Painting of a big circle of people of all ages gathered for an Open Space Think Tank, with Patricia in the center and a wall of colorful session sheets behind them
Patricia Mikkelson

From the Alliance: Animal Earth Alliance Newsletter #2

Hello, friends!

Here is the second Animal Earth Alliance newsletter, shared with my All Beings Sanctuary family. This week brings six new articles, good news for animals in laboratories, a lovely profile in the news, and a gathering in Miami where there is still room to stay. Each article below has a short summary and a link to read it in full on the Alliance blog.

New articles from the Alliance

50 Ideas for Helping Animals and the Earth
Fifty ways to help, whether you have five minutes, a free Saturday, a garden, a talent or a voice to speak up. Pick one that makes your heart jump!

Painting of people planting flowers, sharing a meal, caring for a rescued pig and cleaning a creek
This painting was made for the 50 Ideas article. Friends are planting flowers, sharing a meal, caring for a rescued pig and cleaning up a creek. Each one is a small, joyful act, and that is the spirit of the whole list: there is something for everyone, and every bit of kindness counts. (Illustration made for the article)

Group Spotlight: The March to Abolish Animal Testing
Our first story celebrating a group doing beautiful work: a peaceful walk for dogs and other animals in laboratories, and how you can support it.

Painting of people walking peacefully along an autumn country road with rescued beagles
Marchers walk an autumn country road with rescued beagles trotting alongside them. This is what the March to Abolish Animal Testing is all about: a day when every dog in a laboratory gets to walk free in the sunshine like these happy beagles. (Illustration made for the article)

When the Work Gets Heavy: How We Keep Going
Caring for animals can bring real sorrow. This article shares how we can carry it, avoid burnout and keep going, with rest, good friends and time in nature.

Healthy Circles: A Work in Progress
What keeps a group healthy? Here are ideas for healthy circles in the Alliance, drawn from choirs, sharing circles and community groups. Please add your own ideas in the comments.

Painting of six different people, each in their own home on an online call, connected by golden threads
Healthy Circles will meet online, so people can join from their own homes wherever they live. In this painting, six friends on a video call are joined by golden threads, a reminder that real friendship can grow across the miles when a circle is kind, safe and well cared for. (Illustration made for the article)

Fuel on the Plate: How Much Oil Does Our Food Really Take?
Most of the fuel in our food goes into feeding, slaughtering, chilling and shipping animals. This article compares animal foods, plant foods, backyard gardens, lawns turned into food, community gardens and farmers markets.

How to Help a Meat-Eating Friend Be Open to Watching the Truth
Gentle ways to help a friend be willing to watch, plus short videos that have opened hearts and what to do afterward.

Two women sit side by side on a couch, leaning in together to look at a phone
Sitting side by side and watching together feels very different from getting a link in a text message. When a friend is beside you, you can pause, talk, or just sit quietly with what you have seen. That closeness is often what makes someone willing to keep watching. (Photo: Flure Bunny on Unsplash)

Good news for the animals

  • Maryland’s new law is now in effect. Since October 1, 2026, labs in Maryland must try to find homes for dogs and cats when a vet says they are ready, and testing facilities can’t use an old animal test when the government has approved an alternative. (Read more)
  • Fewer beagles bred for labs. Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin agreed to stop breeding dogs for sale to laboratories by July 1, 2026. Many people who marched and held vigils there helped make this happen. (Read more)

In the news: Almira Tanner of DxE

The Humane Herald published a lovely profile of Almira Tanner, lead organizer of Direct Action Everywhere: Almira Tanner: People Have the Power. I was part of DxE on and off from 2017 to 2019, and it was a powerful experience in my life. Thank you to the Humane Herald for permission to share it.

Miami Convergence, November 5 to 8: housing still available

Our friends at the Animal Activism Collective are hosting the Miami Convergence, November 6 to 8, with a kickoff bonfire social on the night of November 5. It will be three days packed with actions for some of the most effective animal rights campaigns happening right now, plus educational talks. On November 7, Ella Magers will speak about her experience organizing the March to Abolish Animal Testing. They still have a couple of spots left in their group housing, so if you would like to go, there is room for you.

See all the Miami Convergence details here, and find the calendar of events and actions here.

One thing you can do this week

Take the Alliance’s 5-minute questionnaire. Your answers help us plan our first Think Tank and decide how the Alliance can best support you.

Coming up

  • The March to Abolish Animal Testing comes to Washington, D.C., April 14 to 16, 2027. The Alliance is helping people get there.
  • Healthy Circles are taking shape. Tell us in the comments what days and times work for you.

Share the love

Know someone who loves animals and the earth? Please send them this post. They can subscribe to the Animal Earth Alliance here.

With gratitude,
Patricia Mikkelson, with Barbara Hulley as advisor

Where it all began: The Alliance was born at the Living Springs Log House, 14.75 acres in the Arkansas Ozarks. The land is now for sale and could become a home for vegan purposes: a community, a retreat, an event center, or a farm animal sanctuary. See the Living Springs Log House at livingspringsloghouse.com and pass it along to anyone with that dream.

Leave a Reply