World Farm Animals Day
October 2012
World Farm Animals Day (WFAD), founded in 1983, is dedicated to exposing
and memorializing the needless suffering and death of cows, pigs, turkeys,
chickens, and other innocent, sentient animals raised and slaughtered for
food. World Farm Animals Day will continue until animals are no longer seen
as commodities are raised for their flesh and by-products.
A Day Just for Farm Animals?
Yes: Each year, approximately 65 billion animals are killed in the world’s
animal farms and slaughterhouses to produce meat, eggs, and dairy. Most of
these animal are raised onfactory farms, where they are confined, mutilated,
and raised to grow so large, so quickly, that many of them literally suffer
to death.
Even animal raised on small family farms endure many of these abuses, and
all animals raised for food face a gruesome slaughter. Learn more about
animal farming.
What Can I Do?
If you haven't yet - move away from eating meat, dairy, and eggs. If you
already eat an animal-free diet, there's lots you can do!
Activities traditionally include vigils, marches, leafleting, tabling, and
exhibiting. This year, we have a special new video for activists in the US
and Canada to showcase. The 10 Billion Lives video challenges viewers to see
for themselves the abuses inherent to animal farming. It concludes with an
opportunity to pledge to eat more vegan foods.
Share the video on Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks, or show it
on tabletops in your community. We will even help you fund a "pay-per-view"
event, where passerby are given $1 each to watch the 4-minute video.
Why October 2nd?
WFAD takes place on or around October 2nd to honor the birthday of Mahatma
Gandhi, an outspoken advocate of non-violence towards animals.
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in
which its animals are treated.
Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948), the Mahatma, is revered throughout the world
for his advocacy of nonviolence and justice. Gandhi's philosophy and
compassion extended to all people and actively included animals. A champion
of moral vegetarianism, Gandhi believed that speaking out on behalf of
animals is both a necessity and an obligation.
By celebrating World Farm Animals Day on October 2nd, we turn Gandhi's
ideals into action by making visible the cruel and unnecessary tragedy of
factory farms and slaughterhouses.
"Progress does demand at some stage that we should cease to kill our fellow
creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants."
For more information about Gandhi's compassion and active nonviolence
towards animals, please visit the International
Vegetarian Union.
Who Organizes WFAD?
Launched in 1983, World Farm Animals Day is an international campaign of Farm
Animal Rights Movement (FARM), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based
just outside of Washington, D.C. FARM pursues animal liberation through
vegan education and animal advocacy campaigns and works with local
volunteers to host activities and events, and serves as a resource by
providing information, guidance, materials, media outreach, and an online
Events Directory to animal rights activists.
WFAD observances are hosted by volunteers in communities in all 50 U.S.
states and 2 dozen other countries. Participants include animal advocacy
groups and individual activists- anyone and everyone who cares about animals
is encouraged to join us in this global outcry.
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