Get Involved

Tools and Resources

How to get ACTive for Farm Animals on Earth Day

Earth Day (April 22) is the perfect time to educate the public about the unmistakable connection between animal agriculture and the environment. There is a built-in hook for all your effort and enough different actions to cover the globe. Here are some ideas.

Take to the streets, or bike-paths!
For some tried & true, ‘70s style activism:

• Hand out “Factory Farming Destroying the Environment” brochures locally to show your neighbors the global problems with industrial animal agriculture. Or point out the various environmental reasons they should change their eating habits. Leafleting for one hour makes a huge difference – just one leaflet has the power to change hearts and minds.
• Set up an educational table at your local library or community center or some other prominent place in your town. Rather than only setting up a table for Earth Day, why not celebrate April as “Earth Month” and arrange for your display to last as long as a biodegradable bag?
• Find out about your local Earth Day celebration. See if you can set up a Farm Sanctuary information table there or if you can pass out literature. Speaking up for farm animals at events like these is an ideal way of spreading compassion to people who want to make a difference.
• Ask your city councilor to help get a Green Food resolution adopted in your town. Educate your community on the importance of eating lower on the food chain (such as going vegan!) as a means to reduce our global “foodprint.”

Embrace the Earth with Multi-Media!
There is something here for everyone:  

• Work to get Earth Day-friendly PSAs on your local radio station! Farm Sanctuary can provide you with the PSA, ready-made for your Earth Day convenience! Follow our handy guide to getting a PSA aired near you.
• Write Letters to the Editor making the connection between animal agriculture and Earth Day. This is not only a terrific way to educate the public about the direct connection between factory farming and the environment, but it is also a way to start getting them to think about Earth Day every day!
• Host a screening of a farm-animal friendly film on Earth Day (even if it’s only in your living room). You might consider the following films: Earthlings or Mad Cowboy.
• Be a social-network butterfly. Spend one hour sending people links to Web sites that make the connection between animal agriculture and factory farming, such as this one. You can also access the latest news on the devastating impact of factory farming on the environment, and then share those links with your “online friends,” or through e-mail.

In the Kitchen & Back to the Earth!
Outreach with food:

• Host a feed-in! Pass out Earth-friendly vegan food samples. Click here for a list of delicious cruelty-free foods.
• Ask your friends and family to pledge to go vegan for a day/week/month to celebrate Earth Day. We’d love be in the loop of this, so e-mail us at activist@farmsanctuary.org when they agree!
• Have a vegan Earth Day potluck and discuss the connections between eating vegan and greening the planet. Be sure to be well-stocked with literature, in case people have questions. Send them a link to our Veg for Life Campaign for some delicious, compassionate recipes!
• Get started on your own veganic garden. Make this a community event by inviting friends and neighbors over to help, which is also a great opportunity for them to learn about plant-based foods. You can even get the neighborhood kids on board, and teach them about the varieties of plants they can eat.
• No yard for a garden? Try building your own Earth Box or plant a simple container garden.

However you decide to get ACTive for Farm Animals on Earth Day, the important thing is that you do something that you feel good about. E-mail activist@farmsanctuary.org with any questions, or to keep us in the loop of your good-doings.

Happy Earth Day!