Student Speaks Out Against Animal Exploitation

Published December 5, 2018

Although most people are aware that the animals raised for food or to provide materials for consumer products are often treated inhumanely, the general population seems to lack incentive to act on the issue of animal exploitation. In psychology lingo, this is the bystander effect in action.

 

Carley Blayney-a second year Psychology student at Long Beach State and active member of the student organization Cease Animal Torture (CAT) - refuses to be a bystander. After becoming vegan more than 3 years ago and learning more about the effects of animal agriculture on the environment, Blayney wanted to make a change and spread a message of peace.

 

Immersing herself into the vegan lifestyle, Blayney dove into the research on the effect of animal agriculture on environmental and human health as well as the unethical practices prevalent in the conventional food industry.

 

She became involved with the 88% Campaign organized by The Humane League, against McDonalds’ treatment of animals. “It’s called the 88% campaign because 88% of the animals that are killed in the U.S. are broiler chickens and McDonalds uses really cruel practices in how they raise them,” said Blayney. She explained that the breed of chickens raised for sale grows so quickly that their legs often break underneath them. They are very young when they’re killed (about 42 days old, 6 weeks; their natural lifespan is 10-15 years) and kept in confined spaces. Concerned for the animals’ welfare, Blayney hopes to cease this “cruel practice” and put pressure on McDonalds to make a positive change. 

The Humane League initiated the 88% Campaign to urge companies to adopt more ethical practices. Specifically, they are calling upon companies to “adopt progressive welfare standards that move to higher welfare breeds of birds to address health issues, eliminate current live-shackle slaughter methods to end needless fear, pain and suffering and improve chickens’ environment by adding natural enrichments and giving them more room.”

Blayney’s role on campus focuses on gathering support for petitions against unethical practices. She does so by taking pictures of students holding a sign that says “I am a student against McDonald’s cruelty.” She then sends the images to McDonalds and posts them on a website called StudentsAgainstMcDonalds.com.                                   

Thanks to the efforts of numerous students like Blayney across the country, the movement has gained impressive momentum. Although McDonalds has not responded directly to the campaign, Blayney is hopeful that pressure from student activists will yield positive results.

Support for policies that prioritize ethical animal treatment appears to be growing among the general population. Recently, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a ban on the sale and manufacturing of fur. Considering that LA is one of the fashion capitals of the world, the city has the potential to serve as an example for the rest of the country or the world. As an animal rights activist, Blayney is encouraged by LA’s leadership. “It’s such a good step because I think people are starting to see that these animals don’t have to be exploited. We have other options. And they’re not different from your cats and dogs that you love at home.”

Blayney sees the 88% campaign as a way to spark conversation not only about animal rights issues but other environmental issues as well. Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of global warming and ocean dead zones. Pollution from factory farms and methane released from cows, for example, is degrading the environment.

“This campaign and raising awareness starts a conversation about animal exploitation in general and I think it’s a powerful thing to be able to talk about this and to get people involved and spread information,” said Blayney, “This campaign and talking about animal agriculture in general is a good starter for sustainability.”

Get involved

Learn more about the 88% campaign by visiting their site.

Join Cease Animal Torture to be involved with animal activism on campus and network with animal-loving, eco-conscious students!

Go Meatless Mondays! Reducing your animal product consumption will reduce your impact on the environment.

Talk about it. Conversation is power, and we’re going to need a lot of it if we’re going to make a change.