Henry Spira

How many rabbits

Henry Spira (June 19, 1927 – September 12, 1998) was an influential American animal rights activist, known for his impactful campaigns against animal testing and for the welfare of animals. Spira's activism is notable for its strategic approach to achieving animal welfare goals, focusing on public awareness campaigns and corporate negotiations.

Early Life

Henry Spira was born in Antwerp, Belgium, to a Jewish family. In 1938, his family fled the Nazi regime, eventually settling in New York City. Spira's early experiences, including his family's escape from persecution and his service in the United States Merchant Marine and the United States Army, shaped his perspectives on injustice and activism.

Activism

In the 1970s, after being influenced by the works of Peter Singer and his seminal book Animal Liberation, Spira began his journey into animal rights activism. His first major campaign was against animal testing conducted by the American Museum of Natural History on cats. The campaign, which started in 1976, was marked by its non-confrontational approach, seeking to engage the museum's administration in dialogue. This campaign resulted in the museum halting its invasive experiments on cats.

Following this success, Spira targeted cosmetics companies that conducted animal testing, most notably Revlon. He orchestrated a campaign that included newspaper advertisements with the headline "How many rabbits does Revlon blind for beauty's sake?" This public pressure led Revlon to donate funds towards the development of alternative testing methods that do not involve animals.

Spira's activism extended beyond campaigns against animal testing. He was also involved in efforts to improve the conditions of farm animals and was a proponent of vegetarianism as a means to reduce animal suffering.

Legacy

Henry Spira is remembered as a pioneer in the animal rights movement. His strategies of negotiation, public awareness, and corporate engagement have influenced subsequent generations of animal rights activists. The Henry Spira Award was established in his honor by the Animal Rights International, an organization he founded, to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to animal welfare.

See Also

• Animal rights
• Peter Singer
• Animal Liberation (book)
• Animal testing
• Vegetarianism