Animalearn Alternatives models.
Jasmijn speaking, AR 2004.
Cruelty exhibit, AR 2004.
Pet Funeral Services, AR 2004.
From 2002 - 2003 I was the Director of Education for the humane education division Animalearn of the American Anti-Vivisection Society. While for much of the time I was trapped in God-awful Philadelphia, where due to sheer lack of initiative AAVS has remained for over 100 years (most of the other national groups strategically moved to Washington DC decades ago), I did get to travel to several scientific, educational and animal rights conferences across the US. Here we were exhibiting at the National Assoc. of Biology Teachers annual convention, Cincinatti, OH, US, 2003, attended by 1,400 educators. ‘Jerry’ is a Rescue Critter (see www.rescuecritters.com) – a canine CPR and clinical skills training mannequin, and my generally faithful (apart from going to South America without me!) companion.
The lovely Nicole Green from Animalearn demonstrates Rescue Critter 'Jerry.' NABT convention, Cincinatti, OH, US, 2003.
Students using skeletal models to learn human anatomy. The exhibit hall had hundreds of suppliers of educational materials, including a few biological supply companies showing off vacuum packed frogs and other killed creatures, and their natural enemies, the national animal rights groups – sometimes side by side. It’s always good to talk to the opposition – if done with restraint it reminds you both you’re both human. NABT convention, Cincinnati, UH, US, 2003.
Part of the Animalearn alternatives library. Animalearn (www.animalearn.org) and various other US, Australian and international organizations loan a range of CD ROMs, videos and models to students and teachers who don’t want to kill animals for educational purposes. Check www.learningwithoutkilling.info for links. Animalearn office, Philadelphia, 2003.
Amsterdam peace rally, 2003. About 10,000 attended to voice their opposition to the war in Iraq. Large though this was, it was dwarfed by some other European rallies.
Anarchists scaled the defensive wall (40 shipping containers placed end to end) around the US consulate during the Amsterdam peace rallies, 2003. Behind the wall (I climbed it) were a tank, two APCs, marines with machineguns and armed police, in case any protestors thought to cross the wall. Even scaling the wall was forbidden; many of these folks were arrested shortly after this shot was taken. Imagine the impact on the violence in Iraq if the US spent just 10% of its Iraq military budget building public schools and hospitals ...
The true meaning of BUSHISM (B = Burn Kyoto – the Kyoto international environmental accord the US refused to sign). Amsterdam peace ralley, 2003.
I could not resist it, I just had to try it out ... and besides, it was warm inside. It was about 5C ‘unskulled.’ Iraq peace protest, Philadelphia 2003.
Bidding a sad ‘farewell’ to one of several Turkey shoot signs shortly before they disappeared forever into deep forests, swamps and ditches. Orcas Is., WA, US, 2003.
The annual Animal Rights conferences in the US are tons of fun! Attended by up to 1,000 people, these are the world’s largest animal rights conferences. This one was in DC. They alternate between DC and LA.
Jasmijn gave two talks at the 2004 DC conference – one on the Dutch political party for the animals, for which she was an electoral candidate, and one on a EU project to update the definition of ‘reduction’ (as in the 3 Rs) alternatives to the use of animals in science. I also spoke on vegetarian pet food and veterinary medicine as an activist career path.
Chip seems to have a different juggling trick every year. He encourages people to join in, learn and have fun!
Suppliers donate bulk quantities of tofutti cuties for the evening networking sessions! Certain people who shall not be named can get a little carried away …
