Glossary archive

abolition. A social justice movement that advocates fortotal elimination, versus the reform, of some form of oppression, enslavement, or abuse....

absolute rights. Due to the sentient nature of animals they have certain absolute rights, (for example, the right to be...

ag-gag laws. A term coined in 2011 by Mark Bittman to describe laws that prohibit the making of undercover videos,...

alpha animal. The animal that ranks highest in his/her social group.

animal advocacy. Promotion of the interests of animals, generally. Includes work for animal rights and animal welfare.

Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA). Federal law fast-tracked through Congress in 2006 that severely restricts Americans’ freedom of speech and...

Animal Liberation Front (ALF). Name used by individuals, whose identities are concealed, and who independently carry out direct actions on...

animal rights. Refers to the position that the interests of nonhuman animals, including their interest in living and not suffering,...

animal welfare. Refers to the well-being and treatment of nonhuman animals by humans. The animal welfare position objects to what...

anthropocentric. Placing humans at the center of one’s world, as though all other life forms are relatively unimportant or inferior...