ANIMAL WELFARE

Animals have become commoditized in our industrial economy. From food to materials, we use these sentient beings with little regard for their welfare. Thankfully, it has never been easier to find ways to allieviate one of humanity's greatest stains.

WHY?

ANIMALS DESERVE OUR RESPECT AND CARE.

These should get your attention:

  • Approximately 80 billion land animals are slaughtered for food worldwide each year. 
  • It is estimated that 1 to 3 trillion fish and 300 to 400 billion farmed shrimp are killed annually.
  • 90% of farmed animals in the world are raised in factory farms, where they live in overcrowded, inhumane, and unsanitary conditions.
  • Most meat chickens are slaughtered at just 6-7 weeks old (a fraction of their natural lifespan of 5-10 years). Pigs are typically killed at 6 months old, though they can live up to 15-20 years.
  • Factory farming contributes to approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the entire transportation sector.
  • For every male chick hatched in the egg industry, many are killed shortly after birth because they are not profitable (approximately 7 billion chicks annually). 
  • In the dairy industry, male calves are often slaughtered at a young age for veal or other purposes.

In spite of all this, the number of animals in our industrial system continue to increase. It's never been more important to consider the impact our lives are having on our animal friends.

WATCH

FILMS AND TALKS
TALKS & TV SERIES

Ted Talks are one of the most enjoyable ways to absorb information about animal welfare. Check out these notable talks:

  • Beyond Carnism: Melanie Joy explores the concept of "carnism," the invisible belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals but not others.
  • Animals Should Be Off The Menu: Peter Singer argues that the ethical treatment of animals requires ending their exploitation for food.
  • What Are Animals Thinking And Feeling:What's going on inside the brains of animals? Can we know what, or if, they're thinking and feeling? Carl Safina thinks we can.
  • A Lesson In Turning Adversaries Into Allies: Leah Garcés recounts three lessons she learned in hatching an ambitious plan to end chicken factory farming with the last person she expected: a chicken farmer.
  • Meat Without Animals: Food innovator Bruce Friedrich shows how government support can move this industry forward, revolutionizing the way we eat.

There's no shortage of great documentaries on how we treat animals. These are a few we really like:

DOCUMENTARIES
  • Cowspiracy: This film gets to the heart of how our food system is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, and the powers behind it.
  • Seaspiracy: A gripping exploration of the environmental impact of the fishing industry, highlighting overfishing, plastic pollution, and human rights abuses.
  • Blackfish: A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.
  • The Cove: A documentary that presents a gripping exposé of dolphin hunting practices in Taiji, Japan. 
  • The Ghosts In Our Machine: A cinematic documentary that illuminates the lives of individual animals living within and rescued from the machine of our modern world.
  • Okja: A young girl risks everything to prevent a powerful, multinational company from kidnapping her best friend - a fascinating beast named Okja.

READ

BOOKS & ARTICLES
ARTICLES

Sometimes there's nothing better than cozying up on the couch with a book. These gems are worth a look:

BOOKS
  • Animal Liberation: Peter Singer exposes the chilling realities of today's "factory farms" and product-testing procedures—destroying the spurious justifications behind them, and offering alternatives to what has become a profound environmental and social as well as moral issue. 
  • Eating Animals: Part memoir and part investigative report, Eating Animals is a book that, in the words of the Los Angeles Times, places Jonathan Safran Foer "at the table with our greatest philosophers" -and a must-read for anyone who cares about building a more humane and healthy world.
  • Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, And Wear Cows: an absorbing look at what social psychologist Melanie Joy calls carnism, the belief system that conditions us to eat certain animals when we would never dream of eating others. 
  • Do Unto Animals: The more we know about the animals in our world and the better we care for them, the better our lives will be.
  • Mercy For Animals: A compelling look at animal welfare and factory farming in the United States, preventing cruelty to farmed animals and promoting compassionate food choices and policies.

LISTEN

INSPIRING DISCUSSIONS

Podcasts are one of the best ways to absorb information about animal welfare. Check out these notable podcasts so you can find what you need to know:

  • Species Unite: Interviews with activists, experts, and influencers working to end animal cruelty, by Beth Novogratz.
  • The Animal Law Podcast: Join animal law professor Mariann Sullivan as she explores groundbreaking legal cases shaping the future of animal protection.
  • Our Hen House: Our Hen House produces insightful, inspiring podcasts that change the world for animals, by hosts Jasmin Singer and Mariann Sullivan.
  • The ChickPeeps: Join host Evanna Lynch and her co-hosts as they discuss their philosophies, challenges and opinions on living the vegan lifestyle.
  • The Plant-Based Business Podcast: Vevolution brings together leading plant-based and cell-based entrepreneurs and investors to discuss what it takes to create and scale a business.
  • The Disclosure Podcast: Ed Winters explores topics surrounding veganism, morality, ethics, and the environment.
  • Paw & Order: Canada’s only animal law podcast! They break down current issues in animal law and the future of animal protection.

LIVE

YOU CAN DO A LOT TO HELP, EVERYDAY
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
  • Eat fewer animals: Food is one of the easiest ways we can have a direct impact on animals. Whether it’s eating less meat, buying more plant-based products, there’s a lot we can do when we sit down to eat everyday.  Happy Cow and Abillion can make it easier to find restaurants and stores nearby. For home-cooked meals, check out Beyonce’s meal-planner.
  • Eating better: For the animal products you do consumer, be sure to source it from producers who incorporate better animal welfare standards. Labels like Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), pasture-raised, and others can help guide you. Though be mindful that many labels are greenwashed, using terms like sustainable, cage-free, free-range, or natural. 
  • Wear it better: Fashion is another huge source of animal suffering, particularly leather products. Avoiding leather, suede, fur, and other animal-derived products will help drive demand away from these harmful practices. Swapping for items made with cotton or alternatives like mushroom-leather, etc.

These areas can give you the power in everyday life to make a difference. Vote with your dollars and decisions!

GIVE

CHARITIES TO SUPPORT
RECOMMENDED CHARITIES
  • The Humane League: We exist to end the abuse of animals raised for food. 
  • Food Solutions Action: Food Solutions Action works with federal and state policymakers to ensure that American farmers, businesses, and research institutions lead the world in solving the impending global protein gap.
  • Mercy For Animals: Working to end factory farming and foster a humane and regenerative food system.
  • Compassion in World Farming: Compassion In World Farming campaigns peacefully to end factory farming and create sustainable food systems that benefit animals, people, and the planet.
  • Sea Shepherd: Sea Shepherd’s sole mission is to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife.
  • White Coat Waste Project: Working to stop cruel and ineffective animal testing.
  • Faunalytics: Faunalytics conducts research and shares knowledge to help advocates help animals effectively.

These charities are working hard to tackle animal suffering. 

For those looking to do their own homework or simply looking to explore other options, check out these sites:

INVEST

ORGANIZATIONS WORTH KNOWING
RECOMMENDED ORGANIZATIONS
  • Unovis Asset Management: Investing in purpose-driven entrepreneurs with a shared vision for a well-fed and sustainable world.
  • Fifty Years: They back founders using technology to solve the world’s biggest problems. 
  • Stray Dog Capital: Investing in a healthier, humane, and more sustainable future.
  • Sustainable Food Ventures: SFV backs early-stage founders building leading food companies that replace animals in food.
  • VegTech Invest: The VegTech™ Plant-based Innovation & Alternative Proteins Index is the first index for the plant-based innovation and alternative proteins sector.
  • FAIRR: Global investor network covering risks and opportunities in the global food system.
  • Green Monday Ventures: GMV is of the view that plant-based food items are important alternatives to meat.
  • Synthesis Capital: Investing in game-changing founders whose companies are transforming the food system.
  • Better Bite Ventures: Early-stage investments in climate-friendly food and agri tech startups in Asia Pacific.
  • Beyond Animal: Where investors and non-animal businesses meet.
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