AWI Quarterly Term Archive
Government/Legal
AWI Report: Absence of Enforcement is Compounding the Cruelty at American Slaughter Plants
Farmed AnimalsScientists and philosophers call it the “meat paradox”—a type of cognitive dissonance that can occur among people who want to eat meat but not kill animals. The unfortunate reality, however,...
CEQ Guts NEPA by Rescinding Regulations
Terrestrial WildlifeIn April, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)— an arm of the White House that coordinates federal environmental activities and policy development— took the most drastic action since its creation...
Stifling Scrutiny to Stymie Reforms
Farmed AnimalsStates have repeatedly passed laws that seek to criminalize undercover investigations of abuse and other animal welfare issues on factory farms. Although these “ag-gag” laws have been repeatedly struck down...
Torching Local Efforts to Prevent Barn Fires
Farmed AnimalsAWI has reported extensively on barn fires, which subject hundreds of thousands of animals to horrific deaths each year. To address this problem and increase fire protections for animals on...
Rising Tide of US Opposition to Octopus Farming
Farmed Animals, Marine WildlifeEfforts to protect octopuses from commercial farming continue, with legislation proposed this year in several states to prohibit octopus farming and the sale of farmed octopus products. Campaigns by animal...
Another OSHA Fine Spotlights SeaWorld Safety Issues
Marine WildlifeA SeaWorld Orlando trainer was injured while handling an orca in the park’s medical pool in September 2024. The injury (rumored to be a broken arm, but never confirmed by...
Georgia Joins List of States that Include Pets in Protection Orders
Companion AnimalsIn surveys of domestic violence survivors, as many as 48 percent have indicated that they delayed leaving a dangerous situation because they had no way to keep their pets safe....
Fed Bill Aims to Force-Feed States with Factory Farm Products
Farmed AnimalsAs Iowa state lawmakers seek to shut down scrutiny of the state’s abundant factory farms, one of their US senators is trying to make sure no other state can enact farmed...
Marine Science Cast Adrift as Agency Staff Tossed Overboard
Marine WildlifeThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, within the Department of Commerce, is among a host of federal agencies with science-based missions that have been rocked by deep budgetary and staffing...
Colorado Cracks Down on Wildlife Trafficking
Marine Wildlife, Terrestrial WildlifeIn May, Colorado enacted SB25-168, the nation’s most comprehensive state law to combat wildlife trafficking. The law is unique among state laws in that it prohibits the selling, possessing, transporting,...