Basically, what FreeAnimalVideo.org does is provides high-quality clips of animals in all kinds of situations — animals in entertainment, animals in sports and fashion, farm animals, laboratory animals, wildlife, companion animals — and allows anyone to download and use them for free. The videos you can download include everything from general footage that can be placed into a larger context (like a nibbling lamb or a close-up on a goose), to absolutely horrific stuff, like a white fox being anally electrocuted. There are promotional videos for animal advocacy organizations as well. The videos are made available in either HD (suitable for TV), or lower-quality that will suffice for “the internet machine” (I stole that term from Rachel Maddow — who, now that I’m thinking about it, should totally use some of this footage and actually cover an animal story on her show). You can also submit videos, either by uploading them, or sending in physical tapes.

This brilliant activist resource is the brainchild of founders Sandra Mohr and Patty Shenker.

Here is an example of how the footage has been used. The clip below shows our friend Jane Velez-Mitchell (who was on our podcast last year), of CNN’s HLN show, “Issues With Jane Velez-Mitchell.”

A pinup model... WHO KNEW? (We're on the top right.)

The calendar is not only a fun and accessible way to help change these stereotypes, but, you’ve gotta admit, it’s a wickedly creative campaign! I’ve long gawked at the calendar models — both the human and non-human ones — which is why, last year, I decided to take my chances, because what did I have to lose? Getting model and performer Bettina May to do my photos and make-up was icing on my cruelty-free cake, because not only is she a well-known modern-day burlesque superstar, but she’s also an outspoken vegan. She has even created vegan versions of burlesque gear that traditionally uses animal products, like boas made out of fiber instead of feathers, yet look just like the “real deal” (minus the exploitation). My Rose was a trooper that day, too, and thoroughly enjoyed the attention and spotlight.

This is Rose. She totally knows how gorgeous she is. (As she should.)

Pinups for Pitbulls is certainly a think-outside-the-box type of organization, which is another reason why I’m gaga for them. Indeed, it’s not just the attractive women (many of whom have tattoos — sigh…) that draws me in, nor is it the perfect pits who steal the show. PFPB was founded in 2005 by Deirdre “Little Darling” Franklin. Little Darling was increasingly saddened and frustrated by “shelters” euthanizing totally adoptable pit bull-type dogs, simply because of their breed. So she tapped into her experience, skills, and interest in modeling, fine arts, and education, and started this truly one-of-a-kind organization. 7 years later, I am basically ecstatic to be among the women and dogs who can call themselves “Ms. February.”

Photo by Bettina May

In addition to getting the calendar (quick! before it’s March!), and supporting this organization, there is also a lesson to be learned from this organization. A strong takeaway from PFPB is that nobody has to sit idly by and be frustrated by an animal issue. Much like Little Darling demonstrated when she grew this positive, accessible, and fun organization out of a desire to change the world — and a refusal to become complacent and accept a world where pit bulls are put down for no good reason — we can all plug our talents and skills into animal advocacy.

Another takeaway from PFPB? Rose is ridiculously gorgeous. And the 1940′s were a much more fashionable era.

Intern with VegFund!

Now, with this part-time, work-from-home volunteer position (roughly 15-20 hours per week), you can have the opportunity to work with this groundbreaking organization, which was named the “Non-Profit of the Year” in 2009 by VegNews Magazine. Among other duties, the internship gives you the chance to train and coordinate volunteers, maintain and grow VegFund’s resources for grassroots activists, and conduct at least one outreach event per month. You’ll be working with and learning from VegFund’s Director, and for those of you who are students, you might even be able to get class credit. Their ideal candidate for this 3-month position has grassroots experience, strong writing skills, and, obviously, a passion and interest in farmed animal advocacy.

Check out the full listing for this internship, and spread the word to your passionate vegan friends and colleagues.

Internships can, needless to say, be important inroads for those interested in pursuing a career in animal rights. Most people working in the movement had, at one time or another, an internship position. But even for those of you who don’t want to quit your day job, opportunities like this one can utilize your skills and passion, allowing you to grow and learn, all while strongly and effectively working to change the world for animals. I honestly can’t think of many better places to start — or step up — your AR journey, than to work with the visionaries behind VegFund. Have I mentioned I’m a fan?

And head’s up: Stay tuned for a not-to-be-missed interview with VegFund’s co-founder, Zia Terhune, which you will be able to find on our podcast in the coming weeks.

Picture of top of blog: Courtesy of VegFund

As most of you already know, Vegan Mainstream not only “provides marketing solutions” to vegan businesses, but also empowers and supports an eager and thriving vegan community (such as through their Facebook page, which is interactive and full of current AR happenings). The upcoming webinars are one hour long, totally free, and — if you ask me — a much more productive way of spending your lunch hour than playing Snood (which, okay, I also thoroughly enjoy).

Another set of upcoming animal-themed webinars come to us thanks to the ASPCA, are also one hour long and offered at no cost, and focus on the subject of animal abuse, with an emphasis on animal law. They include “The AniCare Approach for Treating Animal Abuse: What it is and how you can use it,” “Non-Human DNA in Criminal Cases,” “The Psychological Aspects of Maltreated Animals,” and “Common Issues Law Enforcement and Prosecutors Confront When Investigating and Litigating ‘Puppy Mill’ Cases.”

Also on the webinar circuit is Julie Lewin, the passionate activist behind the book Get Political for Animals. Though not yet up on the website, we hear through the grapevine that she will next be offering her series of webinars on that same topic starting later this month. On January 21, at 1 pm EST, you can view “Get Political for Animals and Win the Laws They Need in Your Town, City, County or State”; on Sunday, January 29, at 1 pm EST there’s “How the Lawmaking Process Really Works — and How Your Political Group for Animals Impacts Each Step”; and, on Sunday, February 5, at 1 pm EST, you can see, “How to Launch and Run a Political Organization for Animals in Your Town, City, County or State — and the Simple Steps It Takes to Do It.” These sound like the perfect next step for those who were intrigued by what our intern Sally so eloquently talked about last week – changing the law for animals. In addition to the above scheduled webinars, Julie even offers private ones, all as part of the National Institute for Animal Advocacy. To register, first email Julie at jlewin[at]nifaa.org and, once she tells you there’s still an opening, donate what you can afford on the website. Don’t forget to join her email list to stay up to speed about current webinars.

We at Our Hen House have talked about using Webinars for Animal Rights before. Beyond just attending the ones that Vegan Mainstream, the ASPCA, and Julie Lewin are offering — and ones that other advocacy groups have offered in the past, sometimes even as online conferences — maybe you want to go further into webinar world. If you are a person with a unique skill set that can be plugged into changing the world (and we all have one, folks, as we discussed in our recent workshop on activism that is now available online), perhaps its time for you to dust off your webcam and start your own webinar. These can include subjects such as vegan nutrition, using art to speak up for animals, Leafleting 101, animal law, and about a bzillion other pro-animal themed subjects.

Another plus? You don’t have to leave your living room. You can even be naked from the waist down, and no one would know. Which gives me an idea: “Change the World Wearing No More than a Necktie?” Perhaps…

There are dozens and dozens of job openings at PETA.

As for me, though it was my friend Marisa Miller Wolfson (of Vegucated) who, 8 years ago, showed me some footage of factory farming, effectively turning my long-time vegetarianism into full-fledged, passionate veganism — it was the subsequent week-long volunteer trip I took to PETA that brought my activism into full-swing.

If you’re in the market for a job in animal rights, there are currently 41 openings with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in the U.S. alone. They fit every category you can think of, including administration, media, communications, campaigning, science, and investigations. And the domestic openings span the country — from NYC, to Washington, DC, to Norfolk, VA, to Los Angeles, to even a few telecommuting positions. There are also ample PETA positions overseas, such as in Asia, Australia, India, and the UK.

In browsing around, some of the highlights of these positions included, for me anyway, Media Officers, both in NYC and in DC, a Production Artist in Norfolk, a Celebrity Marketing Coordinator in PETA’s brand-spanking new office in LA, a Translator for PETA Asia, and a Campaign Coordinator in either PETA India or in Japan. There are literally dozens more.

I am, to say the least, in absolute awe of the amount of materials PETA produces, and, as is evidenced by our first paragraph, the amount of  influential changemakers it has created (superstar phenomenon Maggie Q is one of thousands of celebrities who also attributes her animal rights and vegan awakening to PETA). Even though many of them have gone on to have their own spin on their activism and outlook, there is no question as to who was at the root of their awakening.

All of this said, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (and again and again): You do not need to work for an animal rights organization, or a vegan restaurant, or a vegan PR firm, in order to create change for animals. Truly, one of the most powerful things you can do for animals is to spread the message of non-violence and compassion in your everyday lives in a way that works for you. That is clearly the essence of what we talk about here in Our Hen House. Changemakers come in all shapes and sizes. We hope that the multimedia tools and resources we offer daily help you to figure out what shape and size you are, and how to plug that into animal activism.

But for those of you whose hearts desire nothing greater than a job in animal rights — I get that. I spent years working for AR organizations, including as the campaigns manager at Farm Sanctuary (by the way, they are also hiring) – a job I held very close to my heart, and a position that allowed my activism to grow by leaps and bounds. And, of course, I am lucky enough to write for my favorite publication on the planet, VegNews Magazine (shameless plug: keep an eye out for my article, “Veganism Saved My Life,” in the February 2012 issue). And, as you can see, I started my own advocacy organization. So if there’s one thing I understand, it’s the unrelenting gnawing at your heartstrings that leaves you no other choice but to pursue a career in vegan advocacy and animal rights. Just know that you don’t have to go down that road to change the world for animals. But if you do, I hope that some of the resources we highlighted this week are helpful to you. And I wish you the best of luck in your search, and a happy, healthy, compassionate, changemaking New Year.

How you spend your day is how you spend your life.

I realize that it sounds obvious or like simple common sense, but this quote is something I come back to every so often when I need to be reminded that although jobs that are disconnected from my values might be more plentiful (not to mention more lucrative), I know that for me, it’s important to marry the gig that pays my bills with the beliefs that make me who I am, because, to whatever extent I can, I want to spend my days and therefore my life promoting social justice.

If your mind runs in the same direction, there is an incredible opportunity at Vegan Mainstream, which provides marketing services for vegan professionals (bloggers, authors, business owners, entrepreneurs, and so on). And don’t let “marketing” make you think this isn’t a kind of social justice work. Anytime we can bring attention to the amazing folks promoting a vegan lifestyle, we’re changing the world for animals.

The position that caught my eye is Public Relations Outreach Manager. It is a part-time gig (5-10 hours per week) for anyone located in Atlanta, San Francisco, Portland, Washington DC, Austin, Chicago, or Philadelphia. The position’s main responsibility is “getting the agency and its work featured in various press and trade publications as well as distributing and managing releases.”

Vegan Mainstream does fantastic work (for one thing, they run the vegan job board that listed this position), and helping them help vegan professionals spread their products, services, and advocacy is a win-win!

Antennae rocks my world

I, for one, am nothing short of stirred and tickled to learn about this incredibly in-depth and thought-provoking resource, and I’m already wondering how I’m going to finish my Christmahanusolstikwanzikuh shopping, when I have all of these back issues to catch up on! I know that many of you will also be titillated, since my inbox is frequently bursting with emails from you wondering how to get further involved with speaking up for animals through the arts. Well, lucky for you, Antennae is seeking submissions for publication.

And in the interest of shameless self-promotion (’tis the season, right?), I wanted to point out a few pieces that Our Hen House has created for our Art of the Animal series, focusing on some of the same creative activists that Antennae is also shedding light on. Last year, we made a video about visual artist Jonathan Horowitz, and his “Go Vegan” exhibit. Two weeks ago, we featured Peter Singer on our 100th podcast episode (which is also available, as always, on iTunes). And, in what is perhaps the video I am most proud of, a couple days ago we brought you our newest installment of the Art of the Animal video series, this time featuring one of our heroes, Sue Coe. Our Art of the Animal series, which is hardly as academic as Antennae (I’m not sure anything I’ve ever written can be described as such), features artists who speak up for animals through their art form, and you can you learn more by browsing that section of our website.

Here’s the short version of how this venture started: Writer and filmmaker Lucy Cooke fell in love with Taz, a baby sloth who (get this!) she first learned about while watching a Youtube video! So Cooke traveled 5,000 miles to Costa Rica to meet him, which is when she got to witness, first-hand, the extremely touching stories of the world’s only sloth orphanage. According to Cooke, as reported on her website, at this orphanage, “Orphaned baby sloths whose mothers have been zapped by power lines or hit by cars are brought to the sanctuary to be cared for by legendary sloth whisperer Judy Arroyo.” Inspired and moved (duh!), Cooke made a short video called Meet the Sloths, which immediately became a huge success — so much so that it was covered in major media outlets worldwide, including making it into New York Magazine’s much revered ”Approval Matrix.” The next steps for Cooke in her quest to raise awareness about these glorious (and off-the-radar adorable) sloths was clearly a book deal (hello, Simon and Schuster!), and a full-length documentary based on her original short video, which is airing on Animal Planet in the United States tomorrow, Saturday, December 17, at 8 p.m. EST.

Is this an Our Hen House dream story, or what? Here you have a woman who was touched and moved by an animal story, so she took it upon herself to create smart, independent media about it. Awareness was raised (um, understatement of the year), the media caught on, and now, I’d imagine that The Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica will have a few donations coming in for the holidays (speaking of which…). And, most importantly, people (like me!) are learning about these precious creatures (prehistoric sloths stood up to 7 meters tall!). By the way, if you’re starting to think about your 2012 vacation, you might consider offering your services at the sanctuary’s volunteer program, which provides both room and board (not sure about the veganness of it, but obviously if they’re not there yet, that’s obviously something that you could bring to your conversation with these sloth-heroes).

Check out the trailer for Lucy Cooke’s sloth documentary… But make sure you turn your computer’s cute-meter off, because the needle might break your screen:

In Roxborough, a Philadelphia neighborhood, hundreds of toads migrate from nearby woods and gardens to the Roxborough Reservoir. Each year, more than a hundred toads are squished by cars on their way to the Reservoir. In Toad Detour, a community-wide project to save these toads’ lives, the first step was to make people aware of the problem.

Second, the caring people behind the Detour, along with a number of organizations — including the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and Mobilization For Animals – banded together, got the cooperation of local authorities, and came up with a workable solution. During the migration season, a cadre of volunteers went out on the roads to establish a temporary road detour. Not only did they man (person?) the barricades to avert traffic, they armed themselves with signs and brochures to educate the community about helping the toads migrate safely.

Toad Detour

Third, they didn’t keep it to themselves. They created a website and a facebook page to spread the word.

You might think that all that is enough, but these folks took it to the next level. The fourth step was that filmmaker Burgess Coffield decided to make a film of the project, which will enable so many more people to learn about it and be inspired to apply it in their own communities. If you’re anywhere near Philly, a screening of the film will take place tomorrow, Saturday, December 10.

I am sure you are wondering what could possibly be fifth. Well, there will be refreshments served at the screenings, and all of the food will be vegan. A gentle reminder to all who come to find out about the toads, that all the animals need our caring.

Perfect.

Although many sanctuaries have adoption programs, Animal Place has a unique center, located in Vacaville, CA, only an hour outside of San Francisco, specifically devoted to animal adoption and placement. Animal Place stands at the forefront of the movement to save the lives of farmed animals, while moving them into the homes of a growing nationwide movement of vegan advocates, who not only provide these animals with loving homes, but can demonstrate to friends and neighbors who these animals really are and why they deserve to live. One by one, these animals can go out into the world and change people’s hearts and minds.

Now, Animal Place — under the direction of Kim Sturla — is hiring someone to head up their marketing, fundraising, and campaigns. The job — which looks like a dream job for anyone who has been longing to work in the animal rights movement (assuming you already live in, or are willing to move to, Northern California) — is for someone who is comfortable wearing many hats. It includes everything from media outreach, to social networking, to managing the organization’s fundraising campaigns and corresponding with donors.

Check out the entire job description, and pass this on to your talented and savvy vegan friends who, like so many of us, can imagine doing nothing else other than spending our lives advocating for farmed animals.

Photo at top of blog courtesy Animal Place

We hope you look forward to Saturday mornings as much as we do!

But, as we will both happily confess, the roughly one thousand hours we’ve put into this venture has been well worth it, to say the least. In addition to recently garnering us the title “Indie Media Powerhouse” by VegNews Magazine, our podcast has connected us with our heroes (and yours), including luminaries like Jonathan Balcombe and Gene Baur, well-known personalities like Jane Velez-Mitchell and Rory Freedman, movement icons like Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and Neal Barnard, sanctuary leaders like Jenny Brown and Miriam Jones, vegan fashion gurus like John Bartlett, Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart and Joshua Katcher, animal law intellects like David Wolfson, Rebecca Huss and Steven Wise, and – perhaps our favorite episodes – every day folks who are bringing animal rights into the classroom, the workplace, and onto the radar.

Perhaps what we enjoy the most about our podcast is the unbelievable community that we’ve been able to enjoy as a result of it. Our podcast listeners have become like our extended family, many of whom email us several times a month. As Jasmin’s grandma – an 87-year-old proud vegetarian, and a frequent guest on our show – has observed, listening to an “audio program” (as Grandma calls it), is profoundly different than watching a TV show, where “they do the thinking for you.” We like to think that Grandma is right. There is indeed something distinctly awesome that comes from an audio podcast, both from the podcaster and the listener’s point of view.

Our 100th episode is generously being sponsored by MooShoes!

Though we can hardly believe it, our 100th podcast episode airs this Saturday, and — much to our excitement — is being generously sponsored by MooShoes Vegan Shoe Store. MooShoes proudly offers the largest variety of vegan shoes and accessories in the world, and during their 10th birthday party last weekend, we made a nice dent in our holiday shopping! We love MooShoes and are beyond thrilled that they are sponsoring our 100th episode, and offering a $100 gift certificate to one lucky listener.

In honor of our 100^th episode, please help us reach 100 reviews on iTunes! If you listen to our podcast and you like it, please take a minute today to give us a friendly review and 5-star rating on iTunes. As we’re writing this, we have 63 ratings (all 5 stars – thank you!). Can you do us a solid and help us get to 100?

Lastly, remember, our podcast is entirely listener-supported! That means we need your support to keep going. If you want to continue to hear quality episodes, please consider making a monthly donation of at least $10 a month! As our thank you for donating, between now and the end of the year, every person to sign up for a monthly donation will receive a free Our Hen House tote bag! It’s all ethically-sourced and vegan-made (thanks to our friends at Lion’s Share Industries). Thank you for listening, and for helping us to build a strong voice for animals.

And now, announcing the guests for our 100th podcast episode, which, as usual, will go up this Saturday, both on iTunes and right here on our blog. We are elated to bring back 2 of our favorite guests from previous shows, Peter Singer, and Isa Chandra Moskowitz! We promise that you will be enlightened, entertained, and engaged.

Thank you, listener family, for being such rock stars. So many of the questions you ask us are about how we keep going, how we produce so much content, and how — in the face of such despair and adversity all around us, on such an unfathomable level — we remain, nonetheless, indefatigably positive. In addition to clinging on to the knowledge that we all do have the power to make this world a little less cruel — even maybe a smidgeon compassionate! — you are so much of what gives us hope and fuel. Your voices, your stories, your determination, inspires us and motivates us to provide an indie media forum that is, indeed, a place to find our way to change the world for animals. As we approach our 100th episode, let us just say: thank you for listening to our show, and for letting us listen to your stories. We so appreciate you.

Here is how it will work: During this super-duper episode, we will be devoting a section to answering your questions. These can be questions about us, about Our Hen House, about animal rights in general, or about anything else you want to know. Want to enter for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate from MooShoes? Of course you do…

Send us your questions that you want us to answer on the 100^th episode! Regardless of whether or not we read it on the air, your question is your entry in the contest to win the $100 MooShoes gift certificate!

To enter, simply comment below with your question. To double your chance of winning, tweet this: “I just entered to win a gift card for rad #vegan shoes from @mooshoes_nyc to support @ourhenhouse! You can enter here: http://bit.ly/srH5wj”

Be sure to enter by midnight, EST, on Wednesday, December 7. The randomly-selected winner will be announced on the 100^th episode, which will air on Saturday, December 10. Good luck!

Special thanks to MooShoes for being so insanely fantastic and generous! When we talk about “for-profit” activism – which we frequently do in our blog’s “Money Squawks” section – MooShoes is a perfect example. Much as owners Sara and Erica Kubersky explained when we made a short video highlighting their story, 10 whole years ago, these sisters saw a need for a store that would serve as a vegan hub, and, thus, MooShoes was born, as was an entire community of patrons who valued a compassionate, fair-trade experience. In addition to providing gorgeous, compassionate goods, MooShoes has gone above and beyond, frequently hosting charity fundraisers for animal rights organizations. And here’s a little known fact: 5 years ago, Jasmin worked at MooShoes. Clearly, the problem there was that, as she enmeshed herself in the shoe culture, she spent her paychecks before they were even deposited. Oh, how we adore MooShoes…

We bet you’re wondering who our 100^th episode guest will be! Well, that is still a surprise, but trust us, it will be well worth the wait. Next week on our blog, we’ll give you a sneak peak, so stay tuned.

And now, please, pull up some hay. Let’s get squawking.

Or am I projecting?

Either way, every vegan and animal rights person I follow, every vegan podcast I listen to (AHEM), every blogger I jam on, is talking holiday coping. (Be sure to catch Jasmin and Mariann’s upcoming workshop on surviving the holidays as a vegan, which will, of course, also include ample tips on food activism for the holidays.) I’ve been reminded several times recently that making and serving delicious vegan food is an incredible way to bridge that vegan/non-vegan chasm that feels even more untraversable around this time of year. If I am going to make tasty food a tool of togetherness and vegan advocacy, the question is what to make? Also, how to make it? I’m not a virtuosic or inspired kitchen improviser. In fact, I need lots of steps, explanatory photos, detailed instructions and an embarrassing amount of handholding to get me from ingredients to meal. I also need someone else’s good ideas, especially around the holidays when festive and elaborate meals are the order of the day. But again, my kitchen expertise is limited to steaming kale and dipping crudité.

So here’s what I propose for the online vegan collective conscience that’s trying to figure out how to do holiday meals, whether for your own vegan feast or to share with non-vegans to introduce them to the splendor of cruelty-free cooking: the brand new and super popular Spork-Fed: Super Fun and Flavorful Vegan Recipes from the Sisters of Spork Foods. If you think Spork Foods sisters Jenny Engel and Heather Goldberg’s seitan wellington with a creamy spinach sauce, green apple and cashew sourdough stuffing, and pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust wouldn’t make such a shabby holiday meal, you will be thrilled that we are giving away a copy. And if you want to know more about these inspiring women, be sure to check out their Our Hen House podcast interview from last year.

Win a free copy of Spork-Fed! Instructions below.

Spork-Fed (which has tons of recipes, health tips, ideas for the vegan pantry, sample menus, and mouth-watering pictures) is yours for the taking.

To enter, just comment below telling us about a time that you practiced food activism by introducing a non-vegan to vegan food. What did you make or eat? How did it go?

Want to up the ante and increase your chances of being randomly selected as the winner? After you comment on this blog post, the following options will each count as one additional entry:

1. “Like” Our Hen House on Facebook AND the Facebook post about this contest.

2. Tweet “I entered @ourhenhouse giveaway for a copy of the cookbook “Spork-Fed” by @sporkfoods. Delish #vegan eats, here I come! http://bit.ly/vGPTgY”

The contest closes at midnight EST on Wednesday, November 30. A winner will be randomly selected. Read more about Spork-Fed below:

From Amazon: ”Spork-Fed is a savvy, upbeat introduction to vegan cuisine written by sisters who know great food! Flavor is the top priority in these easy-to-prepare recipes, many of them gluten-free. With full-color photographs throughout, this visually striking book shows you how to make everything from decadent desserts to homemade tofu. The Spork Sisters share more than 75 delicious recipes, along with dozens of health tips. In addition to the recipes, Spork-Fed’s themed menu pairings will help any cook prepare for special occasions, quick family weeknight meals, or extravagant feasts sure to impress any guest.”

Though I’d always had activist tendencies, I wish that I had entered the world of social justice prior to age 21. But, alas, that’s an unproductive thought, since it was all part of my process, and at least I got there eventually. Personal evolution is a complex, painful, beautiful thing. Remembering that I didn’t always know about the horrors of milk production, for example, helps me to extend compassion and patience to others who I am trying to reach with the vital message of veganism. It also gives me hope, which is something that Mariann and I discussed in a recent article we wrote for One Green Planet.

If you follow Our Hen House, you already know that another thing that gives me hope is when art is combined with advocacy. That is why I’m thoroughly thrilled that The Performance Collective at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is currently performing a theatrical adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s wildly popular book, Eating Animals. According to IndyWeek.com, the student actors consume a variety of diets, mostly omnivorous. Yet after learning that all the students at UNC were assigned Eating Animals as their mandatory summer reading, the play’s director, Tony Perucci (a “steadfast omnivore”), felt that the theatrical adaptation would be a perfect fit for The Performance Collective. (Last year, they performed a theatrical adaptation of The Activist.)

As reported in IndyWeek.com:

Rather than attempting to fit Foer’s nonfiction into a single conventional story arc [...], the collective will incorporate movement, dance and multimedia into a more diverse production that still derives some two-thirds of its text from the book, according to Perucci. “Our goal is not to persuade, precisely — it’s to confront,” he says. “At least have a position that’s based on your own critical reflection. I believe [...] that the purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that answers too easily obscure … But ultimately, the thing is that people don’t even ask the question.”

In addition to being thrilled to see students addressing this imperative issue in such a creative way, I’m selfishly also wondering if Mariann, who was quoted in the book alongside David Wolfson (page 51, to be precise), winds up being… theatrically adapted. Or danced to.

What I find perplexing — but okay, I’ll go with it — is that Director Perucci, who uses his “foodie” identity to defend his meat-eating, then goes on to state that Foer’s position in Eating Animals is “clearly stated” that “the only ethical position is to be vegetarian.” So either Perucci disagrees with this idea, and thinks that there is nothing immoral about eating animals, or he is giving himself a get out of jail free card, or perhaps he’s struggling with his rationale. Channeling the hopeful-Jasmin from the beginning of this blog entry, maybe Perucci is on the road to veganism. Hopefully that’s the case, but regardless, I’ll give him more than a few vegan brownie points for having this theatrical vision and making it happen.

Foer’s book has provoked more discussion of the animal issue than almost anything published in recent history. What’s more, it’s widely accepted that UNC-Chapel Hill is supposed to excel at theatre. If I could only reverse the clock and be a young, sprightly (clove-cigarette-smoking, black-clothes-wearing) theatre student again, it’s very possible that this play would’ve been exactly what I needed in order to open my eyes to animal exploitation, and to change. I hope to see more plays that carry the message of animal rights performed at colleges, community centers, and, hell, even Broadway. Maybe I’ll even audition. At the very least, I’ll hand the other auditioners a “Why Vegan?” brochure, so it would not be for naught.

Commercial Street is simultaneously this vegan’s worst nightmare and dream come true: while it is home to stores that exclusively sell oppressed products to eat, wear, or use, each item features labels densely packed with real information. All you have to do is scroll through this exceptionally well–designed and user-friendly tool. With each click of a label, you will be met with a pop-up that packs an incredible amount of info into one modest rectangle and cuts through consumer misinformation like a knife through hot (vegan) butter.

Everything you ever wanted to know about bacon but were afraid to ask.

At Oink’s Butcher Shop, you’ll learn that pork bacon has barely more protein than vegan bacon and a fiber content of “nope, none here.” You will also learn the gruesome details associated with raising pigs as livestock, the health risks of nitrates used in the curing process, and some important numbers:

Net Wt.: 100 million metric tons consumed annually
Unit price $: One highly intelligent sentient life
Total price $: 1.2 billion pigs killed annually

Commercial Street hits a number of my sweet spots; the sarcastic, slightly aggressive tone that can sometimes and to some people be alienating works particularly well for this project and helps it pack a rhetorical punch (“Safe handling instructions: Reject the use of other sentient beings as food.”). As an information junkie, I’m excited about the concise, well-presented info that comes in compartmentalized snippets rather than a lengthy onslaught of horrifying information. Nerdily, I’m over the moon to encounter an online experience that is both functional and stunningly designed.

It’s true that I spend most of my waking hours tethered to some device that allows me to get and stay online. And as someone interested in mainlining information and perspectives on veganism and animal rights, I’m as indentured to Google, Wikipedia, blogs, social media, etc. as I can possibly be. But Commercial Street takes away the intimidation factor I associate with the sheer volume of information available in a zillion different online destinations. It also makes for a handy link for that almost-there-potential-vegan. For someone who is nowhere near ready to learn about the truth about animal exploitation, Commerical Street’s tone might be a shade too aggressive. But when I hesitate to recommend a lengthy treatise, Commercial Street is the perfect hybrid of fact and attitude in a compelling package. What’s more is that this project proves yet again that if you and your friends have programming and computer skills as well as information to share, you can build into an activist resource that others can, in turn, utilize in their own advocacy and activism. Solid.

In fact, just a week or two ago, you could have caught some music at the Fun Fun Fun Fest, where they had bands ranging from Slayer, Danzig, Hum and Public Enemy to Childish Gambino, Odd Future and M83 to Cannibal Corpse and Eyehategod. Hey, some of these bands are so famous even I’ve heard of them!

But, even more important than the music, they also had a hot dog eating conference. “Yuck,” you say? “How disgusting,” you remark? “Texas, what do you expect?,” you dismissively, and oh-so-foolishly, complain? Well, take it back, ’cause this particular competitive eating fest was all vegan.

i Love Mike Litt

The contest was put on by progressive event organizer, i love Mike Litt, which is devoted to bringing “people together to teach, entertain, and inspire one another.” In aid of that admirable goal is one of the hallmarks of their events, i.e., the “soft promotion” of veganism.

Of course there was some snarky press beforehand (“… veggie dogs — now you’re talking about food that most rational people won’t even eat one of”), but, hey, it’s press. And, in fact, these dogs sounded amazing. No mere mustard and relish for these folks. One dog was garnished with sour cherry relish, soy yogurt and chopped fresh mint, another with fried olives, smoked sea salt and Spanish romesco sauce, and the third with black bean and espresso vegan chili. Yowsa. If the way to not-yet-vegans’ hearts is through their stomachs, these folks are well on their way.

Captain Paul Watson

And now this message is about to get even bigger. Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson is a documentary that is now hitting the festivals and will soon be gaining wider exposure. According to Variety, the movie has plenty of human drama. While definitely portraying Watson as a hero, it doesn’t hide any of what some people might call flaws, and delves into some of the divisiveness between him and other environmentalists, prominently Greenpeace. But most importantly, and as is clear from the trailer, this human drama serves as the vehicle for telling the story of what is happening to the animals. As such, the “film is certain to attract devotees to the cause.”

Films that tell the truth about animals are the most powerful tool available to activists. It is exciting to find that another one will soon be available to help spread the word.

Here we are presenting at the Boston VegFest (Mariann on right, Jasmin on left).

Our talk, which was entitled, “Shifting to a Plant-Based Diet: Techniques and Tips for Your Walk on the Green Side,” consisted of our top 10 tips for making this life-saving and life-expanding shift. We thought we would take the opportunity to share a brief recap of those tips on today’s blog entry. Since Tip #1 has to do with finding great resources, reposting our tips is also an opportunity to share the links to those resources.

We’re sure that most of you have additional tips to share (any list, including ours, inevitably is only a starting point). We would love it if you added your tips to the comments section on the blog. As a thank you for commenting, we will randomly select one of you to receive a free copy of Dr. Michael Greger’s newest DVD, “Latest in Clinical Nutrition: Volume 6“ (we reviewed Volume 5 on a recent podcast). Leave a comment with your tips between now and Nov. 7 at midnight EST, include your email address when submitting the comment, and we’ll let you know before Nov. 15 if you’ve won. (And be sure to catch Dr. Greger on our current podcast episode — your mind will be blown!)

But we digress.

Here we go with our Top 10 Tips for Shifting to a Plant-Based Diet:

10.Understand All the Reasons.

Whether you are primarily motivated by your health, by environmental and food sustainability issues, or by your compassion for animals, learn everything you can about all these issues, and how they intertwine in a way that is so powerful that it demonstrates that, without a doubt, shifting to a plant-based diet is our evolutionary destiny.

9. Understand Why Individual Action is so Important

It’s so easy to think that this problem is so big — and I am just one small person — so it doesn’t matter what I do. NO! That is false thinking. When you change your behavior, you influence so many more people than you realize. You need to choose: Do you want to be part of the problem, or part of the solution?

8. Find and Use “Transition” Foods

You don’t have to give up anything you don’t want to give up! There is a cruelty-free alternative to every animal product you can possibly think of. Find foods that are reminiscent of the ones you love, and relish a delicious marriage of your most precious food memories and your healthy, compassionate future.

Jasmin and her jazz hands.

7. Learn How to Get a Decent Meal at a Non-Vegan Restaurant

Never never never settle for a green salad and french fries. Check the menu, call ahead, and hang in there until you get something yummy!

6. Learn How to Add Vegetables to Your Diet*

Vegetables are actually delicious (!) and so good for you that it’s impossible to quantify, and impossible to replicate in a supplement. If fresh are too much trouble, use frozen, but no matter what, eat your veggies, and then eat some more. Once again, your Mom was right. Vegetables are where it’s at. (*This is Mariann’s favorite tip.)

5. Find and Foster Community*

Meet-Ups, vegan drinks, on-line circles, pen pals. However you do it, make new vegan friends. You may think you are the only vegan in town, but we promise you, you are not. We’re everywhere, our community is growing every day, and you want to get on board. (*This is Jasmin’s favorite tip.)

4. Learn How to Handle “Humane” Meat Questions

Sure, one reason you’re vegan is because you don’t want to take someone’s life just to satisfy your appetite, no matter how so-called “humanely” they were treated. But when this issue comes up, don’t forget to explore some of the other issues. Be compassionate, but don’t let someone who brings this up walk away without gently asking them about what their standards really are and how they know they are being followed?, whether they boycott factory farming?, what about land use issues?, do they know that milk and eggs, regardless of how small the farm is, are rooted in the exploitation of reproduction?, etc., etc., etc.

Mariann singing the National Anthem. (Kidding -- she's just presenting...)

3. Plan Ahead for Holidays and Family Get-Togethers.

‘Tis the Season. Bring good food and bring enough, ’cause everyone is going to want some. As Mariann likes to say, the single most effective thing you can do for animals is provide delicious vegan food.

2. Don’t Feel the Need to be a Spokesperson

Thanks to Carol J. Adams for this one. Being an advocate for compassionate eating is wonderful, but you can do it on your own terms and when you think people are really open to hearing your answers. If they are just using you as a way to dissipate their own anxiety about their destructive eating habits and aren’t actually interested in hearing you, you don’t have to engage. Just let them know that you are happy with the way you are eating. Period.

1. Find the Best Resources

Here are a few we fancy:

Top Book on Transitioning – The 30-Day Vegan Challenge by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Top Health Film – Forks Over Knives (now streaming on Netflix!)

Top Issues Film – Vegucated

Top Helpful Website – Vegan at Heart

Top Nutrition Website – Nutrition Facts

Top Project – Vegan Buddies

Top Vegan News Source — Vegan.com

Top Health Book – Vegan for Life by Jack Norris and Virginia Messina

***

All in all, the Boston VegFest was a huge success, and we were honored to be a part of it. Be sure to also read the thorough recap of the Fest in the Tie Dye Files (and a super special thanks to Kaitlyn for the flattering words). And also check out the rad article about the Fest on the popular blog for the Boston Globe, Boston.com (we were interviewed!).

And there you have our Top 10 Tips for Shifting to a Plant-Based Diet. What are some of your tips?

***

If “animal lover with a Facebook account” applies to you, then you, too, could have the makings of great animal activist.

Ever had the thought that there’s way too much wrong with the world for one person to have a meaningful impact, and then thrown your hands up in frustration, giving up on the seedling of the great idea you have? If, like me, you’ve been known to have the occasional freak-out (who hasn’t?), I’m here to implore you to reconsider your surrender. I know that the next time I feel that way, I am going to follow Jennifer Peterson’s lead.

We like. We LOVE.

Every now and then, I’m reminded that I should value Facebook for reasons beyond how it facilitates creeping around other people’s lives or admiring my own one-handed iPhone self-portraits. I got one of these reminders today when I learned that Los Angeles-based Peterson used Facebook (with a side of good old-fashioned networking) to garner a gigantic win for animals – the banning of sales of live animals in malls across the United States.

According to Global Animal’s report, the line between one person’s passion and significant, measurable change was pretty darn direct. Peterson, longtime dog lover and rescue adopter, did some digging around about pet stores and puppy mills, unearthed galling information about how horrifically puppies in those environments are treated, started a Facebook page to gather like-minded people to protest puppy stores and mills, and then reached out to a personal contact she had at Macerich, a shopping center developer. Once she provided the company with information about just how heinous puppy mills are, it was merely a matter of teaming up with Macerich to develop a plan for a companywide ban on pet sales in their malls. Once that plan was in place, two amazing things happened: Macerich decided not only to not renew the leases of pet stores that sell animals, but they decided to take it one step further, and are now “opening humane stores offering adoptions of rescued pets.”

Okay, actually, a third amazing thing happened: triumphant and refueled after this incredible victory, Peterson has committed to pressing forward with plans to shut down the puppy mill industry altogether, a job that doesn’t seem so Herculean, given how much she has already accomplished.

So, what does this mean for you, animal lover? Or for me, just a passionate animal advocate who sees something terribly wrong and unfair in our society’s treatment of animals, but isn’t sure how to take even one step in a useful direction? Simple. It means that we can take inventory of what we already have — connections, social networks, resources, Facebook and Twitter accounts — and start building an effort for change. If you’ve ever joined a vegan Meet-Up at Meetup.com or jumped into an AR thread on Facebook, you know how quickly allied, passionate people build community. Once these communities come together, discussions are flowing and animal advocates are trading ideas, and dialoging about changing the world for animals. Then all you need are action steps. And, well, the change practically makes itself.

Now that you’ve finished reading this blog post, why not start a dialogue among your activist peers regarding the animal issue that currently tugs the strongest at your heartstrings? Each of us has a subset of animal rights that reaches us the strongest. What is yours, and what do you hope to accomplish? Try to keep your goals as measurable and specific as possible. Why not get the dialogue going, perhaps by tweeting a link to this blog post and sharing your pithy thoughts (in 140 characters or less). Or start your own Facebook group about that animal issue you care so deeply about. Alternatively, if you’re more of an IRL (“in real life”) kinda person, post a notice at your local vegan restaurant or health food store, or start talking to your buddies at the dog park and bat around some ideas for advocacy, education, or activism in your community. Engage your peers with your campaign.

Jennifer Peterson proved that it’s just as easy as starting the conversation, and seeing who jumps in.

Now, those of you with strong opinions and a flair for words have the opportunity to submit an abstract to Open Court Popular Culture and Philosophy Series, which brings “high-quality philosophy to general readers by critically exploring the meanings, concepts, and puzzles within television shows, movies, music and other icons of popular culture.” The possibility of using this series (which, incidentally has previously published a piece exploring the philosophy behind Spongebob Squarepants) to philosophize about the exploitation of animals through exploring The Planet of the Apes seems like an opportunity of a lifetime.

Here is the full description of the Call for Abstracts:

PLANET OF THE APES AND PHILOSOPHY:CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Deadline for abstract submission: January 15, 2012

Editor: John Huss

The editor encourages contributions from philosophers and other intellectuals that explore topics connected to the Planet of the Apes franchise, from Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel La Planète des singes to the 1968 politically charged blockbuster starring Charlton Heston, through the sequels and TV series to the 2011 reboot/prequel, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The prequel, which was released at roughly the same time as the documentary Project Nim, has recently received attention from philosophers and animal rights activists, including Peter Singer.  Much public discussion of Rise of the Planet of the Apes has centered on ethical and philosophical issues.

Of particular interest for the volume are popular essays addressing current debates in philosophy of biology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, animal rights, political philosophy, and environmental ethics. Authors who would like to try their hand at engaging a non-academic audience in philosophical dialogue using the Planet of the Apes films as a touchstone are especially encouraged to submit an abstract.

Email abstracts and a c.v. to: huss.john[at]gmail.com.

Deadlines: Abstracts due by January 15, 2012; notification of abstract acceptance by February 15^, 2012.  First drafts due by June 15, 2012; final drafts due by August 15, 2012.

The fine print: Contributors will not be paid in cash, but in copies of the book, worldwide fame and prestige.

Though I really want you to read the full article — not to mention read the rest of the issue, which I am currently devouring — and even though I am a little embarrassed to repeat such outrageous flattery, I will give you a taste of the feature about Our Hen House. According to VegNews:

“What happens when talent combines with passionate activism? The absolute best of media, that’s what. Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan, the unstoppable duo behind online media hub Our Hen House and self-described ‘wannabe pundits,’ create some of the most important, thought-provoking content anywhere. … Our Hen House is poised to become a major media force in the next year, as its loyal audience responds to the brilliant commentary, intelligent structure, and envelope-pushing creativity of its founders.”

I’m almost rendered speechless by this unbelievable gush of love. We are nothing short of jubilant that the work we do resonates with people, and that is absolutely a testament to the fact that y’all are eager to get involved with changing the world for animals. What we do at Our Hen House is really a reflection of what you do, so thank you for continually providing us with inspiration and fodder. If you’re not already subscribed to our podcast on iTunes, please subscribe – and don’t forget to join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Lastly, in the interest of shameless self-promotion — and by self-promotion I really mean Our Hen House promotion, since we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit — we hope you will consider showing your support by helping me reach my goal of raising $1,000 via Facebook’s Causes for my birthday (Oct. 30). And, if you’re in NYC, join us for my birthday party/fundraiser on November 2! Our Hen Party will feature comedy by funny man and vegan Myq Kaplan, yummy cupcakes (and a generous sponsorship) by Sweet Cheeks Vegan Bakery, a chance to win a designer vegan Vaute Couture coat, and a cash bar featuring my favorite drink (at a special price), $5 Soy White Russians. If you are a fan of Our Hen House, if you follow our blog, videos, podcasts, and workshops, we hope you will support us in any way you are able so that we can continue to build a strong voice for animals.

Thanks so much for being part of our flock.

Initially reported by Mercy for Animals, we know by now that the Declaration of the Occupation of New York City included, among other injustices, that corporate interests have “profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices.” We discussed our feelings about this important statement on Episodes 91 and 92 of our podcast (which you can also find on iTunes). Plus, we ruminated on our own experiences attending a recent Special Assembly, as well as the happenings we observed down at Liberty Plaza. In a nutshell, we are continually inspired and fueled by this ever-growing movement.

Given the fact that the protesters are seeking justice for all (a ridiculously oversimplified way of putting it — but if you’re still seeking clarity, read Chris Hedges’ “Why the Elites Are in Trouble“), it seems only natural that the message would extend to animals. And, clearly, vegan food is present at many of the Occupy sites. The donation website for the NYC Occupation includes requests for vegan food — and vegan pizza even got a mention in Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times op-ed, “The Bankers and the Revolutionaries.” That’s not only gratifying, but it seems like an obvious extension of compassion, at least for those who follow consistent ethics. We even heard through the grapevine that Occupy Melbourne is 100% vegan!

And if you need yet another reason why animal rights activists and environmentalists should Occupy Wall Street, Will Potter — from Green is the New Red — has five. Though you have got to read Will’s reasons in full, the Cliff Notes version is: 1) Corporations are destroying the planet; 2) Corporations are attacking you; 3) You have experiences to share about tactics; 4) You have experiences to share about dealing with corporate and government repression; and 5) This is bigger than all of us.

Of course, just because vegan food has been sought, and just because animals are in the Declaration, doesn’t mean that our work here is done. There are obviously some people involved in Occupy who get it about animals, but clearly that’s not going to include everyone. So, if this is a movement that interests you, your work is cut out for you. Just as in any other situation, becoming part of an effort to provide scrumptious and healthy vegan food to the protestors in your area is a powerful opportunity to inform the uninformed of the deliciousness of cruelty-free food — not to mention the compassion of it. Those passionate about speaking up for the underdog — even if the underdog constitutes 99% of the population — are the perfect audience for the message, “you are what you eat.” In other words, as we stand against injustice, as we embrace the notion of breaking down the walls that marginalize and subjugate many of us, let’s not forget the non-human victims of oppression.

This is, famously, a leaderless movement. So start connecting. Go down to your local Occupy protest, talk to people, find out who is providing food, learn and follow the Twitter hashtags (like combining #OWS and #vegan), and get involved with reshaping our world. Among the activities we have heard about people participating in are asking for a time to present to their local General Assembly on the issues of animal rights (check out the Facebook group, “The Animal Rights/Environmentalism Discussion Group of Occupy Wall Street“), getting local vegan food providers to donate food, and setting up arrangements with local vegan restaurants to take orders from kind-hearted donors for food to be delivered to the Occupy sites (check out Vegan Protest Fuel – an organization specifically devoted to this kind of effort). Another idea is to reach out to your local media, including by writing letters to the editor drawing the connections between the Occupy movement and the animal rights movement.

This is a gigantic opportunity. It’s seldom that animal oppression is on the radar of those who have come together to protest other issues. The Occupy movement is the perfect opportunity for animal advocates to make sure their voices are heard. Don’t let it go by.

There are loads of different ways to get involved in OWS and help change the world for animals — and we want to hear about them all. What have you done or heard others doing to connect the dots between the Occupy movement and animal rights? Comment below!

This event sounds rad. I wish I were in AU.

This is like Sesame Street meets ethics class. I’m particularly appreciative of Renata’s inclusion of animal issues in her outreach, and the sense of accountability that she’s teaching kids. In order to foster a healthy, vibrant next generation — and in order to have any hope for the planet and the animals — the next generation will need to step up to the (cruelty-free) plate. When seeds of compassion and — dare I say it, activism — like this are planted into our children’s worldview, perhaps we can all breathe just a teeny tiny itty bitty bit easier.

And we’ve got to hand it to Renata for combining her passions for music, storytelling, family issues, healthy eating, the planet, and the animals, and creating “Go Green with Renata.” That right there epitomizes using your talents and skills to speak up for animals, in a creative way.

Stay up to speed on the DVD and all of Renata’s happenings on her website. And be sure to watch the short video below which gives a more detailed look into this new resource for green-minded kiddies.

A Fall From Freedom

A Fall from Freedom promises to be an important contribution to the fight to end the captive dolphin and whale industry. Featuring in-depth conversations with scientists, biologists, animal trainers and activists, it not only reveals the absolute necessity of wildness for these animals, and the impossibility of providing them with humane lives in captivity, it goes directly to the source of the problem, Sea World.

According to the film’s press release, “Sea World is responsible for the death of thousands of dolphins and whales, so states former Sea World biologist Dr. John Hall.” The film aims to reveal the role that Sea World has played in the tragedy of the captive marine mammal industry, and highlights the work of those who are fighting against it.

This film could not be more timely, with the annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan just getting under way. As with so many of the films that are emerging constantly on issues of crucial importance to animals, widespread distribution will ultimately rely on grassroots efforts. The film will be screened in September in San Rafael, CA, and can be streamed online or purchased online in DVD or MP4 format. Keep this movie in mind for potential screenings, whether at your local library, school, or just in your own home for friends and family. Marine mammals are very special and meaningful to so many people, even those who have not yet been enlightened regarding other animals. The more of them that can learn the truth, the less we will see of Sea World and its ilk.

The Our Hen House podcast in action. Photo by Lauren Krohn.

During a recent phone conversation I had with my 87-year-old vegetarian grandmother, who was on that very same episode as Colleen (helping us out with a review of Project Nim), Grandma summed up the importance and uniqueness of, as she calls it, “audio programs.” Grandma told me that when she was a kid — before TV existed! — she and her family would crowd around the radio in “the parlour” (read: the living room), listen to a “program,” and then afterwards, have a family discussion about it, sharing with each other what they each gleaned from listening. Grandma likened that to our podcast, saying that television tends to “do the thinking for you,” while “audio programs” allow you to absorb the information presented in a deeper, more thoughtful way. From Grandma’s mouth to dog’s ears!

There are a bunch of animal rights and vegan themed podcasts out there, ready for your listening consumption. These podcasts are free, and can shed light on a variety of issues from the world of animal rights. On a selfish note, even for Mariann and me — the hosts of the Our Hen House podcast — the dozens upon dozens of guests we have had have each taught us something new, allowing us to expand our minds and be armed with the knowledge  needed to go out into the world and create change for animals.

At our workshop in Portland, we presenters compiled a handy-dandy worksheet with tips for anyone interested in starting their own podcast, as well as a list of further resources and some suggested AR/vegan podcasts. We hope you check out the worksheet of Podcasting Tips (note: it’s a pdf).

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Film Analysis: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

By Loredana Loy

“Somewhere in the universe, there must be something better than man.”

– Taylor (Charlton Heston) in the original Planet of the Apes (1968)

An animal liberation revolution is happening on the silver screen. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, directed by Rupert Wyatt) provides the ultimate liberation fantasy as it traces the genesis of a new era on our planet, while telling the story of a special kind of leader — Caesar – a chimp born in an animal testing facility to a genetically enhanced mother.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

While perhaps the misanthropic message is not quite as powerful as the one in the original installment of the “Apes” franchise, the movie pulls no punches about the heartlessness of the species that currently, if perhaps not permanently, is in charge of Planet Earth. Not only are the human animals not the central characters here, but they come off poorly, to say the least, when contrasted with the chimpanzees. Will (James Franco), the scientist whose discoveries about intelligence enhancement as a possible solution to Alzheimer’s are the instigation for the experiment leading to Caesar’s birth, is a caricature of what the real hero of the movie, Caesar, represents in terms of loyalty, love, and trust. Will only reluctantly saves Caesar in the first place, and does not hesitate to test on a new group of chimps even after he has formed a bond with Caesar. He also refers to another victim of testing labs, Koba, as “it,” even though he knows Koba is a male. Even to the extent he might have some regard for Caesar, as well as for the other apes, it clearly doesn’t extend to other species. We see his family gorging on bacon and eggs at breakfast. But compared to the callousness of the shelter guards, Will is a model of compassion.

However, while this movie presents a powerful critique of the ugliness of human behavior toward animals, it also offers much more than that. An ode to freedom and nature as the true home for any animal, Rise of the Planet of the Apes raises issues regarding animals that are timely for those of us in the real world. Throughout, an animal-centric point of view is explored and promoted. Naturally, the prominent issue is that of animal experimentation (although showcased in its PG version). But other less central issues are touched on as well — the keeping of apes as “pets,” the status of animals as property, and the issue of shelters supplying animals to testing facilities for profit. Perhaps the underlying fundamental theme of this dark tale concerns the effects that greed and the pursuit of profit (at all costs) has on animals, and, ultimately, on humans.

One of the most widely touted animal-positive features of Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the refusal to use live apes in the making of the movie, and it is, indeed, heartening to see this story about chimpanzee exploitation told without itself contributing to the suffering it decries. However, although the movie gets much right about the problems with humans’ attitudes toward animals, it is, unfortunately, itself guilty of speciesism. The movie not only uses live horses, but allows its ape hero to ride a horse in a scene where he is fighting his human enemies, thus begging the question: Will the apes not only replace us, but also continue our exploitation of other animals? Perhaps the writers wanted to be faithful to the original Planet of the Apes, which did indeed portray the simian society as using horses to hunt humans. Whatever the reason, it was disappointing to see this type of exploitation of one species portrayed so casually in a movie that so aptly addressed the evil exploitation of another.

But, flaws aside, there is no question that Rise of the Planet of the Apes is, ultimately, a paean to animal (or at least ape) liberation. Thus, the real question becomes — can a Hollywood blockbuster serve as a tool for social change? In the short time since it opened in theatres, the movie has been seen by an estimated 22 million people worldwide and has managed to create a media stir that goes far beyond Oscar predictions for its truly extraordinary special effects, reaching issues ranging from evolution, science, and animals in entertainment, to policy, race, and endangered species. The movie has piqued the interest of everyone from Peter Singer to republican Representative Roscoe Bartlett, whose op ed in The New York Times called for an end to all experiments on apes. Certainly animal protection organizations have seized the opportunities presented by the movie’s box office success and media attention. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine issued a call to action entitled “The Real Planet of the Apes.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals increased its focus on animal testing discourse in conjunction with the film’s release, and various other groups are organizing screenings and protests.

Can this blockbuster truly change hearts and minds about animals? In-depth research would be needed to assess the effects of the movie on attitudes and behaviors, but one thing is certain — Rise of the Planet of the Apes has brought much-needed attention to some animal issues.

***

Also be sure to catch our Hollywood correspondent, Ari Solomon’s, review of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which can be heard on our 83rd podcast episode. 

Loredana Loy

Loredana Loy is a long-time animal liberation activist and a graduate student at New York University. She is studying the animal liberation movement through sociological and cultural lenses. Her research is focused on cinema as a tool for promoting animal liberation messages.

Making a movie is a huge undertaking, with detail upon detail to be dealt with. Like everything worth doing, it’s a whole lot harder than it looks. Which is why we are so very thrilled that so many animal advocates, whether they are experienced filmmakers, like the folks who made Bold Native, or out and out beginners, like Marisa Miller Wolfson of Vegucated fame, are putting in the enormous amount of work that it takes to produce a quality product.

One of the new ones that is really intriguing us is Got the Facts on MIlk? Not only does this film look incredibly informative on the health disaster that is cows’ milk production, but it promises to be “humorous.” Yowsa. Let’s face it — it’s a whole lot easier to get people to watch something that’s funny, even if the underlying message is anything but.

Another new movie to keep an eye on is Beyond the Myth, which attempts to convey the truth about pit bulls (the truth being that they’re the sweetest puppies on the planet. Ask Rose.) Although this movie is not yet available on DVD, it is one to  keep an eye on, since it could be a valuable tool in fighting breed discrimination. Screenings are coming up in Boston and Kentucky, and they are looking for people to host screenings in other locales.

The extraordinary activism that a film can accomplish starts with the vision and hard work of a filmmaker. But, ultimately, the work of using these films to spread the word about what’s happening to animals is work that we all need to share in. Whether you want to host a public screening (which would involve getting permission from the copyright holder and perhaps paying a license fee) or just invite over friends and family for a movie (no permissions required), you need to make sure that these valuable tools are used to the max. How to sweeten the deal to get non-vegans to show up? How about making it a non-dairy sundae party?!

We were therefore so excited to hear that Madonna of the Mills, a documentary that uncovers the hideous abuse of dogs in puppy mills, has reached that milestone. The movie tells the story of an office manager from Staten Island, who, after finding out the truth about puppy mills, vowed to save as many of the breeding dogs as she could, ultimately rescuing over 2,000 dogs. Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, August 24, and continuing for a month, millions of HBO subscribers will have the opportunity to learn what happens to these dogs and, hopefully, will never again consider buying a puppy from a store.

If you have HBO, and haven’t seen the movie, now’s your chance. But, more importantly, spread the word to those who might not know as much as you do about puppy mills and try to get them to tune in. Maybe you can even invite them over to watch. Let them know this is not simply a horror show of hideous cruelty, but an uplifting tale of hope and joy as these canine survivors find new loving homes. This is truly a movie that has the potential to save lives.

And now, at long last, finding apt, timely, hard-hitting, and inspiring animal rights videos is even easier than enjoying a delicious vegan cupcake (which, duh, is clearly a no-brainer). VegVids, a new project by the wonderful people at VegFund, allows you to thumb through hundreds of vegan and animal rights themed short films, so that you can share them, learn from them, and even submit your own, making it a cinch to to truly utilize these videos to their fullest. According to VegFund’s Video Outreach Director, Adam Orand, VegVids is a “comprehensive source of vegan-themed videos from around the web — accessible by activists and the general public.”

Searchable categories include Advocacy in Action, Health & Nutrition, Just for Kids, Race & Equality, and many more. There’s also a featured section, in case you’re feeling lazy or want the luck of the draw. The videos that are posted include those from organizations (such as PETA and Farm Sanctuary) as well as individuals (perhaps those with a Flipcam and a Dream). Upon a quick perusal, I found eye-opening and touching videos including Veganism (A 7-Year-Old’s Perspective), John Robbins on Meals for Health Program, and Vegan Consciousness, Structural Racism, Solidarity: “It’s not about you as an individual racist.” 

This is one of the greatest aggregators I’ve seen with the goal of acting as an “invaluable resource for many forms of outreach and education.” As someone who is constantly on the lookout for new video tools with the power to reach people with varying interests (and therefore varying avenues into compassion), this website has quickly become a fave.

The fabulous folks at VegNews told us that just by voting, these are the fabulous prizes you will be entered to win;

Grand Prize: VEGAN CARIBBEAN CRUISE
Get ready to embark on an all-expense paid vegan vacation of a lifetime. You and one very lucky guest will sail on the breathtaking Italian luxury liner Poesia for a weeklong cruise with Holistic Holiday at Sea. Nourish your mind, body, and spirit as you traverse the clear-blue waters of the Carribbean, enjoying stops at St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. While on board, enjoy artfully prepared organic vegan cuisine, morning yoga, cooking classes, educational seminars, evening parties, and so much more. In addition, you’ll enjoy dinner at the stunning all-vegan Sublime restaurant in Fort Lauderdale before setting sail. Bon voyage!

First Prize: YEAR SUPPLY OF COCONUT BLISS ICE CREAM
Imagine taking a bite of one of the richest, most decadent vegan ice creams available. Now, imagine having this indulgent dairy-free frozen dessert in your freezer 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for an entire year. With flavors like Chocolate Walnut Brownie, Ginger Cookie Caramel, and Pineapple Coconut, Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss is perfect for sundaes, milkshakes, or just right out of the carton. This coconut-based ice cream will leave you in a state of bliss, guaranteed.

Second Prize: VEGANTREATS DESSERT PARTY
Did someone say Peanut Butter Bomb Cake? We did, and we’re offering an entire party’s worth of cake, brownies, cookies, cannolis, doughnuts, sticky buns, and more from VeganTreats bakery just in time for the holidays. Think platters of Tahitian Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies, White Chocolate Pretzel Brownies, and Marshmallow Cream Doughnuts (and that’s just the beginning). One lucky winner will receive three dozen of VeganTreats’ very best, plus free tote bags, t-shirts, and buttons for the ultimate vegan dessert party. Let’s just say you’re going to need a lot of almond milk for this shindig.

Third Prize: VITAMIX BLENDER
Make silky-smooth soups, refreshing smoothies, and the perfect cashew-cheese sauce with a state-of-the-art Vitamix blender, a favorite of the VegNews staff. With a motor that packs some serious horsepower and blades spinning at upwards of 240 miles per hour, the Vitamix’s power and performance can’t be beat, and neither will the ice cream, bisques, and piña coladas you make with it (send photos!). This industry-leading culinary contraption is a must-have in every vegan kitchen.

Plus, Weekly Giveaways! CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE BOXES
Trust us, you’ve never tasted vegan truffles like these. Premium Chocolatiers’ 30-truffle boxes feature classic, decadent flavors such as “milk” fudge, coffee, Grand Marnier, raspberry, and salted caramel made with the company’s own soymilk-based pareve chocolate. Whether you’re spending the evening hosting a dinner party or simply relaxing at home, you will want these luxurious truffles by your side. (five winners)