Animal Rights in Kentucky
Kentucky is known in animal rights circles to be a terrible place to be an animal. Instead of laws making animal cruelty a felony, Kentucky still has legal cockfighting. (Despite the introduction of a bill to ban the practice promised for the 2011 legislative session, there seems to be little hope of this fact changing soon.) Kentucky’s record on animal abuse is dire, but there are some legislative changes that you can push that help support the Green Party’s platform on humane treatment.
Frankfort, Kentucky’s capital city, recently passed a partial ban on tethering animals. Though this ban is controversial and probably will be amended eventually, the ban moves in the direction of making animal cruelty a punishable offense. Encouraging this type of ban in other places throughout Kentucky would help make huge strides in making Kentucky more animal-friendly.
Volunteering at local animal shelters and pushing for local governments to increase support of these shelters is another way that you can help Kentucky’s animals. Local governments give money to nonprofits in the community based on a perceived need and support for the charities. These charities tend to be non-controversial ones, and animal shelters are an excellent choice for local government leaders to provide some assistance.
Quality animal control units are the best option that animal activists have in getting local government leaders on board. Animal control unit members should be qualified, well-trained individuals who are passionate about animal welfare. These people should be able to work with animals to keep them from harm while getting them out of dangerous situations.
Fighting for proper funding for animal control is one of the best ways local activists can push leaders to make changes that are in line with the Ten Key Values of the Green Party. Animal rights are important in a just society.
Encouraging Local Politicians to Go Green
Being “green” is trendy right now, which means that many politicians are open to ideas promoted as green. While that is great news for the environmental movement, that doesn’t mean that local politicians always get what it really means to make green decisions. There are a few substantial ways that you can push local politics a little closer to your tree-hugging ideal.
Hiring a sustainability coordinator is a must-do for any mid- to large city. In Kentucky, that would include Louisville, Lexington, Frankfort, Paducah, Covington, Newport, Richmond, Bowling Green, and Berea, at a minimum. Other, smaller areas can hire someone on a short contract or part-time, but sustainability coordinators are important there, too.
These coordinators often work for a percentage of what they save the city in energy usage. They work to decrease energy use by putting better workflow habits into place, improving water and sewer lines, suggesting better vehicles, and making other changes.
In addition, a solid recycling program also is a necessity for all towns and cities. Good recycling programs can make money for cash-strapped local governments. It isn’t enough just to have recycling but push local politicians to work on a public education campaign about what can be recycled and how valuable it is to the Earth and the city’s bank account.
Green spaces hold a growing importance in our concrete world. New developments should have a minimum percentage of the land dedicated to green spaces, and the city should have spaces with trees and grasses as well. Being out in nature is excellent for our physical and mental health, and it encourages people to care for the environment.
These three ideas are just the tip of what local activists can help bring about in their cities. Working to create a greener tomorrow in Kentucky is a lengthy, but rewarding, process.
