A group of animal protection organizations and individuals from around the United
States are in the process of forming a new coalition called 'America Cares' (an acronym
for 'America's Coalition of Animal Rescue & Education Services').
The coalition was founded recently by Randy N. Warner, president of 21st Century Cares
(www.21stCenturyCares.org), who also acts as its facilitator.
Its primary goal, according to Warner, is to more effectively reach the mainstream
public on animal protection issues. He believes that "huge benefits can be received
from the sharing of ideas, suggestions, examples, resources and contacts."
"The coalition hopes to help galvanize the energies, efforts and shared ideals of
the massive numbers of people and organizations involved in animal protection," said
Warner, "without sacrificing organizational and individual diversity."
He hopes the coalition will help to change the way people view animals, encouraging
people to behave in a more responsible and protective way towards them.
'America Cares' will initially focus on extending invitations to all parties who may be
interested in participating and to garner attention in the mainstream media as well as the
elected officials in each state level government up to the federal level to help
inform them of the coalition's presence and objectives as well as introduce them to humane
education issues.
Warner, a seasoned and outspoken animal protection advocate actively promotes humane
education in our nations' schools. His program is already in 11 states and 5 foreign
countries. He also holds a weekly online discussion group for volunteers who wish
to gain information about becoming a humane educator in their local communities.
The coalition also aims to offer assistance to any group or individual who requests
help with an animal-protection-related issue.
"Cooperative efforts will help to better address the tragic irony of our being
veritable masters of marketing in this country, with capabilities that frequently affect,
shape and change human behavior to an almost miraculous degree," said Warner,
"yet consistently fail to 'market' fully valuing and protecting the animals."
"Animals not only share this planet with us as separate individuals with their own
needs and interests, but are part of a web-of-life interdependency that is indispensable
to the continued existence of the human species and the very future of the planet,"
he said.
The coalition already has an informal group of participants who have agreed to help
voluntarily with public relations efforts, research projects and other initiatives to help
launch and maintain the coalition, if required.
Participants who have already signed up include Pets 911, the OHIO Humane Education
Association, North Carolina C.A.R.E.S, the International Institute for Humane Education,
and various other organizations and activists including Hedy Litke, executive director of
Animal News Center, who assists Warner with moderating and other functions.
Warner emphasized that the most important requirement for participants in the 'America
Cares' Coalition is that they agree to communicate "candidly but with complete
respect, devoid of sarcasm, insults and inflammatory rhetoric." Participants are also
required to provide a link to the coalition page from their Web sites.
More information about 'America Cares' can be obtained by emailing the coalition at:
21stcares@citilink.net.
The 'America Cares' Web site can be found at: www.21stcenturycares.org/coalition.htm.
© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.
