Effective Advocacy for Animal Rights + Coalition Building
« On Thursday May 5th, 2022, 7PM – 9PM EST we bring to you a panel of activists with a focus in animal rights, to discuss their perspective on effective advocacy for animals. It will include an overview of several key advocacy principles, and an exploration of some of the myths and misunderstandings about how change works in the political and public arena. It will include lessons learned and case study examples, as well as genuine coalition building tips to fit the puzzle pieces for systemic change and work together towards those goals. Q&A session at the end to get your questions Answered!
Zoom Link for Registration here in advance
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please share widely to all advocates alike as this will be a critical and foundational discussion for Animal Rights advocacy. Animals deserve winning strategies and it is our responsibility to make sure we are fighting the best we can to achieve that.
This panel includes:
– Rob Laidlaw: Rob has spent more than 40 years working to protect the interests and well-being of animals in Canada and around the world. He is a Chartered Biologist, founder of the wildlife protection organization Zoocheck and a winner of the prestigious Frederic A. McGrand Lifetime Achievement Award for substantial contributions to animal welfare in Canada. Rob is also an award-winning author of ten children’s books about animal welfare and wildlife protection, as well as numerous articles, reports, book chapters and other materials. He has spoken to hundreds of audiences of all ages throughout the world and appeared in a broad range of media stories and documentary films. In his spare time, Rob likes to read a ton of books, explore caves, go on very long solo bicycle trips, hike in parks and reserves, watch animals in the wild and travel to far-flung countries around the world.
– Liz Sigrun: Liz has been active on the socialist left since 2008. Her primary interests are in anti-imperialist solidarity campaigns, labour unions, and animal liberation. Her Master’s research was in the area of Critical Animal Studies, and her thesis explored animal activism at Marineland. She currently organizes a campaign to ban horse-drawn carriage rides in the Niagara Region.
– Talar Thomasian: Talar is an Armenian total liberation advocate involved in a wide range of community work, getting to the root of systemic issues and mutual aid efforts. Her devotion to results-based positive change lead her to organize campaigns with a focus on the industrialized fur trade. She’s also passionate about forming authentic coalitions and solidarity with other movements. She currently organizes with Fur Free Toronto, and End Fur Farming Ontario. Although she has been more formally active since 2018, Talar often thinks back to her early childhood and reflects on patterns and actions taken during that time, which would eventually be an indication for the continued path she is on today.