Dear John,

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the Week of Action for the NhRP’s clients. Together, you sent tens of thousands of messages to those who have power to help ensure Hercules, Leo, Happy, Tommy, Kiko, and Minnie can live freely and with peace and dignity, as all great apes and elephants should.

As always, we greatly appreciate our supporters’ compassion for our clients and the time you took to participate. We wanted to quickly address three important questions we received:

1. Can’t the NhRP just buy Kiko, Minnie, and Happy?
2. Why is the USDA the target of Minnie’s action alert if it hasn’t done anything to help her so far? Isn’t there something more that can be done?
3. What else can I do to help?

Visit this link to see our responses, and thank you once again!

In other NhRP news:

• As a member of the NhRP community, you might’ve noticed that most media coverage of nonhuman animals anachronistically refers to them as if they’re inanimate objects: for example, an elephant “that” is held captive rather than an elephant “who” is held captive. This difference is important because, grammatically speaking, “that” refers to an inanimate object, while “who” refers to a conscious being. That’s why the NhRP has joined In Defense of Animals and Animals & Media in calling for an update to the Associated Press Stylebook’s recommendation on the use of personal pronouns for nonhuman animals. Learn more and read the joint open letter here.
   
• On April 15th at 4 p.m. ET, NhRP Executive Director Kevin Schneider will be a featured guest on a free webinar hosted by The Whale Sanctuary Project and The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy that will address how attorneys must overcome bias, misinformation, and ridicule when arguing for nonhuman animal rights. Register for the webinar here.

• A core belief of the NhRP is that, if we are to secure meaningful, lasting legal change for nonhuman animals within a social justice framework, animal advocates must be willing to question the assumptions that underlie animal advocacy and change course if necessary. This means continually asking: what do people and organizations working to vindicate the interests of nonhuman animals see as worthwhile goals, effective tactics, and meaningful signs of progress, and why? Where do we need to be vigilant to ensure animal advocacy isn’t reinforcing, and is instead helping to eradicate, bias and injustice in the legal system and culture at large? Justin Marceau—a Professor of Law at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law who has submitted several amicus briefs in support of our nonhuman rights cases—has taken on these issues with welcome boldness and rigor, most recently in a new article that critiques the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. We think the article will resonate with NhRP supporters. You can read it at this link.

• The NhRP is honored to be chosen as the recipient of 50% of the proceeds of the vegan Haori Jacket, created by the Japanese brand Kapok Knot in collaboration with Vegan Fashion Week—two brands dedicated to the harmonious intersection between people, animals, and the Earth. Learn more on our blog. 

• Finally, click here to take a look at our new supporter portal, which allows you to update your contact information and keep track of your recurring donations. 

We’re still waiting to learn whether the Court of Appeals will take Happy’s landmark elephant rights case. We’ll let you know as soon as we find out, which could be any day now. 

Thank you and take care, John!

Lauren Choplin
Communications Director, the NhRP