Psychology, Social Development, Social Motivations

"Weathercocks and Signposts" critically reassesses current approaches to motivating environmentally-friendly behaviour change. Current behaviour-change strategies are increasingly built upon analogy with product marketing campaigns. They often take as given the "sovereignty" of consumer choice, and the perceived need to preserve current lifestyles intact. This report constructs a case for a radically different approach. It presents evidence that any adequate strategy for tackling environmental challenges will demand engagement with the values that underlie the decisions we make – and, indeed, with our sense of who we are. [Excerpted from report]

In this essay, Austrian animal advocate Martin Balluch argues that reform-based and abolition-based animal advocacy are inextricably linked in a "welfare-rights continuum" that makes it very difficult to achieve meaningful change through public education and persuasion. Instead, Balluch argues, widespread change for animals will only come through altering the system itself, by changing the balance of power and codifying animal-friendly laws and policies. [Note: Balluch welcomes comments and feedback on his essay at vgt@vgt.at]

In general, consumer attitude and behavior towards food are determined by individual and environmental factors, such as marketing, information, situation and food specific properties. The focus in this paper is on the role of religion as one of the potential factors shaping consumption decisions. The objective of this study was to investigate Belgian Muslims' motivations and behaviour as they relate to fresh meat consumption, in general, and halal meat consumption in particular.

The author of this article examines the treatment of human beings toward non-human animals and discusses various philosophies relating to limitations on this behavior, and how these limitations lead people to become vegetarians or to eliminate the use of animals in scientific experiments.