Free Film Screening: "Maximum Tolerated Dose" (April 2014)
The National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) and the DePaul Center for Animal Law, in recognition of World Day for Animals in Laboratories, presented a free screening of “Maximum Tolerated Dose,” a feature-length documentary from Decipher Films that charts the lives of both humans and non-humans who have experienced animal testing first-hand. A reception with "Maximum Tolerated Dose" director Karol Orzechowski followed.
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Pirates or Protesters? The Institute of Cetacean Research v. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (February 2014)
The center hosted a discussion on The Institute of Cetacean Research v. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an international lawsuit regarding whale hunting that received attention due to its connection to the popular American non-scripted television show “Whale Wars.” The plaintiff, a Japanese research foundation that hunts whales, sued the defendant, an American non-profit organization of eco-activists that is best known for starring in "Whale Wars," over interfering with their activities.
The panel featured Harris & Moure, pllc, attorneys Charles Moure and Rebecca Millican who represented Sea Shepherd. Paul Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, appeared via SKYPE. They analyzed how the ruling may affect international maritime law, the future of the group, and the actions of other ecological-focused protesters.
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Fall All-Day Symposium: Animals as Food: The Legal Treatment of Animals in Contemporary Agribusiness and Factory Farming (October 2013)
The legal, moral and ethical issues surrounding animals in contemporary food production and distribution were the focus of the DePaul Center for Animal Law's 2013 fall all-day symposium. Over the past several years this topic has received significant attention because of books such as "Fast Food Nation" and "Eating Animals," documentaries like "Food, Inc." and "Forks Over Knives," and the release of undercover footage depicting modern slaughterhouse conditions. At the same time, consumer interest about where food comes from and the value of organic eating and non-meat diets is at an all-time high. To reflect these concerns, the center presented panels on the raising and slaughtering of farm animals, AG-GAG laws, food labeling, and the success in banning certain food products. Gary Francione of Rutgers Law School served as keynote speaker.
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Drug Sniffing Dogs and the Fourth Amendment (October 2013)
In early 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on two different cases involving drug sniffing dogs. The first, Florida v. Harris, decided unanimously that if the police can show that a drug sniffing dog satisfactorily earned certification or completed a training program, the dog's alert can provide probable cause to search a vehicle. The subsequent case, Florida v. Jardines, said that using drug sniffing dogs at the front door of a house where the police suspected drugs constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment and thus requires a warrant. The panel examined the background of the cases, the implications to criminal investigations, and the practical training and applications of police dogs.
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