Helpless, no more.

I feel as though animal cruelty is a subject that doesn't get discussed enough.  Not too long ago, I made a post about a documentary I watched called Food Inc., and since then, I've done all that I can to eliminate meat from my diet.  I'm not yet to the point where I can eat a strictly vegan diet, but I'm well on my way to a vegetarian lifestyle.  And I would like to mention that I did not make this decision because I believe eating animals is wrong.  It's my opinion that humans probably wouldn't exist if we had stuck to a nuts and berries diet from the beginning.  It's the way that these animals are treated. Every day, animals are beaten, injured, or locked up in cages in factory farms or fur farms.  They don't lead any semblance of a normal life.  The horrific cruelty that these animals face is unimaginable.

I recently became involved with PETA, and while I don't agree with all of their methods, I wanted to find a way to become more involved.  Through PETA, I've been able to delve deeper into what really goes on behind the scenes in factory and fur farms, popular fast food chains, and even countries that allow mass animal slaughters.  And one thing that has deeply struck a nerve with me is the fur trade...

Right now, action is being taken against Canada, which holds a mass seal slaughter.  Every year, seals, some who aren't even a few weeks old, are beaten and skinned for their fur.  Their fur.  It makes my stomach turn to think that there are animals being brutally slaughtered for something so vain.  Whilst I do not agree in any way, shape, or form with the methods that animals in factory farms are killed for food, it's still for food, something substantial.  This is for a vanity.  Something that is in no way necessary.  I can proudly say that I have never worn real fur before, and I never will.

The pictures and videos I've seen are downright horrifying.  I can't get the images of these helpless animals out of my head.  I've decided to do everything that I can to help them.  I know it may never be much, but I can still try.

It may not be in everyone's best interest to become a vegan or vegetarian, but that doesn't mean you can't still help.  Visit www.peta.org, and you'll see countless ways to be active, from protests to demonstrations, to simply writing letters to leaders.  

If you would like to help the seals in Canada, you can visit www.canadasshame.com, and learn more about what's going on, as well as request leaflets to hand out to raise awareness.  There's a link to the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper's, Twitter page on the website, as well.  Feel free to tweet him about ending the seal slaughter!  (I have!)

There are many, many other links on PETA's website, as well as other sites, on ways to become an animal activist.  I'm not here to be preachy or shove this in anyone's face, and I'm certainly not trying to call out people who aren't vegan/vegetarian...I just feel like this is such an important issue that tends to get overlooked.  And it goes so much deeper than just what I've posted.

-Allie.