On Saturday afternoon more then 70 men, women, and children of different nationalities, social standing, and background came together and marched through downtown Vancouver to raise money for Farm Sanctuary and protest against factory farming.
Farm Sanctuary is the leading animal protection organization in the United States with a location in New York State as well as one in California, according to the sanctuaries Media Relations Specialist Meredith Turner.
This is the 5th year Vancouver has taken part in the walk. Over 60 cities in North America participate annually, says Turner.
Michelle and Nathan Allen did the walk for the first time this year. Michelle, who manages an apartment building, has been a vegan since 1982.
“This event draws attention to a good cause. A lot of people don’t realize where their meat comes from,” she says.
Dave Steele, a Molecular Biologist at the University of British Columbia and the Vice-President of Earthsave Canada has participated every year the walk has been held in the city and feels strongly about the message it promotes.
“Factory farming is terrible for animals and the environment and I want people to be aware of it,” he says.
The Vancouver Walk is organized by animal rights group Liberation BC.
Glen Gaetz, one of the directors of Liberation BC, says that animal rights is a cause everyone should care about because animals have a right to a life without unnecessary suffering just as humans do.
“Our treatment of animals is deeply interconnected with the way we treat each other and the way we treat our environment,” says Gaetz.
55 billion land animals and 1 trillion fish are killed for food every year, according to Gaetz.
A 2006 United Nations report states that animal agriculture is one of the top contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every scale, from local to global.
Joanne Kang, one of the directors of Liberation BC says one of the most important things Canadians could do is pressure the government to stop handing out subsidies to the meat and dairy industries. She says If they didn’t have those subsidies they would be forced to increase prices which would lower the consumption of meat.
“People would have to pay the true price of meat and dairy, which would lower the amount they bought and consumed,” she says.
Over consumption of meat not only negatively affects a person's health, but also the environment, according to Kang.
Farm Sanctuary was created in 1986 and is home to cows, pigs, chickens, lambs, cats, dogs, and until he passed away recently, a goat with a prosthetic leg named Zoop, according to Turner.
She says that last year more then $300 000 was raised and the money helps fund education and advocacy work as well as going toward food and medication for the animals many of whom require medicine because they were genetically engineered to grow larger then their joints can handle.
The first estimates are putting the amount raised by Vancouverites at over $6000.
If you would like to learn more or volunteer your time visit Liberation BC’s website at www.liberationbc.org.
For clearer viewing of the photos go to:
