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Take Action to Help Animals!
Here is what you can do to help animals:
 | | Move Toward a Vegetarian or Vegan Diet |
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 Over 95% of the cruelty to animals in the United States occurs at the hands of the meat, dairy, and egg industries - which confine, mutilate, and slaughter over 9 billion land animals each year.
Since our diets are the leading cause of animal abuse, this is the best place to start helping animals -- by choosing kindness over cruelty everytime we eat.
By adopting a vegetarian diet, you can spare the lives of over 50 animals each year. That adds up to thousands during a lifetime.
Of course, adopting new habits can be challenging at first. Although some people become vegan overnight, most people look at becoming vegetarian or vegan as a process, and take time to develop new eating habits.
To learn more about how to incorporate more vegetarian meals into your diet, explore ChooseVeg.com. The site has tips, recipes, videos, and everything you need to help make the switch.
You can also order a free Vegetarian Starter Kit for additional tips and recipes to help you get started.
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 | | Teach Yourself and Others about The Issues |
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After you've adopted a vegetarian diet for a while, you may notice that people start asking you a lot of questions about it such as:
Sometimes, people are simply trying to justify their own habits of eating animals by posing such questions, but other times people are genuinely interested in learning more. If it feels argumentative, gracefully end the conversation by smiling and calmly saying, "Thank you for your interest in vegetarianism, but right now, I don't feel like talking about it. If you would like to learn more about it I suggest you visit ChooseVeg.com or read this brochure," and then hand them some vegetarian literature.
However, for those people who are genuinely curious and interested in learning more, these conversations can be a wonderful way to help animals and share information.
Learn as much as you can about factory farming and vegetarian issues -- this way you you will be better able to share with others why you're a vegetarian.
Most people have never been exposed to the idea of vegetarian eating before, and you will likely be the first person who shapes their idea of what vegetarians are like, so strive to be knowledgeable, patient, respectful, and joyful -- regardless of how hostile someone might be to you.
Check out these resources for more info:
Finally, if people are asking you health-related questions, it helps if you are healthy yourself.
Check out our "Top 10 Vegan Health Tips" to optimize your health to its fullest potential.
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 | | Invest in a Kinder Tomorrow: Join MFA Today |
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 VegNews has called Mercy For Animals one of the best "bang for your buck" charities.
Please help create a kinder world for animals by becoming a member.
To become a member of Mercy For Animals, simply click here and make a donation of $15 or more. As a member you will receive our bi-annual magazine Compassionate Living, our Compassion In Action DVD, and best of all -- the knowledge that you are making a positive difference in the lives of animals.
Click here to download MFA's membership brochure.
If you'd like to step up your giving, consider setting up a recurring donation from your debit or credit card. It's easy for you, it's automatic, and you will know you are making a difference in the lives of animals every month.
Or if you'd prefer to send a check, you can always send donations to:
Mercy For Animals
3712 N. Broadway, Suite 560
Chicago, IL 60613
Another great way to help animals is to leave a legacy of compassion by adding MFA to your will. Click here to find out more.
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 | | Volunteer: Put Your Compassion Into Action |
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If you would like to volunteer with MFA, please consider filling out our volunteer form or consider applying for an MFA internship.
This form allows us to learn more about you, your skills, and what types of projects you're interested in, so we can figure out how to best incorporate you into the organization.
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 | | Attend an MFA Event |
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 If you live near one of Mercy For Animals' chapters, we highly recommend that you join other members of Mercy For Animals at our public outreach events.
If you live outside of one of MFA's core regions, consider joining a local vegetarian or animal protection organization, or even starting your own.
Meetup.com is a good starting point, since they list numerous vegan and vegetarian "meetups" across the country. This is a good way to meet other vegetarians in your area and plan events.
Click here for a worldwide database of animal protection organizations.
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 | | Become An Online Activist |
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If you have a website or a MySpace or Facebook profile, consider adding a web banner or video to your page.
Another effective technique is to put a vegetarian website or quote in your email signature.
For example:
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Sincerely,
John Doe
Help improve your health and the environment while preventing needless animal suffering. Visit ChooseVeg.com.
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 | | Leaflet |
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 One of the most effective techniques for educating others about the health and ethical benefits of a plant-based diet is is by distributing literature in public places with heavy foot traffic.
The great thing about leafletting is the lack of preparation time required. At the right time and place, just one person can hand out hundreds of brochures in less than an hour.
We recommend passing out "Why Vegan?" brochures, which you can order in bulk from Vegan Outreach, and "Why love one but eat the other?" brochures which you can order from the MFA Literature Store.
Since young people tend to be very interested in vegetarianism—and open to change—college campuses and concerts are particularly good places to leaflet.
Need some inspiration? Consider the math:
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Let's be really conservative and assume that only 1% of the people who receive a brochure decide to go vegetarian after reading it. If you pass out 200 leaflets in an afternoon, that's at least two new people who became vegetarian.
200 leaflets x 1% = 2 new vegetarians
Based on annual slaughter statistics, the average vegetarian saves over 50 animals per year (about 35 land animals, and many more sea animals).
If we assume that, on average, those who do go vegetarian stay vegetarian for at least one year, that equates to at least 100 animals saved just from a few hours of leafleting.
2 new vegetarians x 50 animals per year = 100 animals saved per year
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How many other activities can you think of that anybody can do, which can save at least one hundred lives in just a few hours?
For more info on leafleting, check out these leafleting tips:
Click here for a state-by-state listing of local advocates involved in vegetarian leafleting.
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 | | Organize a Video Showing |
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If you are involved in an organization such as:
- a school
- a student group
- a church
- an environmmental organization
- etc.
...consider organizing a video showing to teach others about the issues.
There are numerous excellent documentaries such as:
Click here for a guide to holding a successful screening.
In addition to organizing local screenings, another way to show videos is to air them on public access television.
Check out this guide to learn how to do this in your area.
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 | | Veganize Your Cafeteria or Local Restaurants |
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 If you're a high school or college student, consider organizing a campaign to get more vegan options in your school cafeterias.
Or if you're not in school, consider approaching local restaurants about carrying more vegan options.
Check out these resources below to get started:
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 | | Utilize the Power of the Pen |
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Don't underestimate the power of the pen -- or keyboard and mouse! Writing letters to the media, businesses, and legislators is a great way to speak up for animals.
Check out these resources below to get started:
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The animals are counting on you. Your actions, your voice, and your volunteering makes a difference. Thank you for having the courage and moral strength to act for animals and be the voice of the voiceless. With your help, we will create a more compassionate world for all beings.
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