Insights from HSUS’ “Taking Action for Animals” conference

Each year, the Alliance sends a few lucky representatives to several national animal rights conferences. We do this to keep our members and all of animal agriculture informed of the strategies and tactics our detractors will be using in their pursuit to take meat off of our plates.  Matt Prescott, senior director, food policy with HSUS, encouraged attendees in the “Helping Big Corporations Become More Humane” panel to approach shareholders and company leaders in a positive way, but to escalate pressure to get results: “When you don’t get the right reaction, be ruthless – find a way to yes.” Kristie Middleton, also a senior food policy director with HSUS, spoke about Meatless Mondays, calling the campaign “a tiny little trick for a holiday from meat.” Middleton discussed how HSUS is getting food service companies and restaurants on board with the initiative and tasked attendees with going back to their school system and asking for Meatless Mondays, concluding “We can and we will alter the course of history for animals.” Reasa Currier, HSUS’ strategic initiatives manager for faith outreach, spoke about HSUS’ 15-member multi-faith advisory council, stating that, “Many faith groups are weighing in on industrial agriculture,” and telling participants that people have a duty to “let these creatures engage in natural behavior” and “put aside the differences and work to get something done.”