Join me today in conversation with Tim Anderson, animal advocate, co-founder and board member of the East Bay Animal PAC, and engaged citizen.
We met over a decade ago working to stop backyard animal slaughter from becoming legal in our city, and as a result, he became one of my closest friends — and biggest inspirations.
In today’s episode, Tim
shares ideas for effective engagement with elected officials
talks about the power of local civic engagement to promote compassionate policies
offers numerous ways to get involved locally on behalf of animals — finding friendships and our own authentic voice along the way.
Citizen Tim
Tim has been involved in grassroots organizing for 25 years. His efforts include work on the successful senatorial campaign for Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, and the 2008 presidential election of Barack Obama. Locally, he’s worked on various Oakland mayoral and city council elections, as well as city-wide ballot initiatives.
He used to volunteer as a photographer at the Oakland Animal Shelter, where he adopted his adorable dog, Rex. And among many other things, he is responsible for a weekly clean-up group in his neighborhood, which came out of neighbors joining this guy who was outside every week picking up garbage.
Tim also spoke at my Compassion in Action conferences two years in a row, volunteered with me on numerous occasions when I needed help tabling at speaking events, and was a long-time supporter of my Food for Thought podcast.
with State Senator Nancy Skinnerwith City Councilman Dan Kalbwith Oakland Mayor Libby SchaafColleen and Tim at conferenceTim speaking at Compassion in Actionwith District Attorney Nancy O’Malleywith Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguinwith Rex
FUN FACT
Tim and I have spent a lot of time at Farm Sanctuary together, and I’m very lucky to have been on the receiving end of his photography skills. If you visited the page for the podcast episode The Burden of Burros and the Plight of Donkeys, you’ll see many photos of me with my donkey friends. Tim took many of those photos (see below), along with hundreds of others of me and other animals.
At the end of every year, I produce a list of the films my husband and I watched in the previous 12 months. I provide a brief commentary for our Top 10 (or in the case of 2021’s list, our Top 15).
Instead of overwhelming you with a list of dozens (hundreds?) of films at the end of the year, I thought for 2022, I would build a list throughout the year so you don’t have to wait. This would also give me the space to more thoughtfully review some of the films I think deserve attention — or at least those that captured mine.
The Battle of Chile and What it Taught Me About Democracy
As I mentioned in my Films Watched in 2021 post, it’s been a tradition for over a decade for David and I to watch a long-form film or film series over the course of the New Year’s Day holiday, and this year — 2022 — was no exception. We decided to watch The Battle of Chile, a documentary film made in 1973 in three 90-minute parts.
I knew that the United States had backed a coup in Chile in the 1970s and that a dictatorial regime was installed in place of the democratically elected government and president. And that’s about where my knowledge ended.
But on January 6, 2021, I saw — we all saw — how fragile democracy is and how it’s only as strong as its weakest individual, as Eleanor Roosevelt so eloquently articulated in her pledge to democracy.
I watched in horror as men and women — provoked by this country’s own president — attacked one of the most fundamental tenets of democracy — the peaceful transfer of power — and persist in lies about election fraud where none had been and none has since been found.
I waited in vain for leaders to abandon such falsehoods once they witnessed police officers, elected officials, and fellow Americans suffer attacks, violence, threats, and even death.
No such change came, and indeed, the lies have become even more fixed and firm. And our democracy remains in peril.
To be sure, there are differences between the Chilean far right overthrowing their democratically elected government and the divisive state of our country today. First of all, they had a major foreign power backing them (the United States) and a military that acted on its own — independent of the constitutional government.
But there are chilling similarities that every American will recognize in this story and that every American needs to see. We must never forget January 6th, 2021, the five people who were killed, and the dozens who were injured and harmed, and we must resist the temptation to naïvely and complacently believe that such an egregious act could never happen again.
Moreover, as ordinary citizens, we must be vigilant against any duplicitous measures that seek to deny facts, distort truth, and chip away at democratic norms, systems, and laws.
How Can We Get Involved?
By engaging in the very democracy that has been so hard-won and hard-kept.
By exercising the very rights that so many have fought and died for.
By remembering the demos in democracy: the people.
The amount of footage and the breadth and depth of the storytelling are enough to justify the high esteem with which it is still regarded 50 years later.
And once you watch it, let me know what you think in the comments below.
On Inauguration Day, not everyone is talking about the inauguration of the next U.S. president; some (like me) are talking about the animals hidden within the word itself. Listen to my radio commentary for NPR below (or on KQED’s website). Here is the transcript for your pleasure.
—–
On January 20th, not everyone will be talking about the inauguration of the 46th president of the United States; some of us — well, probably only me — will be talking about the word INAUGURATION itself and the animals hidden within.
An INAUGURATION is the act of starting something new — like a business or a presidency — and its origins go all the way back to the religion of ancient Rome when priests called augurs interpreted the will of the gods by studying the omens aka the auguries to predict whether the undertaking in question was auspicious or inauspicious — a practice referred to as “taking the auspices”
They did this by reading the flight patterns, songs, and eating habits of birds, a practice called “inauguare.”
So, through the root avis meaning “bird,” our feathered friends reside in the words auspices, auspicious, inauspicious, inaugurate, inaugural, and inauguration.
And inauguration became the word we use to elect politicians into office with the hope that their inauguration foreshadows an auspicious tenure.
Today, we know we don’t have to interpret the will of the gods to predict the future; and we don’t need to read the behavior of birds to tell us whether or not an elected official will carry out their duties favorably and with success. (We never really did.)
All we need to do is look at the behavior of the candidate — their experience, reputation, and ability to lead; their honesty, empathy, and vision; their ability to communicate, their commitment to the public good, their allegiance to democracy.
That should tell us everything we need to know.
With a perspective. This is Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
The largest population of voters in America is people who are registered to vote, but don’t turnout at the polls. Why not? Challenges with transportation, childcare, work obligations, voter education, incentive/motivation, and more keep people from showing up on election day. Add to that disenfranchisement and cynicism, and we see people staying home when their voice is needed most.
Elections have consequences — especially for civil rights, human rights, and animal protection. Check out these five organizations, and get involved to ensure the issues you care about are represented by elected officials.
Spread the Vote is an organization dedicated to helping people get IDs ahead of Election Day. IDs are necessary to participate in lots of areas of society, such as getting employment, opening a bank account, or finding housing. Additionally, voter ID laws in particular disproportionately affect communities of color, the elderly, and new voters. Spread the Vote helps people to navigate their state’s ID laws and assists with everything from application fees to driving you to the DMV to get your ID. You can join a local chapter (or start one!), and donate at their website.
VoteRiders.org— In addition to people who lack acceptable ID to vote, confusion and intimidation serve to prevent millions more eligible voters from voting, even if they have a valid ID in their state. Their Voter ID Helpline (844-33-VTRID) receives as many calls from people in non-voter ID states as from those in states that require or request ID at the polls! Even poll workers are confused and sometimes ask voters for ID when none is required. In addition to providing information about voter ID requirements for every voter in every state, they also partner with local organizations to find, inform and help voters with voter ID, especially those most at risk of losing their right to vote. Get involved today.
When We All Voteis a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that is on a mission to increase participation in every election and close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and through strategic partnerships to reach every American.
VoteForward.org, an organization I actively volunteer with, empowers grassroots volunteers to help register voters from under-represented demographics and encourage them to vote. It’s so simple and proven to be effective. With just a printer and some stamps, you send a letter to registered voters encouraging them to vote — it’s one of the easiest things you can do that meaningfully increases the odds that the recipient will vote. Obviously there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the election process during Covid-19, including how people will vote this year, but one thing is certain: it’s critical that they do so. Whatever method Americans use to safely vote this year, receiving a hand-written Vote Forward letter will make them more likely to cast a ballot. Adopt your registered voters today, and start preparing letters to send!
MORE RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Reclaim the American Dream is an informational gateway aimed at helping people who are upset about America today to get engaged in fixing our democracy and making our economy fairer at the local level, where people power still has clout.
East Bay Animal PAC — If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out our work to elect animal-friendly candidates. You can contribute from wherever you are, and as a member, you are eligible to vote in our endorsement elections. And check out other animal-related organizations to help animals during elections in particular and the political arena in general:
As advocates for the causes we care about — whether it’s racial justice, environmental sustainability, animal protection, reproductive rights, or all of the above — I know it can be difficult to decide where to spend your time, money, and energy, and I don’t believe there’s one answer.
A good starting point is to ask:
“What issues do I feel passionately about?”
“How can my skills and attributes be used?”
“How can I measure my success?”
“What type of engagement will have a long and lasting impact?”
My work, my advocacy has always focused on education, outreach, political engagement, public speaking, and writing — because they happen to be what I love, what I’m good at, and what I think will move the needle. I believe that when we know better, we do better and that awareness is key to solving problems. I believe that shifting the way we talk about, think about, and behave towards disenfranchised groups will have long-term impacts in terms of social norms.
WHY?
But I also spend my time being politically engaged, because it’s not enough to change hearts and minds; we also have to change laws. We need laws and policies that protect people and animals from harm, from abuse, from exploitation, and from violence.
Another reason I think it’s important to be involved in the political system is because “politics” is not separate from who we are as citizens; we are all affected — everyone, all of us — by politics, whether we’re engaged or not.
The word “politics” comes from Greek politikos, meaning “of citizens, pertaining to public life.” We are public citizens, and we have little right to complain about how politics affects us — or animals — if we’re not actively engaged in making sure the laws reflect the values we care about.
To disengage means to disown your power. Because if you’re not talking to the people who represent you and the things you care about, someone else is talking to them about THEIR values and what THEY care about. Which would you prefer?
And finally, I just can’t support taking Democracy for granted in any way. It’s a pretty amazing system that — as a human-made endeavor is also imperfect and fragile just as we are — and yet, it’s the best we’ve got. It’s the most successful, long-running experiment we’ve got as long as we, the people, participate. It’s been hard-fought and hard-won, and it means nothing if we, the people, don’t nurture it — we, the people, because the word democracy is built from the dēmos, meaning “people.”
From the moment the U.S. Civil War ended and for the century that followed, scores of men, women, and children were brutally beaten and viciously murdered to stop them from voting and having a political voice. The Southern rebel losers who never let go of their white supremacist worldview tried to silence the voices and votes of freed black men and women and their descendants because they knew that if the black population exercised their will through voting and the political system, white supremacy would have been drowned out by the call for peace, freedom, and protection under the law.
Similarly, how many men actively worked to deny women the right to vote? And how many humans make sure laws are passed to ensure animals are denied freedom, peace, and protection under the law?
People fought and died so that I and others would have the right to vote and be politically engaged. I don’t take that lightly and I don’t take it for granted.
HOW?
The way this whole democracy works is that we — as individual citizens — are represented by people WE elect to REPRESENT us. So, when we talk about our representatives, we’re talking about those at the local, state, and federal levels. Right now — at this date and time —, there’s a lot of focus on the federal government. People are calling and writing to their elected officials/their members of Congress, and that’s encouraging. So, let’s take a look at what it means to be politically engaged at the federal level.
Add their phone numbers to your phone — for both their DC office and district office.
Add their email address and mailing address to your address book/contacts.
Add their phone numbers to your phone — for both their DC office and district office.
BEST WAYS TO CONTACT REPRESENTATIVES: When it comes to contacting your members of Congress, here are tips from congressional staffers, who are the ones on the ground. In fact, if you’re interested in building relationships with members of Congress…start with the staffers. More on that in a bit, but here are the most effective ways to get your voice heard:
the two best ways are to call them on the phone and to write a letter or postcard. Buy a book of .34-cent stamps for postcards. They’re very effective ways to get your voice heard and have it counted, and I just find it a lot easier than writing a letter, finding an envelope, etc. Postcards are just fast and easy — and effective.
leaving a comment on Twitter or Facebook is largely ineffective.
write your letter or send you postcard to the district office rather than DC
when you call, call the district office; you can call the DC office, too, but it’s more effective to call them at their district office
emails are also virtually ineffective; staffers pretty much just group them using computer algorithms and send out form letters based on topic and position.
but phone calls are a different story. Staffers pay attention when the office gets a number of calls about a particular issue. The district office will talk to the DC office to ask if they’re hearing about the same issue, and if so, they take notice.
Do not underestimate the power of your call or letter. A recent article in the New York Times about politically engaged citizens ended with this little gem: “There is an adage on Capitol Hill that five letters from the district about a bill is cause for alarm, and 10 is a full-blown emergency.”
TIP: Don’t only contact your representatives when you want something done — when you want them to vote “YES” on a bill or “NO” on a bill. Take the time to write or call when they’ve done something you appreciate. You can’t imagine how many negative comments members of Congress get. Believe me when I say your positive comment will stand out.
MEETING THEM IN PERSON: Now of course, it’s incredibly effective to meet your representative in person, and as their constituent, you have the right to request a meeting, but I won’t lie…it’s tough to get face time. You can keep trying to do so through their staffers, and you might also consider going to a town hall meeting held by many MoC when they return home from Washington to their home districts during government recesses. Go to these town hall meetings, and don’t go alone! Take a group with you of other animal advocates who have a common purpose and ASK QUESTIONS. Be heard. Make your voice heard.
Another way to get your voice heard is if you run an advocacy group or PAC, invite local staffers to show up to your events. Let them talk to people you work with and set up meetings. Staffers love to get out of the office and meet with constituents and learn about different issues people care about.Take them out and show them what you care about. Invite them to see what you’re working on or what you’re concerned about. They take that all of that the office with them. Staffers have a lot of influence, and they’re worth spending time cultivating relationships with.Because, if the staff knows you, when they have a question about a piece of legislation or an issue, they’ll know who they can call. This is all about cultivating relationships.
CONTRIBUTIONS: But one-on-one face time directly with your representative? It’s very difficult, BUT I will tell you this: being a donor…does help. It’s not a guarantee, but you’re more likely to get face to face time if you are a contributor, because they expect it means you’ll most likely be a contributor in the future. Like it or not, donors have more sway. And yes, the higher the contributions, the better the chances are that you and your cause will have a louder voice.
Legislators know that they could lose their job in two or four years, so they literally want you to help them keep their jobs. That’s all it’s about. But here’s where your dollars can have a real impact. Donate to campaigns when it’s clear they are animal-friendly. Talk to them about animal-unfriendly positions they may have. They might just need information you have. If they stick with animal-harmful positions, tell them that’s why you’re not supporting them. Support and vote for them when it’s clear they are animal-friendly. Tell them why you voted for them. Tell them you’d like to continue helping them make the most compassionate decisions about legislation. Give them (and their staffers) information about animal issues. Don’t assume they know the issues you do. Support them and let them know why you do.
CREATE A RELATIONSHIP: Politics is all about relationships. Create a dialogue. Tell them what you care about. Encourage them to support animal-friendly legislation and oppose legislation that will harm animals. ASK THEM WHAT THEIR POSITION IS on a particular bill or policy. I think many individuals are intimidated to call, and if that’s the case, then write, but there’s nothing to be intimidated about, and you have every right to ask the staffer who answers what your representative’s position is on a particular issue.
BE KIND: And I shouldn’t have to say this, but I will: be kind, whether you’re talking to a staffer or talking directly to your representative, whether you’re writing a postcard, leaving a message, or talking to them in person. Be kind. Imagine for just a moment being on the receiving end of an angry constituent. As justified as your anger may be, your irascibility will not get you what you want, and your anger doesn’t get you extra votes. You still get only one vote — regardless of how angry you are. Persistence, clarity, articulateness, and passion are all appropriate, as is kindness.
PACS, LOBBYISTS, AND LEGISLATIVE FUNDS
Political Action Committees (or PACs, for short) exist for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. They can serve business or labor interests or ideological interests. They can be formed to support/defeat federal or local candidates. The benefit of a PAC is that money can be pooled to support (or defeat) candidates.
While there are national PACs for animals, there are regional and local ones, as well. Here in Oakland, I, along with fellow dedicated and engaged activists, formed our own political action committee called East Bay Animal PAC, which is dedicated to electing animal-friendly legislators, passing animal-friendly legislation, opposing anti-animal legislation, and educating legislators and the public on local animal issues.
(You can join our mailing list to stay abreast of the work we’re doing, and most importantly, a contribution to our PAC would be most appreciated. $5, $10, $100 — whatever you’re able to do goes directly towards us working with local officials to enact animal-friendly policies.)
Of course you can consider starting a PAC yourself. Some people create PACs around one particular issue; some — like ours — are in it for the long-haul based on a cause, but either way, it’s an option for you if you’re interested in upping your political game for animals, especially at the local level.
LOCAL
Now, sticking with the local, as I said about national engagement applies to local politics:
add representatives’ contact info to your phone
call them
make connections
meet them in person
work with staffers
And at the local level, you’re almost guaranteed to connect with your city council members (or aldermen or commissioners — whatever they’re called in your area) directly. Either by showing up at city hall meetings or setting up a meeting with them at their office or participating in neighborhood events they organize. Remember…these are YOUR representatives. They represent YOU! They work for YOU!
You should absolutely know the name of the city council person who represents you in your district. Get to know them. Develop a relationship with them. Work with them on issues you care about.
At a time when so many people are focused on the national stage, it can become a distraction from all of the opportunities and potential to work in the local arena. It doesn’t mean it has to be black and white; of course you can engage with your federal representative, but truly, where I know I feel most empowered, is when I’m working locally. I have to say it’s a pretty awesome feeling to walk into a room and have my mayor know my name, and she associates me with animal protection because of the work we’ve done with her (and other city officials).
Not only because there is real work to be done and real accomplishments to be made but also because there is a real opportunity to prime local representatives to be mindful of animal issues whose ambitions may be greater than their own backyard.
In other words, imagine you being the one to help them be mindful about all the ways animals should be considered when they’re drafting legislation — as they work their way up the political chain of ambition. They may one day be state senator, governor, federal member of congress, or president. That’s how it works. And helping them look through the lens of animal protection now while they’re accessible increases the chances that they’ll continue to look through that lens (also with your support…) as they pursue their political ambitions.
There’s a presumption among some vegans that if you’re vegan, you’re also liberal, socialist, atheist, feminist, intersectionalist, progressive, and leftist, that you’re pro-choice, anti-vaccine, anti-GMO’s — and that if you’re not any or all of these things, you’re unwelcome — or at least you don’t belong. Or that you’re an imposter. Or that you welcome oppression.
We are living in a time when group loyalty and identity politics are valued more than reason, critical thinking, tolerance for another point of view, and compassion. And it scares the bejesus out of me.
Today’s episode is (yet another) call for compassion.
People ask me all the time how I stay so hopeful. The answer is two fold:
1) because there is much to be hopeful about 2) because I dwell on solutions rather than problems
Yes, there is much work to do, but:
*I live in a Democratic country, and I exercise all of the powers and privileges that affords me. I can criticize elected officials, I can vote them out, I can help others vote, and I can start a political action committee (like I did — East Bay Animal PAC) to help elect animal-friendly officials.
*I live at a time when, yes, technology makes it possible to mechanize animals’ lives, confine billions of individuals at a time, and systematically slaughter them. But I also live at a time when technology can help end that.
*I live within a system where I have the choice to purchase cruelty-free products from a wide-range of companies and innovators. I have the freedom to buy what I want and reject what I don’t want.
*I spend my time with the most compassionate, intelligent, committed people I know — dedicated to solutions for a brighter future and to experiencing a beautiful present. I’m grateful to be surrounded by the most incredible people I get to call my friends — and husband.
*I read about what’s wrong, but I focus on the agency I have to make things right. I also read about what has improved. I believe in progress. It’s not all bad out there, though the media and cranky pessimists certainly paint that picture.
*I see beauty all around me all the time in everything I do and in everywhere I go. In my husband, in nature, in animals, in friends, in wildlife, in perfections, in imperfections.
And because of that, I am hopeful — unapologetically and unabashedly.
I believe that shifting the way we talk about, think about, and behave towards other animals will impact them positively in the long term. But I also believe that as people who care about animals, we need to be politically engaged, because it’s not enough to change hearts and minds; we also have to changelawsin order toprotect animals from violence and exploitation. If you’re looking to become empowered and emboldened to be a voice for animals, this is the episode for you.
Did you know that the word GERRYMANDER is an animalogy? It’s a combination of Gerry—named after the governor who 1st redrew districts in his favor— and Salamander because of the shape of the newly drawn district on the map.
WordHistory:In 1812, as governor of Massachusetts,Elbridge Gerrysigned a billauthorizingtherevision of votingdistricts in his state.Members of Gerry’spartyredrewthem in order to secure theirrepresentation in thestatesenate,andout of Gerry’shome county,EssexCounty,theycarved an unlikely-lookingdistrictwith theshape of a salamander.According to oneversion of thecoining of gerrymander,theshape of thedistrictattractedtheeye of the painterGilbertStuart,whonoticed it on a map in a newspaper editor’soffice.Stuartdecoratedtheoutline of thedistrictwith ahead,wings,andclawsandthensaid to theeditor,“Thatwill do fora salamander!”“Gerrymander!”camethereply.Theimagecreated by Stuartfirstappeared in theMarch26,1812,edition of theBostonGazette,where it wasaccompanied by thefollowingtitle: TheGerrymander. A NewSpecies of Monster,whichappeared in theEssexSouthDistrict in Jan.1812.Thenewwordgerrymander caught on instantly—withinthesameyeargerrymander is also recorded as a verb.(Gerry’sname,incidentally,waspronounced with a hard(g)sound,althoughthewordwhichhasimmortalized him is nowcommonlypronouncedwith a soft(j)sound.)Gerryran forreelection in 1812,andpopularoutragedirected at theflagrant use of thetechnique we nowcallgerrymanderingdoubtlessplayed a role in hisdefeat.
For more, listen toAnimalogy Podcast, which is all about the animal-related words and expressions we use every day.
[Tweet “GERRYMANDER combines Gerry—governor who 1st redrew districts— and Salamander.”]
[Tweet “Every minute we spend being outraged is a minute we could have spent being effective.”]
Something Wayne Pacelle (CEO of the Humane Society of the United States) said in a talk I saw him give many years ago stuck with me. And he’s said it many times since. About the political arm of his organization, he said he envisions “a National Rifle Association of the animal rights movement.” Here’s the gist (excerpted from an interview in Satya Magazine):
“The way things work in Washington and in state capitols across the country is that logic and humane sensibilities can only go so far. You need them in order to be effective, but you also need to amass political power and that comes from working the political system in a way that achieves results. There’s no substitute for being able to deliver votes and having an informed constituency.
I find the NRA’s views on hunting and other issues to be really at odds with my own, but I admire the fact that they train thousands of activists across the country to achieve so much working through the system. I do think that is a model for us, because we have the potential to activate many more people than the NRA does. There are a lot of people in this country who care about guns, but I think many more people are passionate about protecting animals. If we organize them, we can achieve enormous gains and victories for animals.”
As an activist myself and a politically engaged citizen, I couldn’t agree more. There is no question that conservatives are much better organizers / organized when it comes to the issues they care about—especially at the grassroots level. Don’t underestimate the ambition of your local representatives who can not only pass effective animal-friendly legislation in your town or county but who may one day be state senator, governor, federal representative, or president. That’s how it works.
[Tweet “Don’t underestimate the ambition of local reps who may one day be governor or president. That’s how it works. “]
We need to act. Now. We need to organize. Now. We need to be a resounding voice for animals. Now. I recoil from the phrase “now more than ever,” because our voices and votes for animals are needed all the time—not just when we’re in crisis. But I do think Americans are eager, anxious, and desperate to have their voices heard—now more than ever, so let’s do it.
[Tweet “Our voices and votes for animals are needed all the time—not just when we’re in crisis.”]
Here’s how you—we—can get started, stay engaged, make a huge difference, and help our voice for animals be as strong as the NRA’s voice is for guns.
GENERAL
The Humane Legislative Fund is dedicated to “educating elected officials and the public on animal welfare issues and electing humane candidates to public office.” Get on their mailing list, contact your representatives about the issues they highlight, make a financial contribution to give animals a voice is congress.
Use their Humane Scorecard to help you decide who to vote for in elections based on their history of animal-friendly or animal-unfriendly legislation.
Fellow dedicated and engaged activists and I are in the process of forming a political action committee called East Bay Animal PAC that will be dedicated to electing animal-friendly legislators, passing animal-friendly legislation, opposing anti-animal legislation, and educating legislators and the public on local animal issues. Join our mailing list for more, and consider creating something similar in your own city/county!
Know who your representatives are—on the federal, state, and local level. I’ve provided a guide below to help you find yours. Take a few minutes to add their phone numbers to your phone!
Don’t be afraid to contact your representatives. They represent YOU! They work for YOU!
Follow the cues of the Indivisible folks. Former congressional staffers wrote this guide that is meant to empower compassionate people to effectively engage politically. (One of the things they remind us of is that representatives rely on making their constituents happy so they can keep their job; i.e. get reelected. If you don’t think your voice matters, YOU’RE WRONG!)
Stay hopeful. Despair is paralyzing. Cynicism is ugly. One of my favorite take-aways from the book Hope in the Dark is that the darkness doesn’t mean the future is inevitably evil. The darkness means that the future is inscrutable because it’s not yet written. It’s up to us to WRITE THE FUTURE!
So, go write it!
[Tweet “Attending town meetings changes public discourse & legislation.”]
LOCAL
Type “find my local city council member” into a search engine.
Add their phone numbers to your phone and their address to your address book.
Call them. Write to them. Get to Know Them. Let Them Get to Know YOU. Find out their positions on animal-related legislation and policies. Educate them about issues they’re most likely unaware of. Thank them for passing animal-friendly legislation.
Show up at city council meetings.
Visit them at city hall.
Donate to their campaign when it’s clear they are animal-friendly. Talk to them about animal-unfriendly positions they may have. They might just need information you have! If they stick with animal-harmful positions, tell them that’s why you’re not supporting them.
Vote for them when it’s clear they are animal-friendly. Tell them why you voted for them.
STATE
Know who your state legislators are — both in the Senate and the Assembly. Find yours here.
Add their phone numbers to your phone and their address to your address book.
Call them. Write to them. Find out their positions on animal-related legislation and policies. Educate them about issues they’re most likely unaware of. Thank them for passing animal-friendly legislation.
Make a date to meet with them in their district office or state capitol.
Show up at the capitol when animal-related legislation is on the agenda. Let your voice for animals be heard.
Donate to their campaign when it’s clear they are animal-friendly. Talk to them about animal-unfriendly positions they may have. They might just need information you have! If they stick with animal-harmful positions, tell them that’s why you’re not supporting them.
Vote for them when it’s clear they are animal-friendly. Tell them why you voted for them.
FEDERAL
Know who your federal members of Congress are — both in the House of Representatives as well as in the Senate. Find yours here.
Add their phone numbers to your phone — for both their DC office and district office.
Add their email address and mailing address to your address book.
The two best ways to contact your reps are to call and write a postcard—not an email. Buy .34-cent stamps for your postcards.
Tell them what you care about. Encourage them to support animal-friendly legislation and oppose legislation that will harm animals. ASK THEM WHAT THEIR POSITION IS on a particular bill or policy.
