MFA’s New T-Shirt Challenge
Posted on 04. Jul, 2011 by Nick Laccetti in Grazing in the Grassroots
If you combine cartoon cows, stylish t-shirts, and a clever campaign to raise awareness about the ethical benefits of a vegan diet, you get Mercy for Animals’ new “Ask Me Why I’m Vegetarian” T-Shirt Challenge.
Cartoon cows especially love vegans.
The concept is simple: rather than merely producing a line of new vegan-themed shirts, MFA is asking everyone who buys one of its new shirts to not only wear it, but to use it as the starting point for an important bit of activism: for every shirt ordered, the organization will send you a packet of pro-vegan brochures to go with it. When passersby accost you about your shirt — “But bacon is so delicious!!!” is sure to pass the lips of at least one carnivore who is trying to be cute — reach into your bag and hand them a leaflet. Suddenly, a conversation about our food and where it comes from will be sparked — and remember, for many of us it was a leaflet that set off the chain of events that caused us to go vegan in the first place.
Through this simple technique, you can spread a message of compassionate eating almost effortlessly (and it pairs perfectly with Jonathan Balcombe’s brilliant “critical mass advocacy project,” Vegan T-Shirt Day). Scared to approach a stranger to hand them a brochure? Your shirt will be doing it for you, and you’ll look good in the process (just remember MFA’s 7th step in the Challenge, “Wash your shirt,” or you probably won’t look good for very long). As the MFA Blog explains, “By starting conversations and planting seeds of compassion, you’ll be helping to spare countless animals unimaginable suffering. Simple. Effective. Vital.”
4 Responses to “MFA’s New T-Shirt Challenge”
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Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan
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oro
04. Jul, 2011
GREAT idea – here’s the problem – I’m an extra large size vegan but the t-shorts only go up to large.
Of course, I’ve been wearing veg tshirts for many years – advertising works.
Suasoria
05. Jul, 2011
Does it come in an option of “ask me why I’m vegan?” All due respect to MFA but I would never wear a shirt that would potentially confuse people about whether dairy/egg is OK. (How about “ask me why I’m not vegetarian?”)
Jasmin Singer
05. Jul, 2011
@Oro, I think you should email them and request a shirt that would be your appropriate size. I’d imagine they’d be receptive to that, if they have the ability to be! And I love your enthusiasm about wearing your message! @Suasoria, you might be interested in MFA’s official comment on that: http://www.mercyforanimals.org/v-word.aspx.
Oro
07. Jul, 2011
I have never seen anyone else , except at veg. dinners, where a veg/vegan animal rights tshirt. I feel very isolated because I don’t know any other vegans in my immediate area, outside of my household. I’m sure other vegans feel the same. I always wear a veg tshirt or, a button, if I have to get more dressed up. I feel I always need to create awareness and discussion when possible. When I have
” I THINK THEREFORE I”M VEGETARIAN” or
“GO VEGAN” across my chest, everywhere I go, people see the message. I have bumper stickers on my car. I have done this for decades now. I have been veg. over 42 years. People didn’t used to even know what a vegan was. So, other veggies, let me see you out there! Use your car/bike as advertising space. Talk, leaflet, network and stay committed.
Thank you, Hen housers.