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Outstanding Activist!
Jana
Kohl's life took a dramatic turn when she saw the films, Life Behind
Bars,The Witness, and Meet Your Meat. Before watching
these documentaries, she had no idea how cruelly animals were treated
on factory farms and in the fur industry. After doing further research
she learned that laboratories, puppy mills, and circuses are also houses
of horror for animals. Once her eyes were opened to these sad realities,
she simply couldn't turn away.
For many years, Jana worked for one of the world's foremost Holocaust education organizations, so she has always been concerned with the problem of persecution and abuse of the innocent. As a psychologist, she is interested in the "trickle up" effect that violence toward animals has upon society. Like so many others, she is convinced that the sanctioned abuse of animals within established industries has a devastating effect on humans. "Not only does it destroy the psyche and soul of the person who inflicts pain and suffering upon the animals," Jana says, "it also promotes a culture of abuse and domination that is played out on a larger scale -against our Earth's precious environment and resources, against minorities, women, the poor, and other nations." Jana knows that our treatment of animals cannot be seen in isolation; rather it must be an integral part of our humanity.
Jana makes it a priority in her life to support organizations, like Farm Sanctuary, that teach compassion for animals and aim to outlaw all forms of cruelty against them. She also gets directly involved in projects and campaigns that she hopes can make a difference. When she saw how ducks and geese are force-fed to produce foie gras, for instance, she immediately volunteered to help us ban the delicacy in her hometown of Chicago. Together with hundreds of other compassionate citizens, she is working diligently to rally support for the city ordinance. A few years back, Jana also helped fund the making of the film, Peaceable Kingdom, and she is now a valuable member of Farm Sanctuary's Friends of Hilda Club.
Currently,
Jana's most ambitious project on behalf of animals is a book she is creating
called, "To Leave a Light Footprint." A celebrity photo book
celebrating the compassionate treatment of animals, it features leaders
from many fields, who through their work, vision, or deeds, "leave
a light footprint on the Earth." So far, this unique and compelling
book includes photos of U.S. Senator Barack Obama with Baby, the three-legged
puppy mill survivor who inspired the book, Judge Judy with 11 dogs rescued
from the Los Angeles area, and many other animal lovers and activists,
including Bill Maher, James Cromwell, and Noah Wyle. The book also features
the unsung heroes working in the trenches of the animal welfare movement
and will come with a CD of songs that celebrate the special bond between
humans and animals. Jana hopes that the book and CD will be instrumental
in raising awareness in a new way, and that they might help make change
in the lives of suffering animals. (Check out the website for Jana's book
and CD: www.baby94.com.) Thank you,
Jana for all you do!
Together, we ARE making a difference. If you would like to find out more about volunteering your time to educate others about factory farming and vegetarianism, please contact us at activist@farmsanctuary.org, or call 607-583-2225 ext. 229. Click here to find out what YOU can do to help!