Behold Animal Liberation, Veneration at Long Beach State, Chapman University

Animal Liberation Front

​Animals: They're so hot right now.

Mere days before the start of "World Week for Animals in Laboratories," Cease Animal Torture (CAT) kicks off its second annual four-day conference at Cal State Long Beach Thursday, while Interreligious Voices for Animal Compassion (IVAC) presents its second annual "Do Unto Others" forum at Chapman University in Orange on Friday.

Following up on a 2009 event billed as the first conference concerning animal rights in Cal State Long Beach's 60-year history, CAT's free Animal Liberation Forum 2010 includes panels, speakers, workshops and film screenings covering such topics as feminism, animal liberation, direct action and veganism.

Orange County People for Animals board members Dina Kourda and Charlotte Cressey are scheduled to speak on the impact of factory farming on the environment and the benefits of adopting a plant-based diet.

The conference begins at 6 p.m. Thursday in Lecture Hall 151, continues starting at 11 a.m. Friday in Liberal Arts 3 and moves to the College of Business Administration Saturday and Sunday, when the fun starts at 11 a.m. each day.

Volunteers may still be needed; email here for details.

"Troubling Recognition: Seeing Animals, Seeing Ourselves" is the title of this year's "Do Unto Others" Animals and Religion Conference, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Chapman, where scholarly, religious and activist reflection on the mutually transforming possibilities of seeing and being seen by other animals will be invited.

The keynote speaker is Paul Berry, a longtime animal advocate and former CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. Panels and presentations aimed at enriching understanding and informing advocacy round out the day.
 
Email here for more information about the conference presented by IVAC, which promotes advocacy and compassionate living on behalf of animals by engaging with a variety of religious, ethical, philosophical, and spiritual perspectives.
 
World Week for Animals in Laboratories, which is Saturday through April 24, advocates ending animal research and experimentation. It also aims to draw attention to legislation endorsed by In Defense of Animals (IDA).

The Great Ape Protection Act, which is formally known as U.S. House Resolution 1326, would effectively end chimpanzee experimentation. Now before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the bill "would dramatically improve the lives of about 1,200 chimpanzees currently housed in U.S. laboratories and would ensure that about 600 of these chimpanzees live out the rest of their natural lives in sanctuaries," according to IDA.

Call Hope Bohanec at (415) 448-0058 or email here if you'd like to get involved.