Humane Thinking, from HRC
Humane Thinking is the official blog of the Humane Research Council, where our experts provide thoughts on the latest data and trends relating to animal advocacy. HumaneSpot.org registered users are invited (and encouraged) to join the conversation and share comments with other advocates.
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Transitioning From Myth to Math
Submitted by Che Green on Feb 02, 2010 Advocacy Strategies | General Animal ProtectionLast week I wrote about research evidence showing that stories are more persuasive than data-intensive appeals when it comes to reaching most audiences. Here's some more evidence provided by the same source (nonprofit marketing guru Andy Goodman) suggesting that people more readily believe an individual's story than data describing the context of that individual's situation. Advocates should recognize the difference and avoid having the same bias themselves.
Using Stories vs. Using Data to Persuade People
Submitted by Che Green on Jan 26, 2010 Advocacy Strategies | Farmed Animals | General Animal ProtectionWe hear a lot these days about the power of "telling stories" to persuade people to change their attitudes, to donate, etc. Although I'm a big fan of data and hard numbers, there's good evidence that they do not make compelling outreach material for most audiences. This may be particularly true for animal issues, where the number of animals on farms and in shelters and laboratories is staggeringly high and difficult for many people to comprehend.
Signs of Progress for Farmed Animals in the U.S.
Submitted by Che Green on Jan 13, 2010 Advocacy Strategies | Farmed Animals | Vegetarianism and VeganismFarmed animals represent the vast majority of animals who suffer at human hands, but there is evidence that things are starting to change for the better. Recent research shows that both the number of land-based farmed animals killed in the U.S. actually declined slightly from 2007 to 2008 and the number of vegetarians appears to be on the rise.
Informing Animal Advocates - What You Helped HRC Accomplish in 2009
Submitted by Che Green on Jan 06, 2010 Advocacy Strategies | Animal Experimentation | Companion Animals | Diet and Nutrition | Entertainment Animals | Farmed Animals | General Animal Protection | Research Tools and Methods | Vegetarianism and Veganism | Wildlife and ExoticsNow that 2009 has faded into memory, I'd like to share with you a few of the Humane Research Council's major accomplishments for the year. Thanks almost entirely to your support, we’re proud to have just completed HRC's most productive year in the nearly 10 years of our existence! And, we plan to make 2010 better yet by reaching even more animal advocates to help them maximize their efforts for animals with our strategic research.
Your Favorite HumaneSpot.org Items for 2009
Submitted by Che Green on Dec 30, 2009 Advocacy Strategies | Animal Experimentation | Companion Animals | Diet and Nutrition | Entertainment Animals | Farmed Animals | General Animal Protection | Research Tools and Methods | Vegetarianism and Veganism | Wildlife and ExoticsAs 2009 comes to a close, I thought I'd share some of HumaneSpot.org users' favorite items from the past year. Based on the number of views, here are HumaneSpot.org's most popular blog posts, research citations, and web pages for the year. They include a little bit of everything, from in vitro meat to hunting statistics to research on animal research. If we missed one of your personal favorites, please mention it in the comments section.
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