Dear Friend,
Our goal this year is to provide additional resources and information to make you a more effective advocate. We're taking a big step this month with the introduction of our Regulatory Tracker™ which lists select actions by federal agencies that are open for public input.
New this month as well is Advocacy in Action, a list that we'll post most months. Many are are relatively simple, but effective. These are in addition to the infrequent, but time-sensitive Action Alerts that we send out as a separate email.
An important resource is Delci Winders' interview for Lunch + Legislation earlier this month, which gives context to the Regulatory Tracker™. We've received positive feedback. Viewers tell us that she has given the definitive primer on the federal agency regulatory process so that animal advocates can understand its importance and be able to participate in federal agency actions. Two Advocacy in Action items relate to proposed rules.
The Wolf Management Advisory Council meetings are coming to an end in May, but there will be more opportunities to weigh in over the coming months. We'll keep you posted.
We now have details and registration information on a program we're bringing to you from Australia on June 26 that is open for registration.
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Wolf Management Advisory Council |
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Final meeting:
May 16 – 1:00 pm – 5 pm Work Session
May 17 – 9:00 am – 3 pm Meeting
Marquette
(Both open to the public)
In May the Council wraps up its monthly meetings that began in August 2021. Members can put forward recommendations on all previously covered topics. The "Minority Opinions" will be finalized to add to the council's report. As the animal advocate representative, our position was in the minority on some important issues, and these opinions give us the opportunity to explain and memorialize our votes.
UP wolf advocates plan to attend and speak, demonstrating that many Yoopers are wolf advocates who do not want them hunted/trapped.
April meeting review: We received a preview of the updated science (the "White Paper") although not the paper itself; and another review of the Public Attitude survey (still not final).
You are encouraged to submit statements in advance. You can still participate, even if you do not attend the meetings in person by submitting comments to: dnr-wmac@michigan.gov
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Animal Justice Party/Australia: Meet Two Members Sun., Jun. 26, 7:00 pm (US EDT) |
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Darren Brollo and Bree Roberts, AJP members will be our guests in (virtual) conversation with AFA board member Molly Tamulevich, who will be in Australia at the time. Many of you have dreamed of a political party devoted to animal welfare. This is a unique opportunity to find out how it happened in Australia, their main issues, and even how to replicate it elsewhere. The Australian election is in May, and our guests will have some take-aways from that as well. Learn about AJP.
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Legislative and Regulatory Trackers™ to April 23, 2022
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Advocacy in Action #1, Apr. -- May 2022 |
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You can expect to see a list most months. Many of the items are opportunities to thank legislators (and others) for animal-friendly actions they've taken. Others are alerts to federal regulatory actions of note.
Take Action:
- Thank MI state senator Polehanki and state representative Koleszar for attending the protest against WSU dog experiments and for contacting federal and state authorities to defund and investigate
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Is your MI representative on the Natural Resources Committee? Call them before Apr. 28, 10:30, to ask that they vote to report favorably HBs 5358-60 that would provide oversight of hunting and fishing guides
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Support the strongest animal welfare requirements for certain birds, the 1st time they are being regulated by USDA; comments due by May 25
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Weigh in on the USFWS's updated plan to protect endangered Mexican Gray wolves against human-caused mortality by May 16
- Thank US senator Debbie Stabenow for urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to support California's Proposition 12, which establishes minimum standards for confinement of farm animals and prohibits sales in the state of products from animals confined in a noncomplying manner
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The Primer on Federal Regulations
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Prof. Delcianna Winders, Animal Law and Policy Institute, Vermont Law School, gave a comprehensive and enlightening interview that laid to rest any notion that policies developed by federal agencies are not important to animals and to animal advocates. She described the process, gave examples from her own practice, analyzed the pending proposal on standards for birds, and made the case for how animals advocates can and should participate. We extended our usual 15 minutes but her 32+ minute interview is well worth your time. |
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“Much of the lawmaking that happens in the United States today is not done by Congress but by agencies that they have delegated tremendous responsibly to. And it’s so vast that the administrative agencies have come to be referred to as the 4th branch of government.”
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Lunch + Legislation: May 2, 2022 |
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Representative Tommy Brann is a true champion for animals. We'll discuss some of his pro-animal bills, including standards for shelter for dogs, updating the law on service animals, sales tax exemption on pet food, and Teddy's Bill.
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Book Club "Book Report"
Sun., May 22 -- 1:00 pm -- 2:30 pm
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Aphro-ism Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters, by Aph Ko and Syl Ko is our next book selection. The essays "provide new theoretical frameworks on race, advocacy for nonhuman animals, and feminism [u]sing popular culture as a point of reference for their critiques".
We'll begin discussions next month. You still have time to get the book and read the first essays.
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AFA in the Community: Volunteers Wanted |
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We hope you find our new resources useful. Let us know; we want to hear from you! Email me your comments. They are always welcome.
For the Animals,
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Beatrice M. Friedlander
President
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