In 2010, I resolve to ramp up the number of letters to the editor pertaining to animal issues I write. There are so many ways to bring animal issues to the forefront in response to an article. For example, if you encounter a piece about children’s health, you have an opportunity to shed light on the Child Nutrition Act, suggesting that children participating in the National School Lunch Program have access to more plant-based foods.
In 2009, approximately 10 billion land animals were killed for food in this country alone. Though we’re gaining traction in many ways, we cannot lose sight of the multitudes who continue to suffer, nor can we forget that they are relying on us to speak up for them.
With the new year approaching, what will you do to speak up for farm animals? Check out our Tools & Resources for some ideas, including everything from tabling or leafleting to organizing a benefit rock concert for our feathered and furry friends.
Then, enter our contest by letting us know what your New Year’s resolutions for the animals will be. We will randomly select a winner, who will become the proud owner of a snazzy Farm Sanctuary hoodie. The contest ends on January 4, and the winner will be notified by January 20.
Last week, we told you about a grant from Free Range Studios that awards one lucky nonprofit $15,000 worth of free design services for the creation of a worthy project that focuses on “what the world needs now.” The project that we had in mind is a short and punchy animated film that takes a look at the enormous impact livestock production has on climate change, and the importance of ditching meat and dairy in order to preserve our planet. We aim to make this film viral in an effort to educate the masses about this true inconvenient truth, and the easy – yet vital – step that each of us can take to lower our “foodprint.”
Thanks to your votes – all 1,916 of them – we are in fifth place (out of more than 100 entries!) and therefore qualify for the next round in which Free Range Studios will take a look at the top 20 ranked projects and determine which one gets the grant.
As always, thank you for your votes and all of your generous support. Fingers crossed!
Free Range Studios (the group responsible for the animal rights themed cartoon, The Meatrix) is teaming up with Youtopia to offer a grant that will award $15,000 smackaroos worth of free design services to a socially-conscious group with a worthy project. We believe that Farm Sanctuary is that group, and the short film we intend to make is that project.
We want to work with Free Range Studios to produce a short animated video that takes a serious look at how the factory farming industry plays a major role in global warming – using animated art and online "viral" distribution to catch the attention of a mainstream audience. This would be a vital tool to gain public awareness of the atrocities facing our planet, due directly to the global footprint of animal agriculture.
Please take a minute to vote for our educational video project, “What’s Your Foodprint?”
Then, help us get out the vote by posting this blog entry to all of your social networking outlets. Voting ends December 1.
As always, thank you for your support in raising awareness and eyebrows!
No one puts on a Thanksgiving to remember quite like Farm Sanctuary! At our annual Celebration FOR the Turkeys, we relish good eats, hang out with our beloved farm animal residents, and enjoy the company of hundreds of kindhearted individuals — all in commemoration of our feathered friends: the turkeys.
This year, we’ve expanded the event from the peaceful pastures at our Orland, California and Watkins Glen, New York sanctuaries to the Big Apple, where guests will join hip hop mogul Russell Simmons and Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything Is Illuminated and Eating Animals (a great read for those new to factory farming issues) and indulge in a lavish vegan brunch and dessert reception on Sunday, Nov. 22.
Can’t make it to the New York City affair? While our Watkins Glen event is sold out, we still need volunteers to help out with this Nov. 21 benefit. And in California, tickets are still available and include a very special performance by music legend Jonathan Richman (::swoon::) as well as a guest appearance by L-Word actress Daniela Sea!
And speaking of swooning … are you ready for this? Farm Sanctuary is giving away a pair of tickets to the California Celebration – a $150 value! Here’s the catch: We want to hear how you incorporate compassion into your Thanksgiving celebrations, especially with friends or family members who just don’t get “it” (i.e., your desire to save a turkey rather than eat one). We can all benefit from each other’s experiences and make this holiday one that everyone will want to be a part of (turkeys too)! We’ll randomly select a winner from the entries and will share these ideas in an upcoming blog entry.
Carolyn Mullin is an education & advocacy coordinator based at Farm Sanctuary’s West Coast shelter in lovely Orland, California. She writes for the Farm Sanctuary Kidz Club site; oversees the California Visitor and Volunteer Programs; ensures that all is well with the interns who reside on the shelter; coordinates shelter events, including the annual Country Hoe Down, Fourth of July Pignic and Celebration FOR the Turkeys; researches and writes for various publications such as the Guide to Compassionate Living; and engages in community outreach and education. Before her start with Farm Sanctuary in 2006, Carolyn served with AmeriCorps in Gainesville, Florida as a reading tutor for students in grades K-3, managed an organic greenhouse for the Fruit and Vegetable Lab at the Department of Entomology at the University of Florida, and was president of the very active Animal Activists of Alachua, a community/student group based on the University of Florida campus. She holds an M.A. in Nonprofit Management from Regis University and a B.A. in Religion Studies from the University of Florida. Friend her on Facebook.
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry ... read more.
Making Hay with Gene Baur features personal blogs from Farm Sanctuary President & Co-founder Gene Baur, as well as other entries focused on Farm Sanctuary’s advocacy efforts and the multiple ways that you can get involved and make a difference for farm animals.
Gene Baur, President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary
Gene grew up in Hollywood, California and worked in commercials for McDonald's and other fast food restaurants. He adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1985, and today, he campaigns to raise awareness about the negative consequences of industrialized factory farming and our cheap food system. He lives in Washington, DC and is the co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary. Read more.
C H E C K O U T F A R M S A N C T U A R Y 'S O T H E R B L O G
Farm Sanctuary does not necessarily share the same views as those expressed in the blogs below ... but we appreciate them nonetheless, and think you might, too.