Voiceless, the animal protection institute

Voiceless is an independent non-profit think tank dedicated to alleviating the suffering of animals in Australia.

• Creates and fosters networks of leading lawyers, politicians and academics to influence law and public policy;
• Conducts high quality research and analysis of animal industries, exposing legalised cruelty and promoting informed debate;
• Creates a groundswell for social change by building and fortifying the Australian animal protection movement with select Grants and Prizes; and
• Aims to inform consumers and empower them to make animal-friendly choices.

In the past 5 years Voiceless has evolved into one of Australia’s leading animal protection groups as recognised by Government and stakeholders in animal industries. Some of our achievements include:

• Investing close to a million dollars nationwide to capacity-build the animal protection movement and create meaningful social change.  Each year our red-carpet Annual Awards event is attended by well-known Australian professionals, decision-makers and celebrities. The Event is a unique occasion in which the ground-breaking work of all those who make up the animal protection movement is publicly acknowledged and celebrated.
• Building the first legal team within an Australian animal protection organisation, dedicated to seeking justice for animals. Today, almost all of Australia’s leading law firms have provided pro-bono services or in-kind support to Voiceless and we receive more applications for volunteer, student internship and secondment positions than Voiceless can accommodate.
• Creating the first-ever Australian animal law lecture series with some of the world’s most prominent and successful international animal law experts. Each year the series continues to grow due to the generous support of Law Schools, Professional Legal Associations, Law Firms and Legal Publishers across the country.
• Publishing reports on factory farming, including From Paddocks to Prisons: Future Directions on the NSW pig industry, From Label to Liable: Scams, Scandals and Secrecy on animal-derived food product labelling and From Nest to Nugget: an exposé of Australia's chicken factories. Voiceless’s reports have: led directly to debates in both Federal and State Parliaments; received coverage in key national TV, print and radio media outlets; and been publicized online by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO). 
• Engaging with mainstream media in reporting on animal protection. Since 2004, Voiceless’s work has been featured in more than 100 articles and opinion pieces in Australia’s major print media (The Sun Herald, The Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Herald Sun, the Australian and The Financial Review…) as well as TV (Network Ten, ABC News…) and Radio (2UE, ABC Country Hour, ABC National News…).
• Advocating for animals in major Australian and International forums. Voiceless has been invited to speak at over 30 Australian and international events including the Australian Davos Connection 2009, Minding Animals Conference 2009, Future of Animal Law Conference, Harvard (March 2007), Animals and Society II: Considering Animals, Hobart (July 2007) and the Australian Law Reform Agencies Conference, Sydney, April 2006.

Never underestimate your power as an individual. Animals need our help now more than ever and there are many ways that you can make a difference.  Decide on an issue to focus on that is close to your heart and select an activity that utilizes your skills in order to take action and become a voice for the voiceless. Remember to keep us informed about your great work. You can be an inspiration for others to also become a voice for the voiceless.

Select a mode of taking action from the following categories:

reduce meat, eggs and dairy

Reducing your consumption of animal products OR becoming a vegetarian or vegan are some of the most direct ways of stopping animal suffering and setting a positive example for others. Even if you choose to eat meat, eggs and dairy, simply increasing the amount of vegetarian meals that you eat each week will make a positive difference to the lives of many animals. Check out our recipe links for inspiration in making these changes. 

buy cruelty-free

As consumers, we all have great power to effect change in our day-to-day lives. Choosing not to buy a product is an effective and easy way to impact on the financial viability of companies and send them a strong message that inhumane practices are unacceptable. In addition, supporting cruelty-free products enables humane businesses to grow and prosper, allowing their products to become more affordable and mainstream.

Ways that you can support cruelty-free products include:

• If you eat meat, eggs and dairy, be sure that you never choose factory farmed products at the supermarket, corner store or in restaurants or cafes (remember if a product is silent as to its production method, it probably comes from a factory farm);
• Do not support the kangaroo industry by buying meat (check pet food ingredients) or skins;
• Look for animal-friendly clothes and shoes. Request information when you shop as to where and how the product was produced and sourced;
• Do not  supporting circuses (with animals), zoos and aquaria;
• Choose beauty and household products that are not tested on animals; and

See our cruelty-free links to learn more about how you can become an animal-friendly consumer.

write to politicians

Write to, phone or fax your local, state or federal elected representative to convey your views about animal protection to those that create and administer animal laws and policies. Clearly explain your viewpoint or suggest changes to laws or regulations which you would like to see implemented, for example a ban on sow stalls or ‘cage-free’ policy in your state or territory. We encourage you to write regarding any issue that you feel passionately about.

Get informed about key animal protection issues.

engage your council

Identify key Councilors who might be prepared to support you and ask them to propose a motion at your local council. The motion could be as simple as refusing new development applications for factory farms or halting the hire of parks in their council area for circuses which use exotic animals. More information about your local council can be found at http://www.alga.asn.au/links/obc.php.

use the media

The media can be an effective tool in raising awareness of animal suffering and pressuring politicians to respond to animal protection concerns. For example, you may wish to write a letter to the editor of a national or local newspaper about animal protection issues that you feel strongly about. Radio talk-back shows are also a good opportunity to air your views.

volunteer

Volunteering for an animal protection organization is a great way to make a difference to stop animal suffering using your skills, time and experience.

Voiceless highly values the contribution of its volunteers. For information about volunteering opportunities with Voiceless contact the Volunteer Coordinator for Voiceless, Elizabeth Usher on (02) 9357 0723 or via email at info@voiceless.org.au.

give pro-bono

Want to use your legal experience to give a voice to animals who are suffering? You may like to provide pro bono services to Voiceless or visit our law careers pages for lots of pro bono ideas

Your company can also donate its services to help protect animals. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is fast becoming a business norm and is increasingly being used as a platform to justify business practices that promote animal protection and prevent engagement in activities that harm animals. Please follow this link for ideas of how your company can demonstrate leadership in the area of CSR and animal protection.

donate money

Voiceless greatly appreciates donations from its supporters, which contribute towards raising awareness, grants and education programs to improve the plight of animals in Australia. Ways in which you might like to donate to Voiceless include:

• Making a direct donation
• Fundraising - Visit the Everyday Hero website to see how you can set up a fundraising page or to support someone else’s page to fundraise for Voiceless, or the Our Community you can also support Voiceless in protecting animals.
• Making a bequest- create a lasting legacy to improve the lives of animals and protect them from suffering.
• Sponsoring our Grants Program to support projects that improve the lives of animals in Australia. 

‘make a complaint’ 

Complain to the Advertising Standards Bureau  if you see, read or hear an advertisement which falls within the ASB's jurisdiction and which you feel constitutes a breach of the Australian Association of National Advertisers Code of Ethics. This object of the Code is 'to ensure that advertisements are legal, decent, honest and truthful and that they have been prepared with a sense of obligation to the consumer and society and fair sense of responsibility to competitors.' Examples of previous Case reports can be found on the ASB website.

engage your community

Create a greater impact by sharing your knowledge and raising awareness about animal protection issues throughout your community. Your project may qualify for a Voiceless Grant. For example

• Organize a community event or festival to raise awareness about the humane treatment of animals.
• Draw up a petition to demand action from the Government to improve animal protection.

pressure food companies

Contact food companies and supermarkets that are involved in sustaining animal suffering in Australia. Clearly state the animal protection issues that you are concerned about such as battery cages, sow stalls, mutilations without pain relief etc.  Encourage them to follow the examples of international chains such as McDonalds UK, Sainsbury’s Supermarkets, Burger King, Wendy’s and Quiznos that have either made the switch or are in the process of switching to cage-free eggs or eggs laid by hens not confined to battery cages.