Hope for the Animals

In recognition of Black History Month, we have some recommendations of awesome activists and platforms to check out and then an enlightening interview with the Managing Director of Encompass, Michelle Rojas-Soto. Encompass is a nonprofit fostering racial equity in animal advocacy. Their mission is to help make the farmed animal protection movement more effective by fostering racial diversity, equity, and inclusion. Michelle guides us into the worldview of anti-oppression work for humans and nonhuman animals simultaneously. She also explains the importance of evolving language and of using the term “global majority” instead of people of color. Join us in helping to advance 21st century activism that brings systematic oppressions together and recognizes the vital connections between justice issues. Resources:EncompassEncompass WebinarVegans Against All Oppressions

 An Unshakable Call To ActionAt just 25, Erin Wing started investigating facilities that breed and raise chickens, dairy farms, and the aquaculture industry. For two years, she faced isolation and fear of discovery in order to document the reality of animal agribusiness and to show those images to the world. Erin tells the stories of the animals she encountered and also talks about the importance of self-care after witnessing the trauma of animal abuse. She now uses her experience and expertise to guide other investigators in the field today. Join us in bearing witness with this amazing young woman to the true, brutal cruelty of the animal agriculture industry. Erin said, “As investigators, we put ourselves in the cages with the animals, for years in most cases, and no one understands what those animals are going through more than the investigator does. We exist in solidarity with them, we see them every single day, we think of them when we’re awake, and when we are trying to fall asleep. Every single day they are on our minds and even when we leave the field and go back home, we’re still there with them.” Resources:Animal Outlook Investigations

In the tenth and final segment of the Reason for Vegan Series, Hope talks about the environmental impacts of animal agriculture. Hope exposes the detrimental effects of breeding and raising billions of animals and how this significantly contributes to climate disruption, massive energy and fossil fuels consumption, deforestation, water waste, and water pollution. She also explains why switching from beef to chicken flesh is not a better ecological choice. Hope lays out why a vegan diet is by far the most positive action we can take for the planet.

Ready for some good news in the new year? In Episode 17 we bring your more Glimmers of Hope. The Glimmers of Hope segment features uplifting animal stories from around the globe. Good news tends to go under the radar these days, but there are encouraging accounts and positive steps forward for animals that we want to share with you, offering inspiration as we move into a new year. Up next on the podcast is an interview with long-time activist Unny Nambudiripad. Unny talks about his many years of animal activism, cultural vegetarianism in India, and creating equity, diversity, and inclusion in the animal rights movement. Unny’s upcoming workshop, Our Wellness and Liberation Virtual Retreat, brings self-care to the animal activist space by helping cultivate wellness for advocates through physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health. Resources:Our Wellness and Liberation Virtual Retreat, February 27, 2021Encompass

On the latest Hope for the Animals Podcast, we have an interview with long-time author and activist Judy Carman. Judy talks to Hope about her work connecting veganism with spirituality and the inspiring books she has written over the years. Judy is the author of the popular Peace to All Beings: Veggie Soup for the Chicken’s Soul and her latest book is Homo Ahimsa: Who We Really Are and How We Are Going to Save the World. She talks about co-founding the Interfaith Vegan Coalition, the importance of the Golden Rule, and her Animal Peace Prayer Project creating prayer flags for animals. Resources:Judy's Website: http://www.peacetoallbeings.comJudy's Book: Homo Ahimsa Animal Peace Prayer ProjectVegan Spirituality Forum 2021

On this podcast we have an interview with Sarina Farb who was actually born vegan. There is a growing number of young adults today who were born and raised vegan. Not only did these children have the benefit of a healthy start in life, but they were taught compassion in a deep and fundamental way from an early age. Sarina shares her story about growing up vegan in Kansas and her journey to becoming an animal rights and climate activist. Sarina and Hope have an interesting discussion on the importance of critical thinking and the scientific method, effective activism, and being vegan in Midwest farm country. With the holiday season upon us, we would like to encourage listeners of the podcast to support vegan businesses when buying gifts. In this episode, Hope has a quick chat with the creator of Vegan Dreams Gifts, Jacinda Virgin. Vegan Dreams Gifts is a fun new online shop of gift boxes with a variety of vegan products. They are perfect for introducing someone to veganism with a box full of vegan goodies, animal themed gifts, eco items, and other fun things. Some examples of the themed boxes are the coffee lovers, the hot chocolate lovers, the yum box, and more. Be sure to check out Vegan Dreams Gifts and support vegan businesses for all your holiday shopping. Resources:Vegan Dreams Gifts WebsiteVegan Dreams Gifts Store in EstyBorn Vegan YouTube ChannelClimate Diet Summit 2020 

In honor of the millions of turkeys bred and killed for the upcoming holidays, this episode features United Poultry Concerns President Karen Davis sharing her many years of research and knowledge about turkeys. This in-depth discussion includes the fascinating and tragic history of the turkey in the Americas and how far turkey hen mothers will go to protect their young. Karen tells Hope about modern turkey farming and how every newborn turkey in the mechanical hatchery longs for her mother and siblings and will always feel lost without the comfort and security of her family. Karen also talks about some of the turkeys she has met in her many years of rescue work, and how each turkey has expressed his or her own unique personality. Resources:Book: More Than A Meal, The Turkey in History, Myth, Ritual and Reality by Karen DavisUPC Information on TurkeysReason for Vegan Series 4: The Turkey Meat Industry Exposed

In this series of short shows, Hope focuses in on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why are we vegan. In this ninth installment of the Reason for Vegan Series she talks about fish and the fishing industry. Hope explores the different commercial fishing methods and how they affect fish. She explains how fish farming can be even worse than wild caught fish for individual fishes and the environment. She also dives into the environmental impact of fishing and the state of our oceans. Resources:www.fishfeel.orgWhat A Fish Knows by Johnathan Balcombe 

In Episode 13, Hope reviews two new documentaries focused on climate change and the environmental impact of animal agriculture. Countdown to Year Zero and EndGame 2050 are both powerful films with eco-vegan themes, but they resonate in different ways. Hope will break down what she thought of the two films and why she recommends them both.Next on the podcast is a lively interview with Jane Velez-Mitchell of Jane Unchained. You might remember Jane from her network TV show many years ago where she tackled hard-hitting animal rights issues. She continues the fight for animals today with Jane Unchained News, a Facebook Live video series, a vegan cooking show called New Day New Chef, and more.Jane tells the story of her transition from working in mainstream media to being a full-time activist. She also talks about her ingenious project, Plant-Based Neighbor, a social media app that connects vegans with other veg-neighbors in their area. Also on the podcast, Jane tells Hope about the new season of her vegan cooking show New Day New Chef:Support and Feed Edition. The Support and Feed Edition offers hope for vegan restaurants that are struggling in the pandemic. The show features celebrities supporting plant-based restaurants so they can offer meals to hungry kids, doctors and nurses on the frontlines, and others in need. Resources:VegMovies.comJane Unchained NewsNew Day, New ChefPlant-based Neighbor Countdown To Year Zero EndGame 2050

In this series of short shows, Hope will focus on specific aspects of animal agriculture and answer the question of why we are vegan. In this eighth installment of the Reason for Vegan Series she talks about fish; who they are, what their lives are like, and why we should care about them. Hope will uncover the emotional, cognitive, and complex life of fish. Science is discovering so much about our underwater cousins and Hope will dive into that research and help us answer questions about pain, parenting, emotion, communication, memory, and more. Resources:www.fishfeel.orgFaceBook: Let Fish LiveWhat A Fish Knows  by Johnathan Balcombe