Reflections on 2024 and the Year Ahead
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As I look back on 2024, I’m filled with gratitude for your support of The Humane Party and our mission. This has been an important year marked by milestones that have strengthened our foundation and expanded our reach in the animal rights movement.
One of our proudest moments was supporting Brandy W. Walt’s presidential campaign, which gave animal rights voters a meaningful way to express their values at the ballot box. Her campaign, as part of The Humane Party’s third consecutive presidential election candidacy, demonstrated that animal rights is a real and durable movement in this country, and our growing ranks are simply not going to accept anything less than the end of animal exploitation.
This year also brought organizational changes that have positioned us for future growth. As your new Staff Coordinator, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside our dedicated Board to develop an updated strategic framework that will guide our efforts in the years ahead. We’re particularly excited about the establishment of our Policy Committee under the leadership of James Schultz, whose legal expertise and scholarly background have already proven invaluable as we continue to evolve our policy positions.
the Plant Based Doctor, and a Humane Party supporter at the Humane Party booth at Black VegFest 2024.
Our global engagement reached new heights in 2024. The Humane Party’s participation in the Animal Politics Foundation world conference in Eindhoven, Netherlands, allowed us to collaborate with animal rights political leaders from 30 countries, fostering international solidarity and sharing best practices. Closer to home, our presence at events like Black VegFest demonstrated our commitment to building an inclusive movement that resonates with diverse communities.
As we gain momentum and move into 2025, your continued involvement and support are more crucial than ever. The progress we’ve made this year is just the beginning, and we have ambitious plans to expand our impact further.
My door is always open – please don’t hesitate to reach out with your ideas, questions, or concerns. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we’re building a more humane future.
Warmest regards,
Patrick Glaser, Staff Coordinator
Contact: pglaser.humaneparty@gmail.com
Building Momentum: The Humane Party’s Vision for 2025
The Humane Party is entering 2025 with renewed focus and an ambitious strategy to advance animal rights through political action and policy development. At the heart of our updated approach is a commitment to crafting innovative public policy solutions through our Policy Committee that will help facilitate society’s transition to a more ethical, vegan world.
A key initiative in the coming year will be the growth of the New York Chapter of the Humane Party, which will serve as a model for future state and local chapters across the country. This effort kicks off in early January with a Party meeting in New York City, bringing together animal rights advocates, Humane Party supporters, and members of the vegan community.
This first gathering will create an open forum for discussing pressing animal exploitation issues facing the city. Attendees will hear from organizations and activists deeply involved in creating change, as well as from Humane Party volunteers who have firsthand experience leading political campaigns. The meeting will also serve as an informational session for those interested in running in the NYC 2025 elections, where we anticipate fielding City Council candidates.
This initial meeting marks the beginning of regular Party gatherings in New York City, which will help coordinate party-building activities and provide campaign support. These recurring meetings will be crucial in developing a strong organizational foundation and fostering a community of politically engaged animal rights advocates.
The New York Chapter initiative represents a significant step forward in our mission to create lasting institutional change through the political process. By building a strong local presence and developing effective campaign infrastructure, we aim to create a blueprint that can be replicated across the country.
For those interested in being part of this groundbreaking effort, we encourage you to reach out and get involved. Whether you’re considering running for office, want to support campaigns, or simply wish to learn more about our mission, your participation can help shape the future of animal rights advocacy in New York City and beyond.
Together, we can build a political movement that effectively advocates for animals and creates lasting change through the democratic process. Email thehumaneparty@gmail.com for more information about how to get involved.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Moving from Confrontation to Coexistence
At a recent gathering, Humane Party representatives joined experts from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and leading academic institutions to address the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict. The meeting highlighted alarming statistics: in Zambia, for example, 120 people and 400 elephants lost their lives in 2019 due to such conflicts. Across Asia, human conflict accounts for half of all tiger deaths, while also driving the decline of Asian elephant populations.
The scope of this challenge extends beyond large mammals to include diverse species such as rats, geese, wolves, cheetahs, and many others. As human populations continue to expand and wildlife habitats shrink, experts predict these conflicts will intensify before improvement occurs.
The WWF presented a comprehensive model for change, emphasizing the importance of gathering independent data to build objective cases for conflict management reform. Their approach calls for securing economic support, developing robust compensation systems for affected communities, and increasing media coverage to raise awareness.
‘We need to shift from viewing wildlife as pests or invaders to recognizing them as fellow beings sharing our environment,’ noted one academic participant. This perspective shift must be accompanied by practical solutions, including compensation mechanisms for property damage caused by wildlife.
For example, reducing conflict in US cities between rat and human populations may involve practical measures such as investing in better trash containment units and natural and non-lethal forms of repellents, but also public awareness campaigns (e.g., to educate the public on the extremely low risk of rats contracting or transmitting rabies, shifting the perspective of the public from viewing rats as pests to persons with intelligence and emotional lives).
Central to successful conflict resolution is understanding stakeholder perspectives. This involves direct engagement with government officials, scientists, and affected communities, combined with detailed study of animal behavior patterns. The meeting highlighted the crucial role of political relationships, particularly between parties like The Humane Party and various politicians, working in concert with NGOs and activists who can mobilize public support for change.
The consensus among participants was clear: while human-wildlife conflict cannot be eliminated entirely, we must work to transform conflict into coexistence. This requires a coordinated effort between political entities, conservation organizations, and local communities to develop and implement sustainable solutions.
Call for Volunteers: Join the Humane Party in Creating Positive Change
The Humane Party is seeking dedicated volunteers to help advance its mission of creating a more compassionate and sustainable world. As we continue to grow and expand our impact, we have several exciting opportunities for individuals passionate about making a difference.
Organizational Operations
We are currently seeking volunteers to join our staff team, where you can contribute to the daily operations that keep our organization running effectively. These roles include managing and updating our website, coordinating our social media presence, and serving as liaisons between various committees. Staff members play a vital role in ensuring our message reaches supporters and the broader public while maintaining smooth internal operations.
Policy Development
The Humane Party’s Policy Committee represents another crucial volunteer opportunity. Committee members work collaboratively to shape and refine our platform, developing thoughtful policy proposals that address contemporary challenges. This work directly influences public debate and helps guide the development of laws and regulations that promote our values. If you have expertise in policy analysis or a passion for creating systemic change, this role offers a chance to make a lasting impact.
Running for Public Office
For those ready to take direct action in their communities, we encourage you to consider running for public office as a Humane Party candidate. This represents one of the most direct ways to create meaningful change, allowing you to advocate for our principles from within the political system. We provide support and resources to help our candidates run effective campaigns while staying true to our core values.
Join Us
Whether you have a few hours a week or are ready to make a more substantial commitment, your skills and dedication can help advance our cause. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds who share our vision for a more humane future. To learn more about these opportunities or to apply, please contact our volunteer coordination team at pglaser.humaneparty@gmail.com
Together, we can work to create the positive changes our world needs. Join us in this important mission and help shape a better tomorrow.
The Humane Herald 