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  • My FARM Friends Coloring Book by Ruby Roth

    My FARM Friends Coloring Book by Ruby Roth

    Ruby Roth is an award-winning author, illustrator, artist, and “change maker.” She has been featured on many major news networks and is touted as “the world’s leading author and illustrator of vegan and vegetarian books.” She has been vegan since 2003 and is also on the advisory board for RuckusRoots, a program designed to teach environmental awareness and responsible actions through art. These things feature heavily in her work.

    Ruby Roth’s Path to Animal Activism

    Ruby’s work often parallels her journey. Much of her young life, around 13 years, was spent in a back brace due to Scoliosis. During those painful years, Ruby turned to her art as her outlet. While working as an elementary school art teacher, Roth’s students were intrigued by her eating habits. Her students’ curiosity inspired her to write her first book on veganism. “That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals “is the first in a series of books for kids.

    Her newest book, “Bad Day,” addresses how parents can handle their children’s meltdowns and other “childhood challenges. “Other books include “V is for Vegan,” “Vegan is Love,” and a cookbook titled, “The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids.”

    Although she is a teacher and children’s book author, Ruby Roth is no stranger to controversy. Often, people describe her as “a composed and tranquil little vessel packing a powerhouse conductor, charged and loaded with a bid for a sound world.” Throughout her career, she has taken on circuses, zoos, animal testing, and more.

    Fighting for Animals Through Controversy

    No matter how bright, Ruby does not shy away from the spotlight her books place her in. Her book, “Vegan is Love” sparked an international debate with its graphic content, which many parents viewed as scary. Many major networks have interviewed Ruby about this book, including The Today Show and CNN.

    Roth counters, “There’s nothing in my books that a child wouldn’t see walking through the grocery store, in the deli section, or on the myriad of TV shows about hunting, fishing or even cooking. I think by avoiding or sugarcoating the truth, we’re actually hindering what our children are capable of. The path to a greener future and a more sustainable planet lies in engaging our kids. I don’t see any reason why our children’s health and education should be placed on a layaway plan.”

    Ruby’s primary goal is to teach children how to be compassionate, critical thinkers who act responsibly toward animals of all kinds. Glamour calls her “an explosion of controversy.” but people’s opinions do not deter her. She challenges authoritative opposition to the message behind her books by speaking her truth. Today, Ruby’s books are available in more than ten languages. She also has over 160,000 followers on her social media pages.

    My FARM Friends Coloring Book Project

    Recently, Ruby Roth has collaborated with Farm Animal Rights Movement, FARM, to create a coloring book for kids of all ages. The book, illustrated by Roth, is filled with 20 fun facts about farmed animals, activity pages, and parent resources.

    Eric C Lindstrom, Executive Director of FARM, has this to say. “As a parent of two vegan elementary school-aged children, I see countless coloring books come into our home, but none ever showcase the true personalities of the animals. This book is different. Working closely with Ruby Roth has been a goal of mine, and this collaboration has resulted in something truly unique for the movement.”

    The coloring book is printed with soy inks onto 100% recycled paper. Copies are being distributed to children’s hospitals, animal sanctuaries, and restaurants nationwide. Copies of “My FARM Friends Coloring Book” are available here. Books are available in quantities of 1, 50, or 100. “Proceeds from the sale of the books will allow us a second print run with more books being donated.”

     

  • 8 Vegan Recipes for National Doughnut Day

    8 Vegan Recipes for National Doughnut Day

    Feast your eyes and satisfy your sweet tooth as we embark on a delicious journey through the world of vegan doughnuts! Immerse yourself in this scrumptious exploration that marries tradition and innovation, demonstrating that compassionate eating can also be delightfully indulgent. Traditional doughnut recipes often call for eggs and milk, which means they are not vegan-friendly. Some lucky cities have vegan doughnut shops or other shops that at least have a vegan option on their menu. If you live in one of these cities, you already know how excellent and convenient these vegan options are.

    National Doughnut Day

    National Doughnut Day was founded during World War I to honor “doughnut lassies,” volunteers who would deliver food to the front lines. These individuals soon discovered that doughnuts were a practical and effective way to deliver and prepare food. They could even cook up to seven doughnuts at once using the war helmets as a pan.

    The National Doughnut Day holiday is celebrated each year on the first Friday of June. This year’s National Donut Day falls on June 2. Many shops offer free doughnuts on this special day, but some vegans may have difficulty finding a plant-based doughnut in their city.

    If you don’t have a vegan doughnut shop in your city for National Doughnut Day, consider making your vegan doughnuts at home. You may find your homemade vegan doughnuts are even tastier than those offered in shops. Get ready to discover an array of mouthwatering vegan doughnut recipes that promise to tickle your taste buds and revolutionize your home baking experience.

    1. Vegan Krispy Kreme Style Doughnuts by Gaz Oakley

    If you love traditional doughnuts, this recipe by Gaz Oakley is the one for you. The end result is enough delicious, chewy, and fluffy doughnuts to feed 15 people. If following along with text recipes isn’t your thing Gaz also has a video recipe on his YouTube:

    2. Vegan Boston Cream Doughnuts from Mary’s Test Kitchen

    http://www.marystestkitchen.com

    This vegan doughnut recipe is a must if you love fluffy, cream-filled, chocolate-coated snacks. The recipe offers instructions for deep frying, baking, or air frying. Of course, deep frying tastes the best, but the other methods are still absolutely delicious. Mary’s Test Kitchen also offers a video walk through on YouTube that can be seen here:

     

     

    3. Vegan Biscoff Doughnuts by Little Blog of Vegan

    http://www.thelittleblogofvegan.com

    What is better than delicious Biscoff cookie butter: A Biscoff doughnut, of course. These amazing doughnuts are filled with Biscoff custard cream and topped off with melted Biscoff spread, cookie crumbles, white chocolate shavings, and a Biscoff cookie.

     

    4. Vegan Doughnuts from Tasty

    tasty.co

    These light, airy vegan doughnuts from Tasty.co are a fluffy and delicious treat. Each delicious bite is finished off with a dusting of sugar.

     

    5. Vegan Vanilla-Sugar Apricot Doughnuts by Vegan Food & Living

    http://www.veganfoodandliving.com

    These delectable vanilla-sugar apricot doughnuts are filled with smooth apricot jam, then topped off with granulated sugar and vanilla bean.

     

    6. Vegan S’mores Doughnuts by Pies and Tacos

    http://www.piesandtacos.com

    S’mores are a chocolate and marshmallow treat that vegans learn early to skip. This recipe, though, replaces all of those pesky, animal-derived ingredients with delicious, compassionate ingredients. Each chocolate ganache-coated graham cracker crumb sprinkled s’mores doughnut is filled with vegan marshmallow fluff.

     

    7. Vegan Baked Gingerbread Doughnuts by Nadias Healthy Kitchen

    nadiashealthykitchen.com

    Gingerbread is not just for Christmas anymore. This recipe is not only vegan but also gluten-free. These spice-filled doughnuts will give your kitchen that holiday smell with their cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg mix.

     

    8. Vanilla Earl Grey Doughnuts with Caramel and Blood Orange Zest

    http://www.wellandfull.com

    If you are in the market for a more grown-up doughnut, this is the recipe for you. These amazing doughnuts are infused with strongly brewed Earl Grey tea and topped off with homemade vegan caramel and blood orange zest.

    Enjoy A Compassionate National Doughnut Day

    With this many vegan doughnut recipes available, it is easy to eat with compassion. Creative vegans all over the country work diligently to perfect vegan versions of their favorite treats. Thanks to these hardworking chefs and their easy-to-follow recipes, no vegan need ever miss out on National Doughnut Day again.

  • Slaughtering Innocence: Illegal Child Labor

    Slaughtering Innocence: Illegal Child Labor

    Child labor has been illegal in the United States for over eighty-five years. So, why have investigators recently discovered numerous children aged 13-17 working overnight shifts cleaning the “scene of the crime” at slaughterhouses?

    http://www.notthebee.com

    The Unseen Reality: Illegal Child Labor in Slaughterhouses

    Federal officials recently discovered 102 children working as cleaners in slaughterhouses nationwide for the cleaning subcontractors Packers Sanitation Service Inc. Children as young as 13 were seen using caustic chemicals to clean sharp saws and equipment in slaughterhouses across eight states. Several children reported severe chemical burns while working.

    Some of these children had come across the border as unaccompanied minors leading investigators to address the possibility that any of the juveniles were victims of labor trafficking. Gregory Chen, senior director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, states, “It is vital that the federal government not only investigate the violations committed by this private company but in addition that it provides protections for the children who may have been victimized by this country.

    Both the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor should apply policies they have recently announced to ensure these children are not deported to the country into unsafe circumstances, that they receive legal protection to be able to remain in this country and have a stable, safe environment.”

    http://www.nypost.com

    Packers Sanitation Service Inc.

    Packers Sanitation Service Inc. was fined $15,138 for each minor working in slaughterhouses, totaling over 1.5 million dollars. The company now claims to be taking “significant steps to ensure future compliance with the law, including employing an outside compliance specialist.”

    It also claims to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding the minimum age requirement for employees. They are adamant that no individual under the age of 18 has been hired by this company which has 700 sites employing 17,000 workers across the nation.

    However, one investigation uncovered that although the company’s systems flagged some workers as minors, the company chose to ignore these flags. Adults in the slaughterhouse tried to derail the Wages and Hours Division’s investigations into the company’s employment and practices. Many of the adults within the company, who tried to derail the investigations, were the very same individuals responsible for recruiting, hiring, and supervising these children.

    PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety

    It is widely reported that most adults who work in slaughterhouses have some degree of PTSD. The atrocities they witness daily take their toll on their emotional and mental health. Workers often act out towards each other, and many take the violence home.

    “Job dissatisfaction in workers under 30 years of age has been widely reported because workers have experienced workplace violence by co-workers or have worked in a violent environment.”

    Researchers also observed that employees who were directly involved in the death of these animals had “significantly higher levels of job stress, stress-related somatic complaints, and lower levels of job satisfaction than did employees who were not involved, which suggests that animal slaughter might be an important cause of work-related stress.”

    If these are the repercussions that full-grown adults experience while working in this horrific environment, what kind of trauma awaits a child forced to work there?

    What Happens in A Slaughterhouse?

    Every day, thousands of animals meet a gruesome end in slaughterhouses nationwide. These doomed beings have already suffered a horrible life of confinement and mistreatment before they are sent to slaughter. When they are deemed fat enough to slaughter, they are crammed into trucks with no food or water and transported for hours, or even days, to the slaughterhouse where they will meet their demise. Their last moments are filled with pain and terror.

    Upon arrival at the slaughterhouse, animals are unloaded into a holding pen. There they wait. They watch as their companions are taken into the building one by one, never to return. Imagine standing in a cage as, one by one, members of your family are taken away. Can you feel their fear, hear their cries, and imagine the dread you would feel knowing you were next?

    The Horrific Reality of Slaughterhouses

    The inside of a slaughterhouse is a factory. The process varies little by species, but the result is the same. Live animals go in, and their cut-up flesh exits the other side.

    Animals go through a series of stations where they are systematically killed and processed. As they enter the slaughterhouse, animals are sent single file through a chute that limits their movement. Here, they are stunned with one of three methods depending on their species. Cows, calves, and sheep are usually stunned with a pneumatic device that drives a bolt into their skull between their eyes. Pigs are often stunned either by an electrical current sent through their brain or by suffocation with carbon dioxide gas. The end result is a stunned animal that is easy to send through the rest of the slaughterhouse process.

    After being stunned, animals are suspended by a hind leg to a conveyor that will carry them through the remaining steps in this already horrifying process. The animal is bled out, then their hide is removed, except for pigs whose skin is left on. They are then disemboweled, decapitated, and chopped into pieces. The entire process is hazardous, unsanitary, and cruel.

    It is hard to imagine how much torture and carnage these unfortunate children see. What kind of “mess” do the slaughterhouse workers leave behind daily? We would never allow our children to clean up the scene of a murder, yet that is quite possibly what these 100-plus children do each day. Even if they do not witness the actual process, cleaning up the carnage left behind slaughters their innocence and likely inflicts emotional damage that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Solidarity Activism: LGBTQ+ & Animal Rights

    Solidarity Activism: LGBTQ+ & Animal Rights

    Since the beginning of recorded history, and likely before, groups of individuals have been forced to fight for fairness and equality. From the enslaved citizens of Spartacus in Rome in 73 BCE fighting for their freedom to the Peasants’ Revolt in England in 1381 rising against serfdom and heavy taxation, to the more recent social justice movements for Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, LGBTQ+ rights, human history is filled with examples of people coming together to fight against discrimination, marginalization, and oppression. And humans are not the only sentient beings to suffer oppression; activists in the Animal Rights movement have also advocated for animals for over a century.

    The battle for a more inclusive, compassionate world is not the responsibility of a single person, group, or activist movement. When movements with shared values and goals, such as empathy, compassion, and dismantling oppressive systems, join forces, they inspire each other and amplify their collective impact. In this article, we explore the shared values and goals that unite the LGBTQ+ and Animal Rights movements, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and mutual support in pursuing a kinder world for all.

    Common Goals in the LGBTQ+ and Animal Rights Movements

    The Animal Rights Movement and the Gay Rights Movement share some common threads, despite their differences. Both LGBTQ+ rights and animal rights groups strive to challenge oppressive systems, promote empathy and understanding, and fight for justice and equality. Activists from both groups work towards creating an inclusive and safe world, sharing a common goal of fighting discriminatory practices. They consistently emphasize empathy, compassion, understanding, and respect while working to dismantle oppressive systems that promote marginalization and discrimination.

     

    The rampant injustices experienced by minority groups are not new or uncommon. Historically, minorities are considered “less than“ by others who deem themselves superior. At the same time, civil rights laws and similar are intended to protect and offer equality. Still, they do not always provide the protection a person needs, and even fewer laws are on the books to protect animals.

    Though many laws have come and gone regarding the treatment of animals, much of the legal system still considers them as “property” and only valuable as a profit for their “owners.” Humanity rarely considers their wants or needs, and their sentience is seldom acknowledged. Through dissociation, many people convince themselves that animals do not have feelings or desires or that they do not experience pain like humans do. The idea that animals are no more than dumb machines could not be further from the truth. Animals think, feel, and have a strong desire to live.

    Change does not happen without a fight, so those whose rights are at stake must speak up for themselves. Those who cannot speak for themselves deserve to have someone speak on their behalf. Animals are unable to advocate for themselves, which is where caring, compassionate humans come into the picture, many of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

    Pride Events Celebrate Unity

    Members of the LGBTQ+ community are no strangers to oppression, violence, or discrimination. They know how it feels to be ostracized, bullied, tortured, or even murdered for just existing. Most prefer that no other beings, human or non-human, experience these horrors. Perhaps this knowledge is why we see so many LGBTQ+ individuals following a compassionate, vegan lifestyle while fighting for animal rights. Both animals and humans are living, sentient beings who desire kindness, peace, and compassion.

    Throughout the year, Pride events around the globe bring together diverse groups of people to celebrate the message of love, acceptance, belonging, and unity. These annual events provide an opportunity to celebrate the challenges that LGBTQ+ individuals and communities have overcome throughout the years while highlighting the importance of staying vigilant in the fight for equal rights for the years to come.

    DC Pride: Peace, Love, Revolution

    This year’s DC Pride event, with its “Peace, Love, Revolution” theme, offers the perfect opportunity for activists to celebrate the commonalities between two seemingly distinct movements: animal rights and gay rights. Throughout history, the LGBTQ+ community has fought for their right to be treated as equals. Ultimately, all creatures, great and small, human or non-human, desire to live without fear, pain, or judgment. Every living being deserves to be treated with kindness and compassion, human and animal alike.

    FARM Animal Rights Movement is an activist group that has been advocating for animals since 1976 and is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community through a presence at DC Pride. The organization has fought tirelessly to bring the plight of farmed animals to light and end the use of animals as food. Watch for FARM’s booth at Pride, DC, and join FARM activists marching in this year’s parade.

    Pride DC also features events like a block party, a pride brunch, a concert, and a pride-filled parade. This year’s festival promotes peace, love, and revolution, with numerous learning opportunities to reach those goals. The best part, however, is surrounding yourself with friends, families, and allies while meeting new people with similar experiences and aspirations. Stop by the FARM booth at DC Pride for vegan-friendly goodies and learn how to join the fight for farm animal rights and a more compassionate world.

     

     

  • Forgotten Mothers: Dairy’s Handmaid’s Tale

    Forgotten Mothers: Dairy’s Handmaid’s Tale

    The Handmaid’s Tale: A Disturbing Yet Familiar Vision of Motherhood

    As we approach Mother’s Day, it’s worth reflecting not only on the different experiences of motherhood in human society but also in the animal kingdom. Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, paints a chilling picture of a society in which a woman’s value is measured solely by her reproductive abilities. Each month, fertile women must submit to the men who control them with the goal of becoming pregnant. After nine long months, the family that “owns” her immediately takes the resulting child from the birth mother to raise. Then the process begins again and repeats until the woman is no longer fertile and can’t bear children. She is then relegated to a much less important position, and a new handmaid takes her place.

    Dairy Farming: The Milkmaid’s Tale

    The Handmaid’s Tale scenario is not so different from the reality dairy cows face daily. Farmers forcibly impregnate cows repeatedly until they can no longer bear calves. Humans rip away the calves each time they are born to take the milk their mothers produce for them. The fate of the calf often depends on their gender. Female calves will follow the same horrific fate as their mothers while farmers usually slaughter male calves in their first week of life. Those that survive longer are kept in crates so tiny they cannot move. Farmers use the small housing containers to keep the calves’ muscles tender before slaughtering them for veal. In either case, the mother mourns the loss of her babies repeatedly until she can no longer give birth anymore. Then she is sold or sent to slaughter because she no longer benefits the dairy farmers.

    The Plight of Dairy Cows: Unseen Mothers in Agony

    No matter how much people try to convince themselves otherwise cows do mourn. Cows have deep maternal instincts and exhibit signs of mourning when their calves are taken away. They frantically call and search for their lost calf, often bellowing and crying for days after the separation. Some cows have even been observed shedding tears. They readily defend their young, placing themselves between the farmer and their calves. Some go as far as hiding their calves to keep them safe.

    Image from https://edgarsmission.org.au

    Clarabelle’s Tale: A Mother’s Love Knows No Bounds

    Clarabelle, a former dairy cow, exemplifies this protective motherly instinct. Rescued just hours before slaughter, Edgar’s Mission volunteers discovered she was pregnant shortly after arriving at the sanctuary. When her due date neared, Clarabelle began to act strangely. She seemed wary of the volunteers and kept a distance from them. They soon realized that Clarabelle had secretly given birth and hidden her calf in a patch of tall grass. She knew from a lifetime of experience that if the humans found him, they would take her calf from her, so she did everything in her power to protect him. She did not know that this time would be different and that her calf would be allowed to stay with her at the Australian sanctuary and nobody will ever take him away. Clarabelle’s story is a poignant reminder this Mother’s Day of the universal bond between a mother and her child, transcending the boundaries of species.

    Hidden Calves: Desperate Attempts to Protect Their Young

    Clarabelle’s story is not unique. Other cows have hidden their baby in an attempt to protect them. Another story recounts one mother on a dairy farm who birthed twins. She left one in the open for the farmer to find and hid the second one. Hiding the calf worked temporarily until the farmer noticed her low milk output. After he discovered her calf, she lost the second baby as well.

    Shattering the Myth: The True Cost of Dairy Products

    Many people mistakenly hold the belief that dairy products cause no harm to dairy cows and their offspring. This idealism is far from the truth. The dairy industry inflicts daily suffering on cows. Farmers repeatedly impregnate dairy cows by artificially inseminating them and steal their babies again and again. Mothers mourn and search for their lost calves, never entirely understanding the disappearance of their babies. Workers connect them to machines daily to take the milk intended for their calves.

    Calves also suffer in the dairy industry as they either face slaughter or become dairy cows themselves, repeating the cycle of suffering. When a farm deems a cow no longer useful, they dispose of them. In essence, the dairy industry uses dairy cows and then discards them, much like the human handmaids in Atwood’s book.

    Breaking the Cycle: Choosing Compassionate Alternatives

    What can we do to alleviate the suffering of dairy cows, their calves? The answer is simple. Ditch Dairy. Stop paying for their suffering by refusing to purchase animal-derived milk and dairy products. Some popular options to try are soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk just to name a few. With all the different types of plant-based milk available there is no reason that humans should be consuming mammary secretions from other animals.

    Other dairy alternatives like cheese, butter, sour cream, and cream cheese are available in most stores. Some current offerings are better than others, but most are delicious. With some research, and determination avoiding dairy products becomes relatively easy.

    Mother’s Day Call to Action: Standing Up for All Mothers

    This Mother’s Day, remember the mothers who have had their babies stolen so carelessly, just so humans can enjoy their milk, cheese, or cream. Acknowledge that sentient beings endure torture every day until they are no longer deemed useful or profitable just for dairy products. Choose to stop funding their suffering. The volunteers at Edgar’s Sanctuary put it this way: “If you love dairy products and don’t believe you can ever find an alternative, remember that mother cows love their babies many times more.”

     

     

  • Blazing Tragedies: Sad Truths of Barn Fires

    Blazing Tragedies: Sad Truths of Barn Fires

    Imagine clouds of smoke burning your lungs as you’re locked in a cage, trapped in a building on fire, unable to escape no matter how hard you fight or scream. Now imagine that not only is keeping you trapped in there perfectly legal, but if you die, the building owner will receive a lot of insurance money for whatever they value your life’s worth. This scenario is a reality for hundreds of thousands of farmed animals yearly who die horrific deaths in barn fires. Some die from smoke inhalation. Others are burned alive. Those that do survive are usually so severely injured that they must be euthanized. And no matter how many die, this isn’t even considered animal cruelty.

    Despite the devastating statistics there are no laws against keeping dangerous conditions, so many farmers still refuse to take simple precautions to prevent barn fires and animal deaths. Since farmed animals are considered commodities by the legal system, many farmers see the loss of their lives as just another insurable expense. It is more cost effective to risk letting animals burn alive than spend money on updates that would prevent the tragedies.

     

    We Animals Media

    The Horrific Numbers Behind Barn Fires

    Approximately 18,000 cows died in an explosion at a dairy farm in Texas recently, adding to the nearly three million who perished in fires between 2018 and 2021. These numbers are not surprising since the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has documented almost 6.5 million animal deaths in fires since 2013. The majority of these, 6 million, were chickens. The ten largest fires between 2018 and 2021 account for about 75% of all casualties and all involved chickens. In addition, the reported estimates are likely much lower than the actual number because municipalities are not required to report animal losses or barn fires. This most recent barn fire is considered the deadliest fire involving cows on record.

     

    We Animals Media

    Barn Fire Deaths Are Preventable

    There is a distinct possibility that farmers could have prevented these fires and their subsequent deaths if they had taken proper precautions and preparations. “Although effective fire suppression methods are available, the industry continues to allow millions of helpless farmed animals to burn to death without changing course.” Hundreds of thousands of animals will continue to burn alive until industrial farms take the problem seriously and implement safety measures.

    In January of 2020, around 10,000 chickens burned alive in a fire on a farm owned by Delaware-based Mountaire Farms, near Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Less than 24 hours later another barn fire killed 24,000 chickens who were trapped inside. “The county’s deputy fire marshal, Joe Mullens, told one media outlet that the structure, which was built in 1978, was exempt from fire codes; he merely encouraged farmers to practice “good housekeeping.

     

    What Causes Barn Fires?

    The cause of many barn fires often remains unknown. Still, electrical malfunctions and defective or poorly placed heating devices are at the top of the list of possibilities—nearly two-thirds of the cases in which a cause was determined involved electrical malfunctions or electrical heating devices. However, farmers can prevent most barn fires with proper inspection, maintenance, and detection systems. “Disaster is all but assured in conventional, industrial farming operations, which cram animals by the thousands into barns with no chance of escape. While some farmed animals die almost immediately as fires rage through barns, others have to be euthanized later due to severe burns and smoke inhalation.”

     

    Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Media

    The United States has no federal laws protecting animals from barn fires. Barn fires are monitored at the local, state, and national levels, but none of these are required to report farm animal casualties. Since there are no requirements for reporting, there is a lot of incomplete data on how many animals have suffered and died in barn fires. A few states have adopted the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities Code. The National Fire Protection Association establishes safety requirements for animal housing and barns. The code does nothing, however, for animals in states that have not adopted it.

    Animal Welfare Institute

    From 2018-2021, Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) compiled and analyzed data from all reported barn fires. Fires have occurred throughout the country in at least 46 states, but most happened in northeastern and midwestern states during the colder months. This would suggest that cold weather affected many of these fires. “About 59 percent of fatal barn fires occurred from October to March, and more than twice as many barn fires occurred in winter (January through March) than in summer (July through September). Throughout the 2018-2021  study, approximately 748,000 animals died in barn fires yearly.

    Graphic courtesy of AWI
    We Animals Media

    Barn Fires by The Numbers

    Below is a breakdown of fires per year and farm animal deaths per year, followed by an analysis of all deaths by species. Chickens and other birds are the animals most often affected by barn fires. The second most affected animal is pigs. The reason these animals are the ones who are affected by most fires is due to the housing situations in which chickens or pigs are held. Cage-free chickens appear to be at the most risk. Dust levels up to nine times the amount found in caged chicken housing were documented by scientific research, so it would appear this is a contributing factor in the number and severity of barn fires.

     

    Proper precautions, inspections, maintenance, and training could prevent many of these fires and, in the process, prevent many horrible, painful deaths. It is time to put more regulations and standards into effect and hold farms accountable. Burning to death is a terrible way to die. No animal or human deserves to die in such an awful manner. Fire safety and prevention should be a top priority on all farms nationwide.

  • Someone Project: Animal Sentience & Emotions

    Someone Project: Animal Sentience & Emotions

    The Someone Project: A Fascinating World of Animal Intelligence and Emotions

    Societies often consider farmed animals as objects: unintelligent, non-feeling, and unworthy of compassion. This thought process makes seeing these beings as simply a source of food or other commodities more psychologically palatable. However, these living, breathing individuals are sentient and experience feelings and sensations.

    Farmed animals are aware of and experience a wide range of feelings, from joy and happiness to fear and pain. They have a much greater cognitive ability than many people want to acknowledge since doing so might force humanity to reconsider our treatment of them. Acknowledging the sentience of farmed animals opposes the cognitive dissonance that has enabled humans to justify using and abusing animals as food, clothing, or other commodities.

    So how do we know just how intelligent and aware farmed animals are? In cooperation with the Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy, Farm Sanctuary has founded The Someone Project. “The Someone Project is a research-based initiative documenting farmed animal sentience through science.” This project proves that farmed animals are someone rather than something. Please continue reading to see what science says about farmed animals and their wide range of emotional and intellectual abilities.

    Group of intelligent pigs in a natural setting

    Unveiling the Intelligence and Sentience of Pigs

    Pigs have lived closely with humans for 9,000 years and are well-known for their high intelligence and quirky personalities. Studies have proven that pigs are just as intelligent as dogs or young human children. They are self-aware, and each has their unique likes and dislikes. Pigs enjoy participating in play and exhibit emotions similar to humans, canines, and felines.

    Proficiency in Object Discrimination by Pigs

    Pigs are experts at distinguishing different objects in various situations. Their capacity for memory retention is impressive, and they can even prioritize things they like or that offer food rewards. Studies have demonstrated that pigs can easily recognize shapes, colors, sizes, and other attributes.

    Pigs’ Remarkable Ability to Learn Symbolic Language

    Pigs are like dolphins, chimpanzees, or other great apes in their ability to understand symbolic language. They comprehend verbal signals and gestures that represent objects or actions. It is common for pigs to learn complex combinations of symbols for things and activities, such as “fetch the frisbee,” and select the proper object from numerous choices.

    Grasping the Concept of Time with Pigs

    When given a choice between two crates requiring various amounts of confinement time, a pig will always choose the one with less time, proving that pigs exhibit a remarkable ability to understand time intervals and past events, adding another layer to their already impressive cognitive repertoire.

    Pigs have a sense of the future, as well. When given a choice between two rooms, one with a positive outcome (a bowl of popcorn) and one with a negative outcome (crossing a ramp over a simulation of a cliff), pigs were able to recognize the auditory cues associated with each result and decide based on their anticipation of what was to come. This pattern of behavior suggests that they anticipated the adverse event.

    Uncovering Pigs’ Exceptional Spatial Learning and Memory Skills

    Science has proven that pigs have the ability to learn, remember, and apply information regarding their environment’s layout and objects’ location. Their talent to solve mazes and tests that require locating specific objects is impressive. They will navigate complex environments and retain spatial information, broadening our appreciation for their cognitive prowess and challenging conventional views of farmed animals. Even after a substantial amount of time, pigs remember areas that offer better food rewards and repeatedly return to them. This example of memory retention suggests that pigs have a sense of quantity and quality.

    Pigs’ Enthusiasm for Exploration

    “Studies reveal that pigs possess a sophisticated understanding of their physical surroundings, navigate efficiently, remember and anticipate experiences, and enjoy their world through play.”

    Pigs are intelligent beings who engage with their environment, demonstrating their curiosity and zest for life as they actively seek out new experiences and interactions, which indicates cognitive complexity. They are inventive in their play with objects, humans, or other pigs, similar to dogs and other intelligent mammals.

    Unraveling the Complex Social Dynamics of Pigs

    The world of pigs are also socially complex and show affinities for their favorite pig companions or humans while showing disdain for others they dislike. They continually exhibit the ability to tell individuals apart and prefer familiar individuals over strangers. These intelligent beings form strong bonds, cooperate, and display empathy, shedding light on their emotional depth.

    A Fascinating Glimpse into Pig’s Cognitive World

    “Pigs can take the perspective of other pigs, and they even use this information to manipulate each other.”

    Perspective-taking is the complex mental ability to recognize that another individual has thoughts, motivations, intentions, and emotions that may differ from yours. Pigs can recognize and understand their fellow pigs’ thoughts, motivations, intentions, and feelings, even using this information to manipulate each other. This remarkable ability highlights their empathic and social nature.

    “I” Am Pig! The Intriguing World of Pig Self-Awareness and Agency

    Many pigs exhibit the ability to recognize themselves in mirrors. Discerning a reflection is known as mirror self-recognition or MSR. Pigs recognize themselves in mirrors, displaying self-awareness that challenges what most people believe about farmed animals’ cognitive abilities. They also show self-agency, or the ability to understand that their actions can have an effect and cause change.

    In one game, pigs are allowed to investigate their own body using a mirror. Later in another location, a mark is placed on their body in an area they can only see in the mirror. When the pig is in front of a mirror later on, they often use the mirror to learn about the new mark instead of considering the reflected image as another pig. They can also locate food only visible in the mirror’s reflection.

    Exploring the Emotional Richness and Sensitivity of Pigs

    “Emotions may be challenging to study and interpret, but the emotional experiences of pigs are evident in their play, fear and stress responses, and their sensitivity to the emotions of their companions.”

    Studies reveal pigs exhibit emotional contagion, the ability to feel and respond to the emotional states of others around them, often learning from and following the cues of their companions. They often learn emotional behaviors from the other pigs around them by following their signals. Emotions can be challenging to study and interpret, but the emotional experiences of pigs are evident in their play, fear and stress responses, and their empathic connections with fellow pigs.

    Discovering the Unique Pig Traits and Individual Personalities

    “Through respectful non-invasive study, we may come to realize that pigs are not very different from the dogs and cats we share our homes with. They may even be not very different from ourselves.”

    Pigs exhibit a wide range of behaviors, temperaments, coping styles, and responses. Researchers have studied the behaviors, temperament, coping techniques, and responses of various pigs and found them vastly different in each individual.

    Group of sheep grazing in a field

    Shedding Light on the Rich Emotional World of Sheep

    Historically, sheep are portrayed as simple-minded followers with no thoughts or feelings. In reality, they are way more complex than these stereotypes suggest. As we examine the complex emotional lives of sheep, who are often misrepresented and misunderstood, it is easy to see how intelligent and complex they are.

    Evolution and Domestication: Long-Standing Relationships between Sheep and Humans

    Sheep became domesticated at least 10,000 years ago, making them one of the earliest species to be kept by humans. They can live up to 20 years, though they rarely are allowed to live out even half of their lifespan. Mothers develop close bonds with their lambs and communicate with them through bleats. They also show great distress when separated from one another, much like humans.

    Unveiling Sheep’s Impressive Cognitive Abilities and Problem-Solving Skills

    Sheep are especially good at mazes, spatial navigation, problem-solving, and decision-making. When feeling ill, sheep can select appropriate plants to eat to help them feel better. Sheep also exhibit executive function and cognitive tasks like their exceptional facial recognition abilities, which may surpass those of dogs, pigs, and even primates,

    Delving into the Complex Emotional Lives and Expressions of Sheep

    Regardless of widespread stereotypes, sheep experience complex emotions and communicate these feelings to other sheep, form expectancies, and become upset when their expectations aren’t met. Their bonds with others have also proven that they experience cognitive bias, a change in thinking based on emotional experiences. Sheep show signs of intense happiness through playing and frolicking. Mothers and lambs form deep connections immediately and become devastated when they are separated too early.

    Uncovering Individuality and Diverse Character Traits in Sheep

    Sheep show various personality differences compared to humans, animals, and other sheep. They can be shy or outgoing, exhibit leadership qualities or follow others, and even show preferences for particular companions over others. Their distinct personalities challenge the simplistic stereotypes often associated with sheep and deepen understanding of their remarkable complexity.

    Debunking Stereotypes and Revealing Sheep’s Intricate Relationships

    “Contrary to popular views and representations of sheep as unintelligent and lacking in individuality or autonomy, they have several complex capacities.”

    Sheep exhibit complexity in their relationships and interactions with each other. They form friendships, recognize and respond to individual differences, and establish various group roles based on personality traits and gender. Bolder sheep tend to be the accepted leaders. Males and females also exhibit different personality traits and fill multiple positions within the group. Because sheep are very social individuals, they become upset when separated or isolated from each other.

    Two cows cuddling in a field

    The Intricate Social Bonds and Cognitive Skills of Cows

    Cows are intelligent individuals with unique personalities and complex thought processes. They have the same emotional capacity as animals such as dogs.

    Exploring Cow’s Remarkable Sensory Abilities

    Cows have a wide range of sensory capacities passed down from their ancestors, revealing their impressive abilities in taste, smell, vision, and touch. Their tongues contain around 20,000 taste buds. They love a combination of sweet and salty foods and use their acute sense of smell in social situations and the ability to detect specific nutrients like sodium. In addition, they can use their sense of smell in social situations, but they rely primarily on vision to navigate their environment. Cows have around 330 degrees of sight, a field of vision twice the range of humans. Their heightened awareness makes them able to detect stress hormones in their companion’s urine and they have an acute sense of touch, making life on factory farms even more miserable and traumatizing.

    Learning and Memory in Cows: Debunking Stereotypes

    Contrary to stereotypical beliefs, cows learn rapidly, remember what they’ve learned, and recognize each other as individuals.

    Cows have a great sense of object discrimination, can differentiate between various objects, and even recognize photos of things or individuals based on shapes, sizes, colors, and brightness. Studies have also shown that cows recognize individual humans, other cows, and other species.

    Another impressive characteristic of cows is their sense of spatial intelligence. They learn about their environments and use that information to navigate around them. Like pigs and sheep, cows are also very good at solving mazes, further showcasing their cognitive ability.

    Exploring Cow’s Emotional Depth and Interconnectedness

    Cows experience many basic and complex emotions and often tune in to each other’s feelings. Since they are highly social beings, they rely heavily on friends and family in their herd for comfort and support. When isolated, they experience high-stress levels since they should live in large social groups.

    When cows master a new task, they show positive emotions, which demonstrates a level of self-awareness. Studies have shown cows also display a high cognitive bias similar to sheep. They display empathic tendencies by recognizing and adopting the feelings and behaviors of their companions, such as stress.

    Embracing Natural Curiosity and the Emotional Importance of Play for Cows

    “Findings suggest that better welfare conditions — including access to fellow cows, more time spent nursing as a calf, and fewer experiences of pain — increase a cow’s play behavior and, by extension, help enable the range of pleasures cows can experience.”

    Cows have a natural curiosity for the world around them. Part of their emotional well-being comes from their love of play. Play is a crucial learning tool for cows, enabling them to interact successfully with others and express emotions. Sadly, cows raised in factory farms are robbed of their instinct to explore and play together.

    Unveiling The Rich Social Lives and Interactions of Cows

    Cows are highly social beings who establish and maintain relationships, forming a central community, and often exhibit preferences for specific individuals. It is common for them to show preferences for one individual in their herd over another. Additionally, mothers and calves experience a great bond when they are allowed to be together. Separation has a devastating emotional impact on mother cows and calves when separated. Some mother cows have been known to cry out for weeks or even months when mourning the loss of a calf and will return again and again to the last place they saw them.

    Personality in Cows: Recognizing Their Individuality and Unique Character Traits

    “We hope that insight into the feeling, thinking lives of cows inspires a future in which cows are not used as commodities but, rather, celebrated for who they are.”

    When it comes to personality, cows are a lot like humans. They each have a unique disposition with traits that vary from individual to individual. Every cow or bull reacts differently in similar situations, showcasing their unique likes, dislikes, and emotions. We dream of a future where cows are not treated as commodities but celebrated for who they indeed are as sentient beings with thoughts, feelings, and the right to live in peace.

    Flock of chickens in a field

    Unraveling the Surprising Intelligence and Emotional Lives of Chickens

    Chickens have complex intellects and unique individual personalities. While current research on chicken intelligence may not be comprehensive, we continue to uncover surprising aspects of their cognitive and emotional lives that challenge common misconceptions about these fascinating birds.

    Domestication of Chickens: Understanding Social Lives and Hierarchies

    When allowed to thrive in a natural setting, chickens live in social groups with one dominant male and one dominant female to lead the flock. Their home range often consists of various roosting sites, where they rest and bond with their companions. Understanding chickens’ social hierarchies and group dynamics gives us valuable insights into their complex and fascinating lives.

    Exploring The Remarkable Sensitivity and Perception of Chickens

    There are various ways that chickens perceive and interact with their environment through their sensory capacities. Chickens are also sensitive to touch, allowing them to detect temperature, pressure, and pain. Their heightened senses of vision, smell, and taste enable them to see a broader range of colors and hear more sounds than humans. In addition, some have a magnetic sense, which allows them to feel the Earth’s magnetic pull and use it to orient themselves.

    A chicken’s beak is highly specialized and contains numerous nerve endings, allowing them to distinguish between objects they touch. This tactile perception is crucial for their interactions with the environment, foraging, and social behavior. In factory farms, beaks are often chopped off without anesthesia to prevent them from self-harm or harming each other when kept in stressful, cramped living areas.

    Revealing Deductive Reasoning Abilities in Chickens

    Chickens exhibit a remarkable cognitive ability to apply transitive inference, a type of deductive reasoning. This capability helps them to understand the relationship of objects they have not previously compared and allows them to learn by observing other chickens. Their reasoning abilities further demonstrate the complex intelligence of these beings, challenging long-held misconceptions about their cognitive capacities.

    Uncovering Chickens Innate Mathematical Skills

    Chickens can differentiate between smaller and larger amounts and place varying quantities in a series, even as young chicks. They have also displayed an ability to perform basic arithmetic. A study conducted by researchers from the Centre for Mind/Brain Sciences at the University of Trento and the Department of General Psychology at the University of Padova in Italy demonstrated that chicks could add and subtract using numbers smaller than five.

    Chickens’ Perception of Time Intervals

    Various scientific studies suggest that chickens have a concept of time and can estimate time intervals and anticipate future events using past experiences. Key aspects of their time perception abilities include predicting mealtimes, which showcases an ability to understand time intervals. They are also talented at differentiating between various sounds and associating them with specific outcomes, suggesting a sophisticated cognitive ability to process and remember temporal patterns.

    Episodic Memory in Chickens

    Episodic memory is the ability to recall a specific event from the past. Perceiving time intervals and anticipating the future are two capacities correlated with episodic memory. Some examples of chickens’ episodic memory include recalling “where” and “what” information. Studies show that chicks and adult chickens can remember specific details about food, like what type it is and where it is served. Chickens have also proven that they can recognize partially visible of everyday objects, even when they aren’t completely visible, suggesting memory beyond simple recognition.

    Chickens’ Self-Control: Demonstrating Patience and Decision-Making

    By resisting immediate gratification in favor of more desirable rewards, chickens show a level of patience and decision-making ability that is remarkable and often underestimated. Chickens are able to forgo an immediate reward when they know that a better one will become available later, demonstrating their ability to evaluate options and make decisions based on potential future outcomes. In self-control tests, they have outperformed human participants between three and five years old.

    Deeper Understanding of the “I” for Chickens

    Self-awareness is a continuum, or the ability to distinguish oneself as independent of others or the ability to see the “I” in their existence. Chickens possess self-awareness that allows them to differentiate themselves and their flock from other chickens and navigate complex social environments. Their ability to assess their place in the social order of their community is another trait that demonstrates self-awareness.

    Language of Chickens: Complex Vocalizations and Visual Displays

    Chickens communicate and possess a sophisticated communication system, which includes at least twenty-four vocalizations and numerous visual displays. Attaching specific meanings to different sounds and reacting appropriately suggests a level of intentionality, meaning they deliberately choose the information they want to convey. Their ability to associate particular meanings with certain sounds indicates they have mental depictions of these signals.

    The complex cognitive capacities found in chickens allow them to navigate complex relationships with each other. When living in a flock, they easily differentiate between individuals, can identify their own flock members, and determine others’ places in the pecking order.

    Chickens learn from each other by observing and mimicking behaviors, contributing to their adaptability and social cohesion. In addition, chickens can anticipate another chicken’s actions and even manipulate other chickens to achieve their goals, showcasing their understanding of cause-and-effect relationships in social settings.

    The Emotional World of Chickens

    “Considered a simple form of empathy, emotional contagion occurs when one individual experiences an emotion by witnessing another individual experience the same emotion.”

    The emotional lives of chickens are more complex and intricate than commonly believed. They experience many emotions and empathize with flock members, especially between a mother hen and her chicks. As a simple form of empathy, emotional contagion allows chickens to feel the emotions experienced by other individuals around them, strengthening social bonds and creating flock cohesion. They share both positive and negative emotions and can respond effectively to different situations. Emotions are essential in the social hierarchy of chickens, affecting their response and behavior towards different types of situations within their flock.

    The Unique Personalities of Chickens

    “A fuller understanding of these fascinating creatures requires much more respectful, non-invasive study in naturalistic settings that allow chickens to express themselves and, in so doing, help us learn more about who they are.”

    Each chicken exhibits a unique pattern of thinking, behaviors, and emotions. Recognizing these unique personalities requires observing chickens in naturalistic settings that allow them to express themselves freely. Caretakers who keep chickens in a natural environment understand that every chicken displays an individual personality that includes but is not limited to, temperament, preferences, and behaviors.

    Dog and cows in a field

    The Someone Project: Shedding Light on the Inner Lives of Farmed Animals

    The Someone Project is a groundbreaking initiative that challenges us, through science, to realize that farmed animals are intelligent, sentient beings with an impressive capacity for experiencing complex feelings and sensations. They all have unique personalities and incredible capabilities for learning and applying knowledge.

    Researchers with The Someone Project have published numerous papers detailing farmed animals’ cognitive and emotional abilities. They continue to add to their research that these beings are not “its” and deserve kindness and respect. By recognizing farmed animals as “someones” rather than “somethings,” we can work towards a future where humanity dictates that all intelligent, sentient beings are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

     

     

     

  • 7 Fun Facts About Lambs To Melt Your Heart

    7 Fun Facts About Lambs To Melt Your Heart

    Lambs are some of the most adorable, captivating beings on earth. It’s hard to resist feeling joy when looking at their sweet, fluffy faces, but lambs are so much more than their cuteness. Lambs are intelligent, social, and naturally curious. Like humans and other beings like dogs or cats, each lamb has a unique personality. There are so many great things about lambs but here are seven fun facts that will melt your heart.

    7 Fun Facts About Lambs To Melt Your Heart

    1. Lambs are highly intelligent beings with similar intelligence levels as dogs and cows. They respond to situations similarly to humans and exhibit natural problem-solving skills and great memories.

    2. Lambs are very vocal animals. They communicate a wide array of emotions through their vocalizations and sounds and show emotions with facial expressions.

    3. Lambs love to explore and play. They have a natural curiosity and develop vital cognitive and physical skills through exploring their environment.

    4. Lambs are highly social animals that enjoy spending time with other sheep and humans. Mothers and babies have a strong bond. Mother sheep can even recognize their lamb’s specific call. Lambs have been known to identify individual sheep throughout their lifetime. They can recognize different emotions on the faces of other sheep. Lambs can also differentiate human faces.

    5. They are naturally gentle creatures and do not have any aggressive tendencies. Lambs respond well to humans. They tend to get along with children and other beings in the household. All these traits, combined with their funny and unique personalities, make them great companions.

    6. They have excellent memories and can recognize familiar faces even after a long time has passed. Sheep have shown the ability to recall no less than 50 individuals at any given time.

    7. Lambs thrive due to their heightened senses. They have a strong sense of smell that allows them to recognize other flock members. Lambs also have excellent eyesight and can see almost 360 degrees. Their incredible sight helps them to spot potential predators and other dangers.

    The facts are conclusive; lambs are remarkable beings. From their strong social skills to their inquisitive personalities and high-level communication skills, lambs continue to be spectacular in so many ways.

    An Unfortunate Reality for Lambs

    With so many endearing qualities, it’s easy to forget that millions of lambs are slaughtered yearly for human consumption and use. Lambs are often housed in conditions that are cramped and unsanitary. These dirty environments are a breeding ground for distress and disease, which are dangerous for them and humanity. In addition, the lamb industry contributes to various environmental problems like water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and deforestation.

    These kind intelligent beings suffer immensely in factory farms and are taken away from their mothers at a young age. Lambs’ tails are often docked with no anesthesia at just a few weeks old, and many are also subject to castration without anesthesia. After all this suffering, lambs who typically have a life expectancy of fifteen years or more are sent to a slaughterhouse at six to eight months old.

    Although lambs are historically depicted as symbols of innocence in stories or considered by some as a dish to serve for holiday celebration meals, they are intelligent, sentient beings who deserve to live a complete life filled with respect and compassion. If these fun facts about lambs melted your heart please share them with your family and friends to encourage them to choose compassion and leave lambs off of their plates.

     

  • Aldi Continues To Expand Vegan Offerings

    Aldi Continues To Expand Vegan Offerings

    Our original Aldi article was written in good humor as an April Fool’s joke, with no ill intentions. Our aim was to spark conversation and inspire conversations about a more sustainable future. We were inspired by the news that Aldi recently announced a significant expansion of its plant-based range, with plans to offer over 1,000 products by the end of 2024. While our playful article may not be a reality just yet, we’re excited to see major retailers like Aldi embracing the growing demand for plant-based options, and we look forward to a future where such a transformation is possible.

    The Future of Plant-Based at Aldi

    Aldi consistently demonstrates progressive leadership by enhancing and broadening their well-received plant-based food selections. The recent announcement from Aldi regarding the introduction of a variety of vegan products has sparked our imagination, envisioning a future where more grocery stores adopt this approach.

    As Vegconomist reported, “Following Lidl’s lead, ALDI announces plant-based expansion on a significant scale, stating it will offer more than 1,000 products in its plant-based range by the end of next year. The discounter’s latest nutrition report states:’ Our goal is to offer our customers 1,000 plant-based product varieties spread across the year in our standard, seasonal and promotional ranges by the end of 2024. To achieve this goal, we are focusing not only on reducing the small quantities of animal-based ingredients in our products, but also on consistently expanding our vegan range.’”

    Our community appreciates how Aldi stocks an enticing range of scrumptious plant-based and gluten-free items, as well as their unique “Aldi Finds,” which frequently feature hard-to-find vegan products. These diverse and appealing options consistently draw us back for more culinary delights. We wholeheartedly appreciate Aldi’s efforts to cater to various dietary preferences and eagerly anticipate our future shopping experiences at their stores, knowing that their offerings will continue to expand and excite us.

     

     

  • 7 Ways Going Vegan Can Save Our Planet

    7 Ways Going Vegan Can Save Our Planet

    Anyone who has researched healthy diets has come across a variety of research showing how eating a plant-based diet can improve our health and overall longevity, but did you know that it also improves the health of our planet? Living a vegan lifestyle helps take some of the strain off mother earth as she tries to handle the ever-growing population and technological booms that are happening all around the globe. Below we explore seven ways that going vegan can help save our planet and ensure that future generations have a healthy place to call home.

    7 Ways Going Vegan Can Save Our Planet

    1. Plant-Based Diets Reduce Water Consumption

    Plant-based diets are superior for our valuable water supplies in various ways, from needing less water to produce large amounts of food, improving irrigation efficiency, and creating less pollution for water sources. Raising animals as food, especially larger animals, requires vast amounts of water for a drinking source, cleaning, processing, and throughout the environments in which they are raised. Plant-based agriculture is a more compassionate farming method with a much smaller water footprint. New technology has also shown us better ways of conserving water in crop production, such as aquaponic and hydroponic gardening. Animal agriculture also pollutes natural water sources like groundwater, lakes, and rivers through manure, blood, and nutrient runoff, making it a horrible choice for protecting the future of our water supply.

    2. Going Vegan Reduces the Risk of New Zoonotic Diseases & Antibiotic Resistance

    Zoonotic diseases and antibiotic resistance are a genuine concern for human populations all around the globe. If 2020 taught us one thing, it’s how quickly zoonoses can spread and change society as we know it. Some experts warn that Covid-19 is mild compared to some of the potential zoonotic diseases lingering in cramped animal confines around the globe, like factory farms, fur farms, and fish farms. Going vegan reduces the demand for animal products, eventually reducing production and keeping animals from living in these horrific conditions.

    3. Eating Plant-Based Reduces Energy Usage

    One of the biggest hurdles for humanity to overcome is finding sustainable and eco-friendly ways to produce energy. Currently, a large percentage of our energy production comes from old, inefficient methods such as coal or fire, which are responsible for 87% of global greenhouse emissions. A plant-based diet reduces energy usage in several ways, such as food production requirements, transportation emissions, and less intensive food processing.

    4. Vegan Lifestyles Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Air Pollution

    By evolving to a vegan lifestyle, people start significantly reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution associated with how their food is grown, produced, and transported. Animal agriculture pollutes the air in many ways, such as ammonia production, hydrogen sulfide, oxide emissions from manure or fertilizers, and particulate matter. The pollutants cause all types of issues like human respiratory health, smog, and acid rain. Carbon dioxide emissions increase yearly through deforestation brought on by raising animals as food.

    5. Eating Plant-Based Can Save Our Oceans

    Without our oceans, humanity would not survive long. Both the fishing and animal agriculture industries are detrimental to the health of one of Earth’s most valuable and needed resources. Ocean dead zones, overfishing, plastic pollution, bycatch, and coral reef breakdown are killing our oceans and all the inhabitants that live in them. By eating a plant-based diet, we can decrease the ocean dead zones brought on by nutrient pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus manure and fertilizers, protect vital coral reef life, save ocean inhabitants, stop rising ocean temperatures, and reduce the amount of plastic in the water through lost fishing gear and equipment.

    6. Plant-Based Farming Conserves Land and Reduces Deforestation

    Rainforests and trees are carbon dioxide filters that keep our air breathable and healthy. One of the most significant contributions to rainforest destruction is animal agriculture. Vast plots of irreplaceable rainforests are cleared daily to make room for ecological dead zones packed to the brim, with cows, pigs, and other animals being exploited for human consumption and use. Large portions are also used to grow crops to feed factory-farmed animals, such as soybeans. Shifting to a plant-based diet helps maintain biodiversity, soil health, reduced erosion, and habitat protection.

    7. Vegans Save Animal Lives

    If you asked anyone on the street if they support animal abuse, most would vehemently say they would never support such a horrific practice. Yet, the same people will likely say they eat animal products. There is a massive disconnect between how many people feel about animals and how they live their lives. This process has been dubbed “The Meat Paradox” and shows a means of being in direct conflict with a person’s self-perceived morals. One of the best reasons to go vegan is to align that inner voice that tells you that mistreating or killing is wrong with how we live our lives.

    In previous years information from the USDA and the Humane Society of the United States found that the average meat eater in America consumes around 30 land animals per year, with about 25 of those being chickens. When they added fish and other animals humans eat from the sea, that number increased to around 225-300 per year. According to those numbers going vegan could save up to 345 animals per person per year. Those numbers don’t even count the indirect impact of reduced demand for all animal products like dairy, leather, and eggs, leading to fewer animals being raised and killed overall. Choosing a vegan lifestyle is choosing to save hundreds of lives per year.

    Celebrating Vegan Earth Day

    Since 1990, April 22nd of each year has become an annual international celebration holiday Earth Day. “Earth day is a celebration honoring the achievements of the environmental movement and raising awareness of the importance of long-term ecological sustainability.

    While the first organized celebration of Earth Day happened in 1970 as an “environmental teach-in,” this event was only recognized across the United States by about 20 million people. The 1970s Earth Day event was instrumental in passing two important pieces of environmental legislation that decade, the Clean Air Act (1970) and the Endangered Species Act (1973).

    It wasn’t until 1990 that Earth Day became a global event observed by around 200 million people from over 140 countries. Since then, it has grown exponentially and has been used to raise awareness about many environmental concerns like global warming, the need for renewable energy, and the international Paris Climate Agreement.

    Even though it is well known that living a vegan lifestyle is helpful for our planet in many ways, the benefits of eating plant-based are often overlooked or kept out of the spotlight when discussing Earth Day and sustainability goals. With April fast approaching, everyone should be motivated to ditch animal products and explore new food options through vegan recipes and challenges. The best time to start eating a plant-based diet was yesterday, but today is the second-best time to start, so don’t let your today become another yesterday of lost possibility. Celebrate Vegan Earth Day through demonstrations, attending the International Day of Action, and eating a plant-based diet.

     

    Leaving A Healthy Planet for Future Generations

    “Humanity is on thin ice — and that ice is melting fast,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. “Our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.”

    Climate scientists and experts are clear. If humanity doesn’t change how we treat our planet, our world and future will soon suffer irreparable damage. A recent climate report from the UN has offered a clear, stark warning that our world is “on thin ice” and that ice is melting away too quickly.

    “The choices and actions implemented in this decade will have impacts for thousands of years,” the report said, calling climate change “a threat to human well-being and planetary health.”

    Guterres has called for wealthy countries to increase zero emissions goals to the year 2040 or 2050 by halting the use of coal and creating carbon-free electricity generation if we want to avoid the direct aspects of climate change’s harm in the future.

    “How many reports that chill us to the bone do we need to read before we make the changes required?” asked Tina Stege, climate envoy for Marshall Islands, which are vulnerable to rising seas. “These changes will require some sacrifice — but aren’t they worth it when a liveable future on this planet is what is at stake?”

    While there are many practices that humanity needs to alter to save our planet, one way that we can all contribute is to transition to a plant-based diet. As our list above shows, going vegan and eating plant-based is the least we can do to support our beautiful home and the fantastic sentient beings that we share it with. With Earth Day quickly approaching, there is no reason not to try plant-based eating for the future, your health, and the well-being of planet Earth.