Data and Statistics
Food Availability (Per Capita) Data System
Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 Diet and Nutrition | Research Tools and Methods
by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
This data system provides information on "food availability," or the per capita amount of food in the U.S. food marketing system available for consumption. Based on data related to imports and exports of various foods, and farm and industrial uses, this system approximates what those in the U.S. consume, on average, including all food from grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating places.
Your Food Environment Atlas
Submitted on Feb 12, 2010 Diet and Nutrition
by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
Created by the United States Department of Agriculture, this online tool, Your Food Environment Atlas, allows users to map and compare the availability of "healthful" foods across the United States. County-level data and statistics are provided for food availability, health and well-being, and community characteristics. Specific categories include:
- Access and proximity to grocery stores
- Availability of food stores
- Availability of restaurants
- Expenditures on food at restaurants
- Food assistance
- Food eaten at home
- Food insecurity
- Food prices (at stores not restaurants)
- Food taxes
- Health
- Local foods
- Physical activity levels and outlets
- Socioeconomic characteristics
How to Make the Most of HumaneSpot.org
Submitted by Che Green on Feb 09, 2010 Advocacy Strategies | General Animal Protection | Research Tools and MethodsOur goal with HumaneSpot.org is to help animal and environmental advocates be more effective by empowering them with informative research. During the two and a half years since we launched HumaneSpot.org, I'm pleased to say our user base has grown significantly and we consistently receive positive feedback. To help advocates get even more from using HumaneSpot.org, here are a few essential tips and resources...
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.
The Agriculture & Public Health Gateway
Submitted on Dec 27, 2009 Farmed Animals | General Animal Protection
by Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
A searchable database sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, which provides access to information about both public health and animal agriculture, as well as research describing how these two subjects are related.
Aquaculture Data
Submitted on Dec 26, 2009 Farmed Animals
by United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service
Reports and data compiled by the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture on the fish farming industry in the United States. Data sets include inventory, imports and exports of catfish, trout, Atlantic salmon, tilapia, and shrimp.
Help Equip HRC to Better Serve Animals and the Movement!
Submitted by Che Green on Dec 08, 2009 Advocacy Strategies | General Animal Protection | Research Tools and MethodsIf you are currently receiving the HumaneSpot.org email alerts or using the website for your research, please consider supporting HRC as we seek to upgrade our computers to better serve our clients and the animal protection movement. To learn more about our need for new equipment, please read this message that I sent to HRC's email list last week.
Get the Data that’s Good Enough to Eat. Seriously!
Submitted by Sharie on Nov 30, 2009 Research Tools and Methods | Vegetarianism and VeganismThis week we are pleased to have as a guest blogger Sharie Lesniak, an HRC board member and also the Vice President of Marketing for Born Free USA. Sharie highlights a wonderful example of collaborative research to produce a comprehensive table of vegetarian and vegan restaurants. The table is hosted on Factual.com, the data intelligence service I wrote about last week, and is available for animal groups to use, if they wish.
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