Dear John,
I’m excited to announce our first webinar series focused on law student papers! My role at the Animal Legal Defense Fund is to build educational programs for law students to expand and strengthen the cadre of animal law attorneys, advocates, and activists needed to protect animals using the legal system. That’s why I’m thrilled to showcase the talents of law students actively engaged in animal law — the field’s future leaders.
Join us for the below webinars to learn more about topics ranging from human impacts on coral to false labeling in the dairy industry.
Colorless Coral: The Legal Landscape of Protecting Florida’s Coral from Human Impacts — January 14th
The health and condition of coral reefs continues to worsen in Florida and throughout the waters of the world, with a leading cause attributed to human activity. In recent years, there have been successful efforts in drawing attention to this ecological crisis leading to the passage of many laws and established programs to attempt to reverse the damage. Join Catherine Awasthi, Florida State University College of Law, as she presents on the legal and scientific issues associated with coral reefs, and the measures that are in place to rescue them. A brief Q&A to follow.
Improving the Conservation and Protection of Sharks Through the Power of International Treaties and the Development of New Shark-Focused Legally Binding Instrument — February 4th
Aquatic animals are an often-forgotten category of animal, historically receiving less attention and consideration from the public. Approximately 100 million sharks are killed every year for various purposes, while tens of millions of them are caught for food consumption. In this presentation, Lu Shegay, Lewis & Clark Law School, will discuss how certain countries treat sharks within their legal frameworks, as well as analyze the international instruments that can help improve protections for sharks. A brief Q&A to follow.
Reducing Wildlife Mismanagement in the U.S. — February 18th
Despite persistent misguided beliefs, hunting does not reduce conflicts between wild animals and humans. Join Sahana Ramdas, Buffalo University, in a presentation analyzing the misaligned role played by the U.S. regulatory bodies, with a focus on ways to reduce conflict without compromising on the protection of wildlife and nature preservation. A brief Q&A to follow.
Sustainability vs. Overexploitation: A Nexus Between Illegal Wildlife Trafficking and the Climate Crisis — February 25th
International and domestic legal communities have long understood the need to incorporate sustainable development into policy practices. Yet, the ongoing dual drivers of biodiversity loss — illegal wildlife trafficking and the climate crisis — show a critical failure in our policy systems. Join Spring A. Gaines, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, as she discusses how national and international policies fail to implement the idea of sustainability into protecting ecosystems that are continuously overexploited to their own detriment, while exploring how this oversight impacts species in different parts of our natural world. A brief Q&A to follow.
The Bear Necessities: Ursine Suffering Exposed, Explained, and Expelled — March 4th
The United States is home to tens of thousands of bears, yet they receive little attention in comparison to other wildlife. Join Morgan Pattan, Michigan State University, as she discusses the psychological impact of captivity on bears. This presentation will detail the current legal framework that governs the care and keeping of bears in captivity, the insufficiency of this framework, and the harm that it inevitably causes to these intelligent beings. Additionally, possible changes to the current framework that ensure animal protection is the primary priority will be considered. A brief Q&A to follow.
Milking the System: The Ugly Truth Silenced by Ag-Gag Laws, Misleading Advertising, and Meaningless Labeling — March 18th
With a growing market of conscious consumers, many industries are trying to meet the demand for ethical and environmentally friendly products. Join Dasha Nikitina, Vermont Law School, as she walks attendees through the laws and challenges surrounding the false labeling of animal products and the solutions that could be employed to protect consumers while improving the well-being of cows in industrial dairies. A brief Q&A to follow.
Defining ‘Meat’: Plant-based Meat Label Censorship in the United States — April 1st
Increasingly popular among consumers, plant-based meat has a solid foothold in the U.S. market. The rising success of plant-based meat and the looming competition of cultivated meat has sparked state legislation censoring the use of meat nomenclature on labels for these foods. Join Bianka Atlas, Lewis & Clark Law School, for an overview of the plant-based meat labeling landscape in the United States, with a focus on current and pending state legislation and lawsuits. A brief Q&A to follow.
Environmental Responsibility & Animal Protection: Overlooked by Pension Plan Regulation — April 8th
Animal and environmental protection have tremendous long-term repercussions on economic stability, human health, and national security. Yet problematic regulations regarding fiduciary duty make it difficult to factor these considerations in tax-privileged pension planning under ERISA. This has a chilling effect on necessary investments to shift towards a more sustainable and compassionate economy and has concerning consequences for future retirees, which the law is intended to benefit and protect. Join Benjamin Cregger, Lewis & Clark Law School, as they provide a closer look at recent regulatory changes, which are potentially problematic for human and nonhuman animals. A brief Q&A to follow.
Thank you for supporting the future of animal law!
