ANIMAL WELFARE
In Focus
"See more clearly when you are informed"
The Black Lives Matter movement swept across the United States in the summer of 2020 and it has remained a central part of America’s conversation on race. However, with so much contention and vitriol swirling around the topic it can be hard to get a handle on just what exactly Black Lives Matter means. Below you will find key terms, statistics, and other useful tools to understand and talk about Black Lives Matter. If you would like to know more, consider coming to an IYC event. Our next one can be found below in the section labeled Our Events. We host them virtually, on a wide range of topics, discussing policy, civics, and current events.
Key Terms You Should Know
Animal Welfare:
The state of an animal within its living conditions; concerns include day-to-day health & wellbeing as well as survival of species, living conditions, & humane practices in related industries.
Animal Enrichment:
Stimulation captive animals receive to maintain their health and happiness by encouraging natural behaviors.
Animal Research:
Refers to any kind of scientific research involving animals; a regulated industry geared to advancing science.
Animal Sanctuary:
Refers to a safe-haven facility to protect animals for the remainder of their lives (e.g., monkeys post labs) contrasting animal shelters that provide temporary housing.
Human-Wildlife Conflict:
The process through which ecosystems change, forcing people and wildlife to share spaces which are becoming increasingly crowded.
Moments In History
1870 - 15th Amendment gives African American men the right to vote. Local & state laws still worked against these rights.
1954 - Brown vs. Board of Ed mandates schools desegregate. 10 years later, the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in businesses.
2020 - BLM protests occur worldwide sparked by George Floyd's death, though the movement began in 2013 after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
1921 - Tulsa Race Massacre occurs; also known as the Black Wall Street Massacre.
1968 - Martin Luther King Jr. marches with the Black sanitation workers on strike in Memphis, Tennessee.
Statistics
As reported by The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, 93%
of racial justice protests have been peaceful in the US.
According to the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, 300
new police reform bills that states collectively approved after George Floyd's death.
According to the Crowd Sourcing Consortium, there were 140
protests a day between 5/26 and 6/7, 2020.
74% of US adults acknowledge "systemic policing issues," as reported by Oakton College.
150,000
enslaved people in Texas were the last to find out they were freed by the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation when it was enforced on June 19, 1865, aka Juneteenth represented by fists w/ broken chains.
Values
Humaneness
Responsibility
Sustainability
Web of Life
Cruelty-free
Notable Names
Rosa Parks
John Legend
Patrisse Cullors
Colin Kaepernick
Malcolm X
Symbols
Our Events
Past
Future
Further Resources
Celebrate & Create Event Video
Our crafting event for kids was lots of fun! Use your own materials to participate in our craft project. Watch the video to learn how to make your own bookmark! You can also make an event out of it by hosting your own Celebrate & Create: Black Lives Matter crafting party. Feel free to share this video with others! (Not for commercial use.)
Take Action
Volunteer at local animal welfare shelters— they need all kinds of experts!
Learn more about proper handling of invasive species (e.g., the spotted lanternfly).
Commit to one weekly action to raise awareness about animal welfare!
Watch documentaries to learn more about animal welfare concerns such as Blackfish, Blue Planet, Sharkwater, & American Scar.
Share our Animal Welfare Infographic with friends, family, and anyone and everyone you think would appreciate becoming more informed!