My recent (and still current) trip to California has been an eye opener. It seems my scope is broadening. Timing is playing it's soulful tune!
I've been afraid before, to look at the issues surrounding mal practice in the meat/dairy industry. Afraid that I'd have to tie myself to a tree or lie in front of a animal shipment truck or have to share my apartment with a pig I rescued from a farm in the dead of night. I wasn't ready for all that. To be honest, I am also afraid of the enormity of it all. It looks to me like such a vile and unimpenetrable mess that it overwhelms me. Movies like Vegucated Earthlings Food Inc. to name a few just had me mortified. I wasn't ready for it and I'm still not sure I am ready to step up fully, but I am now ready to step into the fray and take a better, more in-depth look.
But I see you don't have to do that to make a difference. If each one of us did a little bit, collectively we can be powerful and change will come. I see these organisations are happy for you to help by volunteering, donating or just helping spread the word, should you wish, without having to stop washing or have my hair fall into unruly dreadlocks. A stereotype of the activist that really doesn't hold up anymore. I am meeting more and more people who are adopting a meatless diet because of the atrocities of meat and dairy industry.
What can you do to help?
We can make a difference simply by going to a nice and clean supermarket like Whole Foods, Sainsbury's or Superama (or whatever your local store is called), and shop consciously. That in itself is more powerful that you can imagine. In a consumer world, currency casts votes. Currency changes worlds. You can make a positive change, countless times EVERY DAY.
I've been afraid before, to look at the issues surrounding mal practice in the meat/dairy industry. Afraid that I'd have to tie myself to a tree or lie in front of a animal shipment truck or have to share my apartment with a pig I rescued from a farm in the dead of night. I wasn't ready for all that. To be honest, I am also afraid of the enormity of it all. It looks to me like such a vile and unimpenetrable mess that it overwhelms me. Movies like Vegucated Earthlings Food Inc. to name a few just had me mortified. I wasn't ready for it and I'm still not sure I am ready to step up fully, but I am now ready to step into the fray and take a better, more in-depth look.
But I see you don't have to do that to make a difference. If each one of us did a little bit, collectively we can be powerful and change will come. I see these organisations are happy for you to help by volunteering, donating or just helping spread the word, should you wish, without having to stop washing or have my hair fall into unruly dreadlocks. A stereotype of the activist that really doesn't hold up anymore. I am meeting more and more people who are adopting a meatless diet because of the atrocities of meat and dairy industry.
What can you do to help?
We can make a difference simply by going to a nice and clean supermarket like Whole Foods, Sainsbury's or Superama (or whatever your local store is called), and shop consciously. That in itself is more powerful that you can imagine. In a consumer world, currency casts votes. Currency changes worlds. You can make a positive change, countless times EVERY DAY.
If you want to do more. As I now do. Then there are organisations you can join with. Normal people who just care about the environment and animals. Do what feels right for YOU.
The following organisations are in the US. They are some of the amazing people that I met recently. There are many, all over the world. This is by no means a comprehensive list. Thankfully, the world is full of passionate people making positive change. Also, this isn't just about animals but people who have to be exposed to pesticides and horrific animal practices to earn a living who probably have little clue on the effect it is reeking.
I was at Berkeley Vegan Earth Day and met with author and activist Sarah Stone.. A fascinating woman who has volunteered with the Jane Goodall Institute in Africa and was offering information about various animal and farming issues to anyone who asked.
The following organisations are in the US. They are some of the amazing people that I met recently. There are many, all over the world. This is by no means a comprehensive list. Thankfully, the world is full of passionate people making positive change. Also, this isn't just about animals but people who have to be exposed to pesticides and horrific animal practices to earn a living who probably have little clue on the effect it is reeking.
I was at Berkeley Vegan Earth Day and met with author and activist Sarah Stone.. A fascinating woman who has volunteered with the Jane Goodall Institute in Africa and was offering information about various animal and farming issues to anyone who asked.
Factory Farming Awareness Coalition. “The Factory Farming Awareness Coalition is an educational non-profit committed to empowering people to save the environment, animals, and our own health through our daily food choices.” It’s an all-volunteer organization, founded and led by Katie Cantrell. FFAC has an informative, engaging (and free) power-point presentation that brings together the issues of animals, the environment, and worker’s rights. In addition to trainings in the Bay Area, FFAC has recently had tours in the Northwest and on the East Coast and is partnering on the current Justice Without Boundaries tour, a new collaborative effort uniting activists from the United States and Mexico, with 40 presentations in 14 cities, including speaker training and vegan cooking demonstrations.
FFAC is always looking for new members, places (schools, colleges, organizations, etc.) to give the presentation, and new speakers (FFAC provides trainings and materials). And right now there’s a Blue Sky contest on BART. Anyone who votes is entered for the chance to win a $500 Clipper card. If people vote for FFAC, they can help get out crucial information about factory farming to everyone who rides BART. I’m including the details and link below.
If you want to know more than the websites show, you can reach Katie directly at Factory Farming Awareness Coalition (info@FFACoalition.org). And meanwhile, here are the links and the Blue Sky info.
Here’s the FFAC website:
And the website for the Justice Without Boundaries tour.
The blog has pictures from recent tours:
And you can see Katie giving a version of the presentation online:
Here’s the Blue Sky info:
Vote for your favorite Blue Sky partner for a chance to win a $500 Clipper card
There are so many great non-profit organizations doing important work in the Bay Area, now’s your chance to help them out. As part of BART’s Blue Sky Celebration, you can vote for your favorite BART Blue Sky non-profit partner here. The non-profits that get the most votes will win valuable exposure in front of BART’s 400,000+ daily weekday riders for their organizations, and YOU have a chance to win a $500 Clipper card just for voting. You can only vote one time, so make it count. You have until Sunday, May 12, 2013 to vote.
This contest features non-profits that are participating in our BART Blue Sky Festival, and are promoting some great initiatives that are making a difference locally.
You can vote for one of the following: Bay Area Green Tours, City CarShare, CUESA (Ferry Plaza Farmers Market),Factory Awareness Coalition Friends of the Urban Forest, Greenbelt Alliance, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco, Save the Bay and Sierra Club, SF Bay Chapter.
Alternate Method of Entry: e-mail or mail. Entrants may submit an entry for the sweepstakes, but will not be able to submit a vote by mail.
To submit by email, send an email with the subject line “BART Blue Sky Sweepstakes 2013, Attn: Email Submission” containing your full name and phone number to youwin1@bart.gov. Your email address and phone number will be used solely to notify you of a winning entry.
To submit by mail, include your full name and either a telephone number or email address, and mail your entry to BART Blue Sky Sweepstakes 2013, Attn: Mail Submission, Marketing Dept., P.O. Box 12688 (LKS-18) Oakland CA 94604-2688.
All entries received in this manner will be entered in the BART Blue Sky Sweepstakes, but will not be eligible to vote for their favorite Non-Profit. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PT on May 12, 2013. Sponsor’s official judging organization’s computer is the official time keeping device for internet entries. Limit one entry per email address and/or person.
PETA are an international organisation. You could look at their website and see how you can help. Or just educate yourself.
Animal Liberation Front
Please leave a comment below and tell us the ones in your country.
2 comments:
What is the purpose of encouraging meatless mondays?
It doesn't have any practical results and only reinforces the idea that killing animals is okay. For justification of the first, see http://files.meetup.com/160880/Boycott%20veganism.pdf and reflect for a minute upon the fact that this movement has been taking the same compromising approach for 40 years and the number of animals murdered worldwide has grown exponentially. For justification of the second, it reinforces the idea that killing animals is a choice - even the language of this article/the language used by FFAC calls taking the lives of animals a "food choice". MAYBE this will succeed in getting a few self-righteous berkeley residents to become semi-pescetarians, but it does not lead anywhere to animal liberation and only legitimizes the idea of humane murder, which is effectively destroying the AR movement.
I love disagreement, but before you start screaming about how I'm being "divisive", first think for yourself about what these organizations are accomplishing. I think they're only ethically legitimizing the movement's enemies.
@Anonymous
HI Anon,
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. As I alluded to in my blog, I am in the process of educating myself further. I am grateful for you obvious knowledge and experience in the area of animal activism. I would never 'scream' about any comment. I am at a loss, feeling helpless as to how to help. I make a difference via my blog with showing people how delicious vegan food is and dispelling myths. I offer support and an open approach. I see all of the issues to be that of a gathering and collaboration with a growing movement of people. Please explain why if you do feel to the contrary on my opinion (I am eager to understand) but if everyone on the planet didn't eat meat on one day then this would be a beginning? A chance for people to make an effort and try other foods and see they won't starve or die of protein deficiency which countless have been drip feed the idea of since they understand language. I have seen reports to the contrary that meat consumption has been reducing in the last 2 years in the USA. Do you have information otherwise? My belief that killing any creature whether it has been 'grass fed', shown a minute of light a day, or even given the best treatment possible is murder. Much the same that I don't think any 'pet' lover would forgive me if I fed their dog fresh cuts of meat and walked them 2 hours a day and then killed and ate them, would forgive me. BUT I do believe that most people will not listen or be open to change if they are made to feel bad about themselves because they may just shut down in defensiveness. It is education they need. Awareness. What I was trying to put across in this article, and I think I did so quite well was say. Hey, I put my hands up and say I've not done enough in a certain area. Now I'm ready to look and see if I can do more. I've said my reasons for not addressing it before and been transparent about it. If I feel a certain way, I am sure there are countless others that do to. I look forward to your response and advice about how I can be more proactive. Warm wishes, India Leigh.
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