Animal law advocates from a variety of disciplines and perspectives came together at Harvard Law School for the fourth annual Animal Law Week. The weeklong event, held at Harvard Law School from Feb. 26 to March 2, included talks by a former NFL player, a veterinarian on livestock export ships, and an activist charged with criminal mischief. Animal Law Week was co-hosted by the Harvard Animal Law & Policy Program and Harvard Law School’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund.
On Feb. 26, Lynn Simpson presented “A Veterinarian’s Perspective of the Live Animal Export Trade.” Simpson spent years as a veterinarian on Australian livestock export ships before calling attention to the terrible animal care and living conditions over the long journeys. She spoke about her experience on the ships and ensuing activism.
In a Feb. 27 talk titled “Don’t Ban Animal Tests. Defund Them,” Justin Goodman, vice president of the White Coat Waste Project, spoke about his work with the nonprofit watchdog exposing and working to end abuse and waste in taxpayer-funded animal testing labs.
Anita Krajnc, who was arrested in 2015 and charged with criminal mischief for giving water to pigs on a slaughter truck on the way to Fearman’s Pork Inc. slaughterhouse, delivered a talk titled “The Duty to Bear Witness,”on Feb. 28. Krajnc talked about her work as founder of Toronto Pig Save, an organization which utilizes the strategy of bearing witness to animals in their final moment as they approach slaughterhouses.
David Carter, the “300 lb. vegan” and former NFL player, delivered a talk on March 1 on “Oppression in Food System.” Carter’s talk focused on his work in food justice and vegan activism. Read related coverage in the Boston Globe.
Sharon Nuñez, founder and the executive director of Animal Equality, a leading international animal rights organization, wrapped up the week with a talk on March 2. Her talk was titled “Defending Animals Around the World.”
The Harvard Animal Law & Policy Program led by Professor of Law and Faculty Director Kristen Stilt, Executive Director Chris Green, and Lecturer on Law and Policy Director Jonathan Lovvorn, focuses on expanding educational opportunities in animal law and policy; increasing the quantity and quality of academic research and scholarship in the field; and helping inform broader communities about the legal aspects of animal welfare issues.