WFAD 2007 Provided a Worldwide Voice for Animals
People around the world took a stand against cruelty in honor of the 25th annual observance of World Farm Animals Day. Nearly 450 events took place in communities throughout all 50 U.S. states and two dozen other countries for this global outcry. The occasion, observed on or around October 2nd, exposes and memorializes the pointless suffering and death of 50 billion cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, and other innocent animals in the world’s factory farms and slaughterhouses.
WFAD coordinators hosted a wide variety of activities. Educational events, such as information tables, exhibits, video screenings and leafleting, explained the reality behind meat production. Participants displayed WFAD banners and posters and distributed colorful WFAD handouts. Food-centered events, such as feed-ins and vegan food samplings, demonstrated the great taste of cruelty-free products. Dramatic events, such as vigils, memorial services, marches and “die-ins,” captured media attention and the public's imagination. This year’s featured event was the “cage-in” where demonstrators confined themselves in cages to represent animals imprisoned in factory farms.
In the U.S. capital, FARM coordinated an unforgettable protest in front of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The multi-pronged event depicted "The Stages of Meat,” providing a representation of cruel confinement, brutal slaughter, and packaged "food." Rather than animals, people (or human forms) sat inside cages, hung from a slaughter line, and became transformed into a package of meat. View the full DC report with photos.
Activities also took place in 31 universities, educating college students with information tables, exhibits, food samples, video screenings, and more. Marches for farmed animals were held in 45 U.S. cities and several other countries. PETA activists coordinated 50 attention-grabbing KFC protests, exposing the horrific conditions chickens are forced to endure. Humane societies, animal shelters, and sanctuaries distributed colorful handouts to visitors offering free Veg Starter Kits and weekly recipes. The specially designed cards carry the headline, “Because you care about animals” and explain the connection between our animal companions and those used for food.
Public officials issued proclamations noting the importance of this day. They spoke out against the exceptionally cruel crowding and deprivation that prevail in today’s factory farms and stockyards. Proclamations were issued by the governors of Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa and Vermont, and by the mayors of Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Phoenix and Pittsburgh.
We are also placing billboards in major cities encouraging millions of commuters to "ChooseVeg.” There's still to time to sponsor a billboard for only $300. Click now to sponsor a WFAD billboard. (Smaller donations will be combined.)
World Farm Animals Day was exceptionally well-represented internationally with activities taking place in two dozen other countries. Activists in Canada hosted a dozen events. Several groups in Israel coordinated creative events including nude activists packaged like frozen meat, unique costumes, and a two-hour funeral march. Outreach in Croatia offered vegan food samples and a video screening. New Zealand hosted a massive Vegetarian Food & Lifestyle Festival. In India, more than 70 groups held lectures, marches, rallies, educational events, and more.
Other participating countries included Australia, Belgium, Chile, Congo, Cyprus, England, France, Indonesia, Kenya, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda (visit the Global Events Directory). Thanks to compassionate people everywhere, World Farm Animals Day and related events are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. and around the world. While the official WFAD date is October 2nd, activists continue to take a stand for farmed animals and remain active throughout the month of October, culminating in World GO VEGAN Days (see below). Colorful handouts are still available for distribution in your community – request postcards now at www.farmusa.org! For event details and additional photos, view the WFAD 2007 Events Report. What’s Next? World GO VEGAN Days celebrations, coordinated by In Defense of Animals (IDA) and co-presented by FARM, will be taking place from October 27th through 29th – it’s an excellent opportunity to introduce others to the benefits of veganism by encouraging restaurants in your area to offer discounted meals and specials during the three-day celebration. Visit the website at www.WorldGoVeganDays.com. Coming in November... Gentle Thanksgiving! Now that you’ve informed your friends and community about the suffering of farmed animals, encourage them to choose a vegan diet by hosting a Gentle Thanksgiving. Check it out at www.GentleThanksgiving.org. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ World Farm Animals Day is coordinated by FARM, a non-profit public interest organization based in Washington, DC. This year's observance is co-sponsored by In Defense of Animals. Other participating groups include PETA, Compassion Over Killing, Mercy for Animals, and Vegan Outreach.
FARM - 10101 Ashburton Lane, Bethesda MD 20817 |
Of special
note, Massachusetts high school students
arranged a “die-in.” Pennsylvania
demonstrators coordinated a vigil outside of three slaughterhouses,
holding 10 large candles, each representing
5 billion animals who die each year for food. California
groups used animal costumes and large
signs. Florida activists showed graphic factory
farm and slaughter footage on “body
screens.” 
Letters
to newspaper editors promoting
the WFAD message of compassion were sent
to more than 600 publications. Bus
cards are currently running in 500
vehicles throughout Boston, Los Angeles,
Manhattan, New York, and Philadelphia. 
