FREE Living passionate Com CThe Mag of MFA. LWINTER 2016 CANDICE BERGEN TV LEGEND SPEAKS OUT FOR CHICKENS DEPTHS OF DESPAIR HOW THE FISHING INDUSTRY IS EMPTYING OUR OCEANS TRIPLE TAKEDOWN TYSON TARGETED BY THREE MFA UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATIONS IN 2015 STEMMING THE TIDE TAKING CANADA MFA COMBATS FACTORY BY STORM FARMING IN INDIA MFA BRINGS HOPE TO ANIMALS ON CANADA’S FACTORY FARMS 400 million fewer animals were killed for food compared to several years prior. DEAR That’s 400 million individuals spared from FRIENDS, a lifetime of suffering on factory farms where they would have been confined in We’re winning. There’s no question that small cages or dirty sheds and tormented our movement has reached a critical by callous workers. They would have point—a time during which we achieve been torn from their family members victories for animals every single day. and driven mad from imprisonment and Large and small, these daily triumphs loneliness. And then they would have coalesce to form a force to be reckoned been violently killed after brief, miserable with on all fronts of our battle. lives. Need proof? Consider a few facts. But they weren’t, and that’s because of you. Over the past 10 years, meat consumption in America has dropped None of this progress would be possible by 10 percent. Driving this decline in without our movement’s rock-solid large part are millennials, 12 percent of foundation: you. Through your words, whom consider themselves vegetarians. actions, and donations, you are helping Now the largest generation in American us reach more people and spare history, Generation Y is spearheading more animals than ever before. The sweeping changes in all sectors of the conversations you have, the outreach economy, in policy, and in our culture. you do, and the funding you provide all Their collective, compassionate might lay the groundwork. None of it would has meat, dairy, and egg companies happen if you weren’t involved. scrambling to recover from falling demand—but millennials show no signs So thank you for getting involved, of trading in the values they hold dear. staying involved, and spreading the message of compassion to others. Instead, millennials (and people of all Together, we are unstoppable. ages) are creating a brighter future for animals by flocking toward products that better align with their morals. The market With gratitude, for vegan food is bigger than ever and growing rapidly: Analysts predict meat alternatives may claim a third of the protein market by 2054. A third! Imagine a large swath of the grocery store meat counter stocked with compassion instead Nathan Runkle of cruelty. It’s a beautiful sight, and it’s President not far off. @nathanrunkle Of course, the best proof that we’re winning is in the lives we save. In 2014, Candice during the video shoot to Undercover investigative work is mmy and Golden Globe award- hear her thoughts on the impact of the key. If you hear it, if you read it, winning actress Candice Bergen undercover investigations. you don’t believe it. Because it’s just E lends an unwavering voice for beyond comprehension. The actual animals. Fueled by her conviction that Why are you against factory footage of the abuses is what is needed undercover investigations are critical farming? to get real legislation and effect change to ending extreme animal abuse on in the industry. It’s critical in terms factory farms, Candice narrated MFA’s I’m a huge animal rights person. I’m of curbing some of these incredible eye-opening new video into a Tyson against factory farming because I’m abuses. chicken supplier. In the video, Candice against anything that abuses animals. encourages consumers everywhere SEE VIDEO AND TAKE ACTION: to make compassionate meal choices. Why do you think undercover We had the pleasure of chatting with investigative work is so important? TYSONTORTURESANIMALS.COM 2 COMPASSIONATE LIVING WINTER 2016 Although previous studies link meat to cancer, new research released by the influential World Health Organization places processed meats in the same carcinogenic category as asbestos and cigarettes. Now the state of California is considering adding red and processed meat to its cancer-alert list. The first lab-grown hamburger debuted two years ago and now scientists in Israel are focusing on test tube chicken. In Germany, even the meat industry has begun heavily investing in meat alternatives. And NASA recently announced that a future manned mission to Mars will feature an entirely plant-based menu. The success of Just Mayo, Hampton Creek’s eggless mayonnaise, sparked a scandal that has rocked the egg industry. When leaked emails showed the American Egg Board trying to Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth thwart sales of Just Mayo, the USDA launched an investigation. Joanne set the twittersphere on fire when he Ivy, CEO of the American Egg announced in Men’s Fitness that he’d gone Board, has resigned because of vegan. “I feel nothing but positive mentally the controversy. and physically,” he stated. Pop queen Miley Cyrus has also spoken out about her new plant-based lifestyle, which was inspired by the death of her beloved dog, Floyd. 3 COMPASSIONATE LIVING WINTER 2016 If you’re an animal abuser or you buy from one, you can’t hide from Kyle Fujisawa, MFA’s investigations and research associate. Kyle is one of the closest colleagues of the undercover investigators, reviewing their bravely captured footage for violations of the law and standard industry abuses. With a cruel farm caught red-handed, he also traces the offender’s supply chain to its most prominent corporate buyers. Pressure campaigns against such major food corporations have spurred huge industry changes and resulted in reduced suffering for millions of farmed animals. Words to Live By: “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change.” —Michael Jackson Q: What inspired you to go vegan and how has your life changed? Earthlings. The documentary shows undercover footage of all the numerous ways humans exploit animals, including in scientific research and the food, clothing, and entertainment Investigations and Research Associate MFA Position: industries. I wondered if everything I watched had Hometown: West Los Angeles happened decades ago, but after some research I found Email: [email protected] out it was still going on. My activist self was born at that moment. I dropped meat immediately, found out what to eat, and urgently began educating others about the true plight of farmed animals. MEMBERS ON A MISSION Q: How have you kept motivated and focused over the Ashley Fournier years? As MFA’s Columbus outreach coordinator, This movement draws in some of the most inspiring, Ashley Fournier supercharged central Ohio courageous, and genuine people I’ve ever met. When you with mind-opening leafleting and Paid-Per- decide to help animals, you join a community, a family that View events. She’s sure to create as great a embodies kindness and welcomes you in its joint effort to legacy in her new home, Boston. reduce suffering. Our family is growing every day and that’s what keeps me going. Summer Miguel-Strah Q: What do you find most rewarding about your job Teenage vegan activist Summer Miguel- at MFA? Strah, who lives with her pig, Rocky, and chickens, Zelda and Lola, raised more than I feel absolutely privileged to be part of a team that $4,000 for farmed animals as part of her transforms people into their best selves. Since undercover compassion-cultivating bat mitzvah last year. footage changed my life, being part of investigations is very close to my heart. I know this footage will help inform and empower people to create change. I couldn’t ask for more Craig Johnson than that. Inspiring kindness and generosity, Craig Johnson asked family and friends to donate Q: When you’re not saving animals, where can we to MFA for his birthday this year, raising find you? nearly $1,600. My week is complete when I help with Food Not Bombs, a Become a hero for animals too. volunteer collective that cooks and serves vegan meals to MercyForAnimals.org/fundraise hungry locals. I also enjoy music, tennis, rock climbing, and biking! 4 COMPASSIONATE LIVING WINTER 2016 “BREATHTAKING.” “LIFE-CHANGING.” These are just two of the words viewers have used to describe MFA’s powerful new documentary short, What Cody video, which shows the similarity Saw. The 11-minute film, already seen between pigs and dogs, generated more than 23 million views. by more than half a million people, tells Meanwhile, a pair of powerful MFA the story of former MFA investigator MFA’s “Why Love One but Eat the billboards with the same theme made Cody Carlson, including the shocking Other?” campaign has gone viral! A touching MFA video encouraging headlines in Canada when they cruelty he found at factory farms and viewers to choose a vegan diet were launched above a prominent slaughterhouses across the country. exploded across social media. The intersection in Toronto. Watch it for yourself at WhatCodySaw.com On August 29, nearly 300 guests poured into the breathtaking Unici Casa in Los Angeles for MFA’s Hidden Heroes Gala. Hollywood royalty including Joaquin Phoenix, Emily Deschanel, Hundreds of thousands of Newsweek Moby, and Pamela magazine readers recently turned the Anderson walked the “blue page to find MFA’s vibrant new pro- carpet” before taking to vegetarian full-page ad, which ran in the the stage to honor the iconic publication for courageous work of MFA’s four weeks. The ad undercover investigators. proclaimed the health benefits of a plant-based The uplifting evening diet and offered readers raised over $1 million to a free copy of MFA’s support MFA’s hard-hitting Vegetarian Starter Guide.