April 2020

Urging Government to Reform Our Food System

United States

The supply chains for meat, dairy, and eggs in the United States are breaking, and rather than rebuild them, we should reform our food system. Mercy For Animals wrote a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue urging him to allocate money from the stimulus package to farmers who want to transition from raising animals to growing plants.

We also submitted comments to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies asking Congress to mitigate COVID-19 risks to workers and public health by slowing slaughter-line speeds and requiring companies to transition to controlled-atmosphere stunning.

And we launched a petition calling on the USDA, the National Pork Producers Council, and the National Chicken Council not to use taxpayer dollars—in the form of a bailout—for mass killing of farmed animals. More than 10,000 people have signed.

Bringing Plants to People

United States

Mercy For Animals partnered with I Grow Chicago to donate and deliver 250 plant-based meals to Chicago families affected by the COVID-19 crisis. This event was part of a larger effort to protect the most vulnerable and help vegan businesses survive mandatory shutdowns.

Tuning In Together

Global

More than 30 inspiring musicians joined Mercy For Animals for a two-day virtual concert streamed on Facebook Live, IGTV, and Twitter. The lineup included Grammy Award winners Mýa and Joss Stone; Latin Grammy winner Sie7e; American Idol star Catie Turner; and Broadway stars Ryan McCartan, Alex Boniello, Kathryn Gallagher, Nellie McKay, and Jake Epstein. The concert amassed more than 150,000 views.

Taking Action at Home

Brazil, Mexico, United States

With most of the world sheltering in place, the Mercy For Animals team wants you to know we are still here for you. We handpicked recipes, activities, and simple actions to help animals and vegan businesses while social distancing.

The At Home Activism program includes a series of webinars by our team members on topics ranging from social change to undercover investigations.

Highlighting Troubling Farm Conditions

Brazil, Mexico, United States

Factory farms are not just terrible for animals. Their crowded, filthy conditions create perfect breeding grounds for pathogens that can infect humans. Through a series of social media posts, we gave our followers a glimpse inside these facilities.

Recruiting Plant Pledges

Brazil, Mexico, United States

In honor of Earth Day, we asked people to pledge to eat plant-based a few days a week. Those who took the pledge received a vegan starter guide packed with recipes and tips.

Changing Institutions

Brazil

The lower the demand for meat, dairy, and eggs, the fewer animals will be born into misery at factory farms. Mercy For Animals works to decrease demand by partnering with major institutions in Mexico and Brazil, such as schools and local governments, to reduce meat, dairy, and eggs served by at least 20 percent.

Building a Movement

Brazil, United States, Mexico

We believe that the world’s mightiest institutions will heed the call to reform when it comes from powerful and interconnected communities. That’s why our supporters are so important. And in April, Mercy For Animals activists hosted 28 online community-building activities!

View our year-to-date progress at MercyForAnimals.org/Impact