Every year we campaign for Earth—after all, every day is Earth Day here at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. While our core mission is focused on animal rights and educating folks on the importance of removing farmed animals from our food systems, we continue to advocate that this mission is connected to other major social justice issues, including the climate emergency and human rights; we are an organization who rallies for the animals, people, and planet 365 days a year.

Earth Day is April 22nd and around this time in the season we see an uptick of social concern for our beautiful and hurting planet. But the IPCC, whose timing in releasing this information feels very poignant, just shared a new report defined as their final warning to stave off the impending world climate disaster. To read this can be daunting, but to us it is not surprising. Our Executive Director Rachel has presented on multiple panels about animal farming and its effect on the climate. “While it should not be the only action we take as individuals and collectively, there is no doubt that boycotting and dismantling industrial animal agriculture must be done to lessen climate harm and it must be done now,” McCrystal says.

The Guardian article featuring IPCC report "now or never:"

So what can you do from here? It may feel like our individualized efforts are insignificant, but the choices we make every day with our consumption, advocacy efforts, and collective understanding, can make an impact towards the greater goal. When people have the chance to visit us, (we reopen for tours May 7th, click here for tickets) we introduce them to rescued residents like Jo, who was liberated from a small dairy farm in early 2020, and Antonio, whose mother gave birth to him and 15 other piglets just hours after being rescued from a pig farm. The rescued residents’ stories remind us that these animals are individuals with feelings, thoughts, family, and friends—and that the 400 rescued animals we take care of, that people meet and fall in love with every year, are only a few who get to experience such a lucky life as this.

This year more than 70 billion animals will be killed for human consumption—an increasing death toll that not only continues the exploitation and harm of sentient beings but is also destroying the world’s environment en mass—about 60% of all methane emissions and global greenhouse gases come from animal agriculture alone, which is also responsible for 80% of all global deforestation. By having more people meet the rescued residents and learn their stories, we hope it opens a door towards a more compassionate lifestyle with a greater understanding of how all these issues are so greatly (and gravely) connected.

A happy pig sunbathes in his wallow at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary

The best independent effort for Earth is to go vegan, leaving animals off our plates (and out of our daily products from fashion and beauty to housewares and cleaning supplies, everything!) There are a variety of resources available today for accessible, affordable ways to go plant-based and adopt a vegan lifestyle. We have listed some below.

As for the bigger picture, we understand from the IPCC report that to decrease the risk of climate disaster, coal must be phased out, methane emissions must be reduced, and all sectors of our global economy must change dramatically, leading us towards a more low-carbon world. While these actions may feel out of our grasp, we can uplift organizations and groups rallying to inspire this change. Make a commitment to consume less and buy less, and support companies with climate-positive ethics and sustainability initiatives. Amplify climate activism efforts and zero-waste initiatives in your community. Research legislative efforts and push for climate justice on a local and national scale.

Here at the Sanctuary, while we continue to provide a safe and loving home to rescued farmed animals, we will continue to advocate for our big home, our only home we all share together. Please join us in this—for the trees, bees, and everyone in between.

RESOURCES:

For going vegan:
https://peaceadvocacynetwork.org/

https://www.afrovegansociety.org/

https://www.cowspiracy.com/

http://www.nationearth.com/

https://vegan.com/info/information/

For activism and social justice education:
https://queerbrownvegan.com/

https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/issues/agribusiness/

https://earthjustice.org/action/protect-our-public-lands-and-waters-from-fossil-fuels?ms=drupal

https://landback.org/

https://collectiveliberation.org/

http://sistahvegan.com/