Campus without Cruelty Outreach

Campus Without Cruelty Outreach www.animaljusticeproject.com/campaign/campus-without-cruelty

CAMPUS WITHOUT CRUELTY campus@animaljusticeproject.com

What is Campus without Cruelty?

Campus without Cruelty is an initiative launched in the UK by Animal Justice Project reaching out to students and laboratory staff personnel.

This campaign is timely, as around half of all animal experiments in this country take place at universities.

Animal experimentation is carried out partly due to a deeply ingrained culture among researchers, a lack of political will, and the monetary gain of big pharma companies and charities relying on the experiments to continue. Campus without Cruelty reveals what is happening to animals in laboratories to the general public, and instigates positive outreach events on campuses across the UK together with local animal rights groups, student groups, and other caring individuals wanting to make a difference.

Since the launch of Campus without Cruelty, Animal Justice Project has been inundated with requests for materials and information from university groups. Some groups are located in universities using many animals, including the University of Birmingham, University College London and Durham University.

Aside from animal experiments, Animal Justice Project educates on a wide range of important issues. Particularly veganism and the rights of farmed animals.

What is the use of outreach?

Education is key to ending animal experiments.

A heightened awareness not only sparks long term political change, but gives individuals the knowledge needed to choose a different path.

The university campus is a great place to educate people who are at a critical stage in their lives. They may be deciding whether to carry out animal research, and they may be under pressure from peers. These young adults have many years, potentially, of contributing to science without the use of animals. So their potential to reduce cruelty for decades to come is immense. Every day decisions by students can literally mean life or death for an animal. As is the case with veganism, our daily choices really do matter.

Leafleting: Handing out information about animal experiments is one of the most effective ways of raising awareness. Animal Justice Project volunteers participating in outreach on campus play a crucial role in persuading students to make the right choice by not exploiting animals in their education.

In 2012, The Humane League carried out a study measuring the impact of vegan outreach leafleting on a college campus. The findings of this study were incredible.

Around one in every 50 student who had received a leaflet indicated that they became vegetarian or “pescatarian� as a result.

Leafleting also impacts the choices of people not directly involved in areas of research traditionally using animals - such as the biomedical sciences, psychology and veterinary medicine. Animal Justice Project has found that many students from different disciplines do not even know that the university they study at houses and uses animals.

The Uni-Watch part of Campus without Cruelty aims to change this. Through Uni-Watch, we expose in the media what is happening to animals on campuses. We ensure animals who are hidden away are spoken for.

UNI WATCH

How do I leaflet?

Leafleting is extremely simple and effective, and anyone can do it. By dedicating even just two hours each month, you can reach hundreds of students a year. So why not give it a go! Animal Justice Project offers leaflets, briefings, guidance and expertise. If you carry out an event, please send us your pictures so we can share them on social media to encourage others to get involved! Send to campus@animaljusticeproject.com. You can also request Animal Justice Project T-shirts to wear if you think you can commit to regular outreach days on campus.

There’s no reason not to get involved!

Some of our supporters will be professional leafleters! Below are some tips to ensure you are the most effective you can be on campus. If you’re confident and want to get started on your own, for a great video explanation of successful leafleting techniques, check out this ‘How to Leaflet?’ YouTube video.

Be friendly, smile and make eye-contact Smiling and eye contact are crucial to increasing your effectiveness. It is important to always keep your cool. Be friendly and welcoming. Few students will approach leafleters who are frowning or look too serious!

Whilst this is of course a serious issue, we want to engage with students and welcome them into taking our information. Eye contact is super important, so look people straight into the eye, and be confident.

You are educating ...and in the right!

Be armed with a briefing!

Don’t forget to take a copy of our briefing on non-animal research methods with you when leafleting on campus. You may encounter a student who wants to discuss the scientific reasons for the continuation of animal research. You need to be ready for that! It can be quite daunting being faced with a student who thinks they know more than you about why animals are used. Keep it simple, hand them the briefing and direct them to our website. Organisations such as Dr. Hadwen Trust have a wealth of information about better methods of research, without using animals.

Additional Tip: “The Lean” with locked arm and reach “The Lean” means locking your arm to increase the number of people you reach in your leafleting diameter, and leaning forward. Simple, and it is also a position that oozes confidence! People are attracted to confidence and are more likely to take a booklet if you radiate legitimacy. Thanks to Vegan Outreach for this tip!

When is the best time?

Where should I stand?

Mid-week is the obvious choice of time to leaflet on campus. Suitable times include:

Where you stand is very important. You want a lot of uptake! Student unions and outside libraries are great places to try. But try moving around to different spots.

Around 8 - 8:30am

Mornings:

Lunchtime: Between 1 - 2pm Afternoons: From 3pm onwards

A wider passageway means you will likely be moving more.

But see what works best. Consider rotating between spots.

Remember when lectures finish, students will be walking around campus so try to catch students at the end and beginning of lectures. Students may be sitting down also, so don’t be afraid to approach them. Students may also be more relaxed and in less of a hurry. Another tip from Vegan Outreach is try holding open the door of a busy building with the back of your foot so you can leaflet students as they walk in.

Bare in mind the flow of students. Vegan Outreach have found that you reach the largest number of new students, and avoid repeatedly asking the same students, if you only leaflet one direction of the flow.

What should I say?

Use positive words, and be non-confrontational at all times! Key words include:

“Help animals”

“Info to help animals”

“Info against animal cruelty”

“Leaflet about Animal Rights”

“Info on better research without animals”

“Hello, did you get one of these?”

You can also ask students to forward our materials onto others once they have finished reading.

Good luck, and don’t forget to send photos to campus@animaljusticeproject.com!

www.animaljusticeproject.com/campaign/campus-without-cruelty campus@animaljusticeproject.com facebook.com/animaljusticeproject @animaljusticeproject ajpReact

CAMPUS WITHOUT CRUELTY