Vegan Outreach: Connecting with Your Target Audience

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 conducting vegan outreach for animals.

The summer may be winding down, reducing our leafleting options to a trickle, but the winter holidays are just around the corner and with that comes many opportunities to talk with our friends, family, and co-workers about making compassion the centerpiece of our holiday celebrations.

Here are a two edu-taining books to get you started — and to make it even easier, we’re now carrying both of them in our online marketplace, currently available at discounted prices:

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism

By Melanie Joy, PhD. This informative book explores the constructs of denial people rely on—at both the cultural and individual level—to justify the choice to eat animals. Written as an educated dialogue with someone who currently eats meat, Dr. Joy provides the dedicated activist with a modus operandi for motivating others to identify the contradictions inherent to an animal-eating lifestyle and to empower them to make more compassionate food choices. This is a great book for long-time animal advocates and those just learning about the issues.

Change of Heart: What Psychology Can Teach Us About Spreading Social Change

by Nick Cooney, founder of The Humane League. This powerful book delves into over 8 decades of scientific research and studies to explain why we hold certain beliefs and what motives us to change. Cooney evaluates how belief systems are instilled and introduces various tools and approaches which most effectively challenge them, using meaningful examples and clever summaries along the way. A must-read for anyone (both seasoned activists and newcomers) eager to learn new strategies and become a more effective advocate for animals.

Visit COK’s marketplace today to order these books! They make great gifts, too. We have limited supplies in stock – so hurry.