“Anything for the animals” is what I believe I said as I stepped into the chicken costume at the Inman Park Festival. I’m not really sure, though, because my heart was pounding so loud I couldn’t think. I’m usually not one to dance around in costume and catch crowds, but ever since I’ve been advocating for animal rights, things have changed. I mean, how can I not fight for these helpless beautiful creatures after knowing the cruelty they have to endure? If leading people toward not eating these animals means being goofy for a few hours, then sign me up.
The costume was supplied by Georgia Animal Rights and Protection (GARP) who had a booth at the festival where they paid people $1 to watch a 4-minute video on factory farming. This is the first time I volunteered for them, and boy are they an amazing organization! I was proud to be in that chicken suit for a short amount of time to contribute to the endless hours they spend trying to promote a compassionate lifestyle.
The “Farm to Fridge” video they showed is not for the faint-hearted. These scenes that detail factory farming and slaughterhouse practices never get easy to watch. While I was dancing around outside entertaining the kids and making people smile, there were festival patrons inside the tent with their eyes stricken on a computer screen, gasping with their hands over their mouths in disbelief. I was told later in the day that 45 people watched the video, and although I’d never wish for anyone to see these video clips unfold before their eyes, I was happy to know that more people have access to the truth. Those 45 people may not become immediate vegans or vegetarians, but I’d have to bet that they can’t deny the cruelty and evilness that happens to defenseless animals every single day in this world.
I’m excited to get more involved with GARP, even if it means dressing up in chicken costumes and making a fool of myself, because I believe it means one more person may be swayed to live a life of mercy and peace.
The slideshow below contains pictures from the Inman Park Festival parade, the GARP tent and my amazing vegan Reuben sandwich from Dough Bakery (I think I dreamt about that sandwich last night – it was that unbelievably good!).
Running on Vegan 
Nice work! Sounds like a very worthwhile experience and great to hear about more eyes being exposed to the Truth, as uncomfortable as that might be for people. This weekend I finally got my wife to watch an influential film on the realities behind the industry which I hope is helping her deal with the reasons why I feel so passionately about my life change. It really doesn’t take much for people to experience something like that in order to change the way they think.
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Thank you, Mike! If you don’t mind me asking, which film did you have her watch? I think the documentaries out there have been extremely helpful in guiding people toward changing their minds on being vegan.
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There are a number of good docos but the one we watched recently was Peaceable Kingdom which is a really good down-to-earth people story about farmers and their dissolutionment with their industry. It’s beautifully told. I also came across a great companion piece to that on YouTube by a group in Florida that go by ARFF called “101 Reasons to Go Vegan” which I came across on a blog (not yours I think?) which is an excellent instructional presentation that uses infallible logic in concluding that eating meat makes no sense. It is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TlHcEcUWUE&sns=em
Great for sharing with those who need some convincing that going veg is the best! 🙂
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Amazing! I love hearing about the different ways that people advocate for animals. You should feel very proud of yourself and know that you are working to make a difference. You are right, even if they don’t become vegetarian or vegan, the event and you would have at least got them thinking, and in turn could start to make differences. Well done!
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Thank you so much, Mel! I really appreciate the kind words. Switching from the vegetarian lifestyle to a vegan one has definitely opened my eyes to the cruel world the animals have to endure. Anything to help them has become my motto now 🙂
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You go girl! What an awesome thing to do. Celeste:)
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Thanks Celeste!! The chicken dance seemed to be a fan favorite – ha ha! 🙂
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You were a wonderful chicken! Great blog!
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Thanks Belle! So nice to meet you this weekend! I’m looking forward to more GARP events!
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Great job! Looks like a great event.
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Thanks Sarina! It was an awesome event!
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