Compassionate Action for Animals

Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA) is a Minneapolis-based animal advocacy non-profit focused on raising awareness on factory farming and promoting vegetarianism.

History

CAA was formed in early 1998 in order to pursue "strategic nonviolence" as a path towards animal rights. This is a strategy based on the principles of nonviolent action defined by Gene Sharp. These principles of strategic nonviolence are reflected in CAA's current core values.

The name Compassionate Action for Animals was adopted in May 1998. In June 1999, CAA became a 501(c)3 non-profit after merging with the Animal Liberation League, another local animal rights organization with a very similar approach and philosophy.

In 1999, CAA began working on its Ban Battery Cages campaign, which culminated in the open rescue of over ten egg-laying hens from a battery cage facility, the first such rescue in the US ^[1]. CAA's investigation and rescue campaign was based on a similar campaign which was first done by Animal Liberation Victoria in Australia.

CAA is active as a student group at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, as well as in the larger Twin Cities area. Their focus is on outreach, education, and community-building events.

Activities and Campaigns

• Outreach through tabling, leafleting, postering, cable shows, literature stands, writing letters and articles for publications, and more.
• Social events such as potlucks, movies, game nights, and dine-outs.
• Food giveaways to show how delicious vegetarian and vegan food is.
• Speakers who address animal, ethical, and health issues ^[2]
• Working with community restaurants and university cafeterias to make vegetarian and vegan dining more convenient and available

External links

• CAA's homepage
• CAA's worldwide guide to veg-friendly dining and shopping

References

1. ^ Open Rescue article in New York Times - Accessed 28 March 2008
2. ^ Veg Week article in Minnesota Daily - Accessed 6 August 2007