to you, then you can | | | | right placed. |
| start your own. | | | | Agenda |
| You may wish to contact a large organization | | | | Plan an agenda of things to discuss. If people |
| such as PETA, so you can use their pamphlets | | | | want to add things to the agenda they can |
| etc for leafleting and join in their action network. | | | | contact you before the meeting. |
| The other option is to start your own general | | | | You may want to schedule in some multimedia to |
| group and not affiliate with just one organization. | | | | make things more interesting. Animal rights DVDs |
| Some people prefer to start a group specific to | | | | are available from most organizations and could |
| one area of animal activism. For example, an anti | | | | provide a great intro to the movement for |
| fur group or an anti-vivisection group. This is good | | | | newbies. |
| for people who feel strongly about these issues, | | | | There will be debate - there always is and things |
| but not so much others. | | | | will get off track. This is fine, but the agenda will |
| Finding People to Join Your Animal Action Group | | | | give you a frame for the meeting. |
| If you already have a group of friends who want | | | | Take Minutes |
| to help animals then that is a great start, but | | | | Jot down any ideas that the group comes up with |
| ideally you want as many people to come | | | | in the meeting. You can then email the group a |
| together as possible to make the group really | | | | copy later (be sure to take everyone's names |
| effective. Here are some ideas to promote your | | | | and emails). |
| animal rights group: | | | | Make it your goal to plan at least one event |
| - Place an advert in your local paper - This is how | | | | every meeting, whether it is having people run a |
| I found out about the first animal rights group I | | | | stall, leafleting or a protest. You can delegate jobs |
| joined. A simple classified ad. It barely costs | | | | to others as well. |
| anything and is totally worth it. Something like - | | | | See whether you can get hold of leaflets, stickers |
| London Animal Rights Group Meeting (Date) at | | | | etc from one of the major animal rights |
| Town Hall. | | | | organizations. That way people can take them |
| Open to all animal lovers. | | | | before they go home. After all a lot of people |
| A great place to meet like-minded people and | | | | who come to the meeting may not have any |
| make a difference. | | | | idea of the cruelty involved in the dairy or meat |
| Snacks and drinks provided. | | | | industry. Be accepting and encouraging to these |
| Gold coin donation. (Name and Phone Number) | | | | people and allow them to become informed. You |
| It is a good idea to place an ad the week before | | | | should welcome all animal lovers who want to |
| every meeting and send out an email, so people | | | | make a difference into the group. |
| don't forget. | | | | Don't Be Ashamed of Small Beginnings |
| - Leafleting - Design a simple leaflet informing | | | | So only two people show up on the first meeting? |
| people of the meeting. You can distribute this to | | | | No worries - it's a start! Be sure to give people |
| local mail boxes. You can also ask shops whether | | | | leaflets with the meeting time and place for them |
| you can display it in the window. Be sure to | | | | to distribute if they want to. This will help publicize |
| include a contact phone number/email and the | | | | the meeting for next time. |
| time and place of the meeting. | | | | No matter how small a difference you can make |
| - Contact Large Animal Rights Organizations - | | | | to the suffering of animals it still helps and it is |
| Send PETA or your countries main animal rights | | | | worth it. Even if one person picks up a leaflet and |
| group an email. They may be able to put you in | | | | decides to go veggie, that is a fantastic |
| contact with people in your area who want to | | | | accomplishment. |
| help animals. | | | | So take action and make 2010 the year you |
| - Word of mouth - Talk to people. Many people | | | | really make a difference! |