Resources

There are many reasons to go vegan, including:

Vegans also campaign against the use of animals, including for:

 

Farmed Animals

Seventy billion land animals are bred and killed for human food consumption every year.

Most people would be shocked to learn of the cruelty that animals raised for food endure in their short lifespan. Many animal protection groups, have documented the conditions animals face in farms, in transport, and in slaughterhouses.

 

There are several excellent documentaries which educate, inform and help us to see the animals used, abused, and hidden from our view and our consciousness, including:

In this 10 minute clip from Philip Wollen’s very moving and articulate speech he tells us why “Animals Should Be Off The Menu.”

You can learn more about farmed animals, their unique personalities, and the horrific “standard practices” and documented abuses that they are subjected to on an daily basis by visiting the links below:

Free From Harm

Egg-Truth

  • Egg-Truth.com educates the public about the true nature of egg production from hatchery to plate.

The Humane Myth

Many people will pay more money for animal products if they believe that the animals have been treated humanely before they are killed. Learn the truth about the “humane myth.”

Health

The consumption of animal products (meat, dairy and eggs) has been linked to heart disease, some forms of cancer, and type II diabetes.  The feature film Forks Over Knives “examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods.”

The following sites provide information on the benefits of a plant-based diet, and resources to help you transition to a healthier lifestyle.

What the Health is a 2017 documentary film which critiques the health impact of meat and dairy products consumption, and questions the practices of the leading health and pharmaceutical organizations.

Eating You Alive is a documentary that takes a scientific look at the reasons we’re so sick, who’s responsible for feeding us the wrong information and how we can use whole-food, plant-based nutrition to take control of our health—one bite at a time.

Environment

There is growing awareness of the widespread environmental devastation caused by animal agriculture.

“Animal agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation, water consumption and pollution, is responsible for more greenhouse gases than the transportation industry, and is a primary driver of rainforest destruction, species extinction, habitat loss, topsoil erosion, ocean “dead zones,” and virtually every other environmental ill. Yet it goes on, almost entirely unchallenged.” Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

Support Resources

Animal Rights Activists can suffer from stress, fatigue and PTSD.  We often push ourselves to do more and more, because it seems that whatever we do is never enough. However, it is very important to take care of ourselves first.  We need to give ourselves permission to take a break, to step back if we are starting to feel burned out, and to seek help and support if we are feeling stressed, anxious or depressed.

Below are some resources for Animal Rights activists. We will be adding to this list. If you are aware of any useful resources please email animalrightstoronto@gmail.com

In Defense of Animals – Sustainable Activism Campaign

Animal Activist Helpline:
Phone: 1-800-705-0425
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
Email: helpline@idausa.org

Sustainable Activism Campaign:  Including online support group, sustainable activism tips, sustainable activism events, sustainable activism blog

Sustainable Activism Resources

Books:

aftershock_patrice_jones“Aftershock is about the real war against terror the struggle for a world in which nobody lives in fear of atrocities perpetrated by human beings. Every day, people who push against violence and injustice or pull for peace and freedom must face their own fears. Many activists also must struggle with “aftershock,” the physical and emotional reverberations of frightening, horrifying, or otherwise traumatizing experiences endured in the course of their activism.

This book is for aftershocked activists and their allies, as well as for people and organizations that practice high-risk activism. It includes practical tips for individuals, organizations, and communities, as well as information about how traumatic events affect our bodies and abilities.”