October 1 was World Vegetarian Day, October 2 was World Farm Animals Day, and all of October we’re celebrating Vegetarian Awareness Month. In the spirit of the season, here are 29 actions you can take to encourage plant-based eating—to help protect animals, the planet, and our health.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a bit of a walking encyclopedia on vegetarian eating. You know which store near you sells Daiya cheese at the best price, which kind of non-dairy milk goes best with your favorite coffee or tea, and know a heavy handful of compelling statistics on how factory farming pollutes our water and air, wastes resources, and is a truly horrific system to live and die within.
Even with all of this important knowledge running through our heads, it’s always good to take a step back and re-evaluate our strategies and talking points in an effort to try to be as effective as we can when advocating for animals.
This was Compassion Over Killing’s (COK) third year in a row at the eco-conscious Abbot Kinney Festival, one of the biggest street fairs in Los Angeles attracting 150,000 attendees to the sunny Venice community. It also marked our 50th event of the year!
For years, Compassion Over Killing (COK) has led public education, legislative outreach, legal advocacy, and corporate campaigns for animals. In that time, we have helped countless people discover the benefits of choosing vegetarian foods, and supported them with free resources such as starter guides, recipes, meal ideas, and several local veg dining guides.
In addition to educating others about vegetarian eating, we also make it top priority to motivate and empower other advocates to effectively speak out for animals.
Producing a veggie burger requires 93% fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than it does to produce a hamburger.
If everyone in the U.S. went meatless one day a week, it would be equivalent to taking 7.6 million cars off the road.
As the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. may have a reputation of being a city filled with political figureheads, federal monuments, and way too many tourists snapping family photos in front of the White House. But once you get past the politics and historical landmarks, all you need is Compassion Over Killing’s (COK’s) new Summer/Fall 2011Vegetarian Guide to Washington DC and Surrounding Areas to realize that the nation’s capital is a veritable vegetarian haven.
Turn on your TV or read the news and you might occasionally see a light-hearted story about the lives of animals. Remember “the Animal Odd Couple”from 2009 in which an elephant and a dog became best friends? Or what about the story of the Echo Park, CA resident who befriended a goose? Stories like these warm our hearts and often encourage us to think a bit differently about the animals in our lives and even about the wildlife we admire from afar.
A major factor preventing numerous people from seriously exploring veganism is simply convenience. Those who’ve had no experience with veganism often find the thought of finding vegan options daunting, and because of this, COK has worked closely with dozens of restaurants to create or expand their meat-free menus. Our goal is to help make vegan eating as easy as possibly by ensuring that animal-friendly options are widely available.
The DC VegFest is a free outdoor festival highlighting the many benefits of leaving animals off our plates and showing just how easy it is to find delicious vegetarian cuisine in and around the nation’s capital. Hosted on George Washington University’s campus, this year’s event is scheduled on Sat., Sept. 24. Be sure to mark your calendar!