Birthday Activism: Making Each Year Count

In the past, I wasn’t particularly keen on celebrating my birthday. As a child, of course, it was always exciting to commune with friends over plates full of greasy pepperoni pizza and frosting-covered yellow birthday cake. But as I got older, the thought of organizing a party to celebrate yet another passing year just seemed…well, sort of unimportant.

Then I turned 25, and everything changed.

My 25th year of living was perhaps the most exacerbating time of my life. Full of disappointments, setbacks and life-altering tragedies, it was as though the Universe had sent a Category 5 hurricane to devastate the very foundation of my existence. At the time, I tried with all my might to resist the brutal storm, to hold on to the few remaining precious scraps of truth that had once sheltered and protected me so. But the world is stronger than the individual. Eventually my grip gave way, and I was thrust violently into a whirlwind of chaos and destruction, left only with a prayer that I would emerge unharmed and with a greater sense of purpose. I’m happy to report that the prayer was answered.

When the winds let up and the darkness faded, my perpetual uncertainty had been replaced with clarity, determination and pure, unleaded gusto. I knew deep down that my life had been clear-cut to make room for something greater than I had ever known. Sometimes destruction must occur before creation can ensue.

Some call what I experienced a quarter-life crisis, but for me it was greater: it was a bloody war brought on by an internal regime change; a personal reformation of the highest order. It was the forced carving of the first sentence of the second chapter of the rest of my life: “And when he awoke, he saw the world for what it was: a vast plain of endless possibilities, a canvas from which to freely create, a world in which to forever change.” It was then that the tradition of Birthday Activism was born.

Birthday Activism is quite simply the act of leveraging one’s special day to help further a cause and create change. And since my 27th birthday is on Monday, April 12, I thought I’d share my homemade recipe for Birthday Activism with you.

Here’s how it works: about two weeks before the big day, start thinking about issues that you find meaningful. For me, veganism is the cornerstone of my ethical make-up and the nucleus of my belief system. I’m also incredibly passionate about the power of citizen action, volunteering, and effective change. So, naturally, I chose to highlight those ideas for my birthday.

Now that you’ve identified your cause, start brainstorming about projects that might complement your issue. Remember, it’s YOUR birthday! This gives you incredible bargaining power with friends and families. You’d be surprised at what individuals will do when asked the right way.

For Birthday 25, I got a large group of friends to volunteer at a local soup kitchen in New York City. Birthday 26 was spent learning about the plight of farm animals at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. This year, I asked all my Facebook friends to go vegan for the day (so far over 200 have agreed), and I got a group of 15 to attend an orientation at New York Cares, thus empowering them to volunteer throughout the year.

The third and final step is to promote your birthday activity. Use Facebook, Twitter or make a few good, old-fashioned phone calls to get people excited about the project. Don’t feel bad about asking anyone and everyone to take part. Volunteering is a lot like getting a massage: it feels fantastic and everyone knows they should do it once in a while, but rarely does one take the initiative. In fact, by participating in Birthday Activism, you’re not only receiving a gift, but also giving one equal in value.

Now, don’t worry—it doesn’t have to be ALL about service. After the project, I always make sure there’s something fun planned nearby at a bar or restaurant. But truth be told, years later my friends aren’t talking about the vodka soda they had that night; instead, they’re reminiscing about the lives they helped touch and the good they helped create.

We may not be able to control how many birthdays we get in this world, but we do have the power to make sure each and every one of those special days truly counts.

Super Simple Ways to Save the World and Help Animals

We hear it all the time, “Oh, I want to do more to help the animals, but I simply don’t have the time” or “I give a few hundred bucks a year to my favorite charity, but can’t commit to more.” What if I told you activism doesn’t have to be exclusively about offering clean water to children in Africa? What if we told you there are tangible and easy peasy ways to save the world? Though this list of ideas (below) is primarily animal focused, you could really use the sentiment to inspire any of your activism or promoting anything you care about; from children’s charities or cancer research fund raising to supporting your local church group.

Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace are gold for the animals. I’ve placed countless animals in loving homes by posting them on Facebook. Remember, sitting in shelters animals get virtually no exposure to the outside world. You may think you know that nobody in your network is looking to adopt, but one person re-posts, then the next re-posts, and next thing you know – a dog on the kill list just got seen by 10,000 people and rescued! Use your network for good, what else is the point? Mafia Wars? Seriously? Have your “top friends” be your favorite animal protection organization, become a “fan” of groups you love, add videos that have moved you, quotes, and links. Don’t be afraid to use your voice, if you don’t speak up for the fuzzy and incarcerated, who will? “Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” – Elie Wiesel

Use your skill set to help. Are you a graphic designer? Design a flyer for an organization you love from the comfort of your laptop. Assess and then volunteer your skills. Do you do hair? Offer to free hair cuts once a month for shelter workers. Anything you can do can be directly put to use for the animals. My friend Alex owns a tattoo shop and he donates gift certificates to raffles for benefits. I donate listings on girliegirlarmy.com to bring attention to the plight of farm animals in factory farms. Every little bit helps!

Attend Parties. Yep, parties! Benefits are a great way to meet people you can take home to Mom. Not only will you meet the finest quality folk with huge hearts, your ticket price will go towards helping those in need. It’s a win-win!

Contact companies that conduct cruel experiments on animals. www.caringconsumer.com will give you that list. And (obviously) only buy natural, vegan, and animal-testing free products. You’ll not only be avoiding supporting companies that pump toxins into our environment and hurt animals, you’ll be avoiding nasty chemicals on your own epidermis.

Foster a cat or dog, or volunteer at your local shelter. A bit more work than sitting at the computer or partying, but by taking a dog from the local shelter for a run, you are getting them seen by hundreds of eyes on the street or in the park. I’ve seen it happen a million times; Random on the street: “Oh, your dog is SO cute.” My response: “Why thank you, but she isn’t my dog, she’s from the CACC and she’s desperate to be adopted.” Random: “Really? Let me call my Husband!” These pets are ten times more likely to get adopted if you simply get their shayna punims seen!

Do not buy an animal. Do adopt and foster. This may seem like a serious DUH to you.. but not everyone knows that over 800 cats and dogs get put down PER STATE in our country per day. Trust us, you can find any breed you like on www.petfinder.com (though our mutts are quite gorgeous) without directly supporting hideous breeding practices. You can also join our list to receive our adoption network updates, which is nationwide. Crazy Sexy Life’s newsletter also features animal adoptions every week.

Hold a screening. Tribe of Heart makes eye opening films on animal issues. And of course, Earthlings and Raw for 30 are both films that are must-sees for everyone. Invite friends over for cocktails n’ (vegan) cupcakes and watch a film together. Allow for open dialoguing after. I’ve seen many a heart be opened after seeing footage of what’s really going on in Factory Farms. If you are interested in hosting a larger film screening at your church, synagogue, work place, house, bar, or local knitting group – email beautiful, wonderful, articulate Marisa Miller from Kind Green Planet – she has a projector and will travel!

Put stickers on your bills. You can buy just about any kind here. Be a voice for the animals. Letters pass many hands before ending up on a desk. Let your platform be known, even via the mailman.

Buy and Eat Cruelty-Free. You already know this if you read Crazy Sexy Life, but it never hurts to remind you to buy and eat organic, local, and cruelty-free. “It’s too expensive” isn’t an excuse, we know plenty of folks on the poverty line who eat raw and vegan. Where there is a will, there is a way. Search recipe sites, support raw and vegan restaurants, and hit up your local health food store. It’s as easy as making the conscious choice to not support suffering. You’ve had your aha eating moment, help a friend have his or hers. Make animal-free food for friends and show them just how delish and gourmet vegan eating can be. And don’t think your fashion sense isn’t going to change too, Sister. From what you put in your tummy to what you wear on your body, you are making a statement on being intolerant to cruelty. Going entirely cruelty-free means eschewing wool, silk, leather, and fur. Thinks it’s hard to find eco fabulous stilettos that are made without the use of toxically treated, tortured animal skins? Girlll… you haven’t discovered my site yet. www.GirlieGirlArmy.com is a site devoted to keeping you looking glam without so much as hurting a fly. Remember; “All the arguments to prove human superiority cannot shatter this hard fact: in suffering, animals are our equals.”- Peter Singer

Become a member or volunteer at the non-profit that protects animals that speaks to you most. We love www.hsus.org, www.farmsanctuary.org, www.cok.net, www.woodstockfas.org, www.savethechimps.org, www.seashepherd.org, www.bestfriends.org, www.humaneusa.org, www.peta.org, www.aldf.org, www.humanemyth.com and www.pcrm.org. Join them all.

Whatever your cause, keep remembering why it is you care, and it will translate to direct action and results! Your voice MATTERS, it is strong, and it is fabulous.

Today’s Activism…Be Creative!

Melisser, The Urban Housewife

As the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale has just passed, a week where people all over the world came together to bake not only for charity, but to show people that vegan food is fabulous, I can’t help but think about activism in general.

Sometimes it’s easy to feel like you’re not doing enough to help those in need, especially the millions of animals who rely on those who can speak for them. Animal activism can also seem scary or difficult, as it’s easy to picture angry mobs protesting in the streets or being asked to approach strangers to debate your beliefs. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way. I had the good fortune to hear Josh Hooten from Herbivore Clothing Company speak at the Farm Sanctuary Hoe Down earlier this year and one thing in his talk about activism that stuck with me was, do what you are good at to help the animals. Okay, maybe that wasn’t his exact quote, but it’s the gist of his message and it should be spread far and wide!

Activism is easy once you know where to start and there’s so many ways you can make your voice heard. No one is going to be an effective animal advocate if their heart isn’t in it, so it’s your job to take what you do well and use it. Do you like to bake? Start bringing treats to your co-workers and impress them with the cruelty-free sweets we all know are fabulous, but they haven’t discovered yet. A bake sale for your favorite animal rights charity spreads the good word even further! Passing out free samples of vegan food is an excellent conversation starter as well as a way to get people interested in incorporating new items in to their diet.

Groups like VegFund make this even easier, as they pay for vegan food samples for groups to distribute! Leafleting is a very simple way to get the word out without too much fuss. A smile, a busy area, and a stack of fliers such as “Why Vegan?” from Vegan Outreach are all you need. You can also spend a day dropping off fliers at cafes, coffee shops, and other places willing to let you leave them there. You never know who could pick one up! If you like to organize events, maybe a movie screening such as an Earthlings viewing is up your alley or a show where bands play and the cover benefits animal organizations. Not a social butterfly? Spend some time signing and circulating online petitions or writing letters to your congressperson and ask your friends to do the same. If you’re technically inclined, you can offer your services from coding to graphic design to your local animal charities. With just a few hours helping out, you can keep them running smoothly, so they can focus on the animals who need us!

Most of all in being an effective advocate for animals stay positive! No one likes a crabby vegan, it perpetuates stereotypes and turns people off of cruelty free living. Veganism is easy and also happens to be the best thing you can do for the animals, the environment, and your health. Live by example and let others know you’re living well. Anyone can be an activist, even YOU, so get out there and be that voice for the voiceless. The animals are counting on you!

Melisser Elliott is the author behind The Urban Housewife, an award winning blog detailing her culinary adventures from vegan dining around the world to the sweets in her own kitchen. When not at the keyboard, she runs San Francisco based vegan bakery Sugar Beat Sweets, participates in animal activism & vegan outreach, & spends time with her husband Ryan, & rescued friends Strummer, Beamish, & Scurvy.

Work It!

Ok, I admit it: I have basically the best job in the entire world. Some people dig ditches; I get to go to an all-vegan office where our daily toil involves interviewing the world’s most interesting people, testing the world’s yummiest recipes, and promoting the daylights out of the vegan lifestyle. Do I have bruises from pinching myself? Yes. Does that mean that I’m totally content and never wonder about what else to do with my life? Far from it.

Like everybody else, I’m constantly concerned that I should have gone to medical school, joined the Peace Corps, founded about a half dozen non-profits, or spent all day every day mucking out stalls at a farm-animal sanctuary. Or, better yet, all of the above, while still doing my current job and also squeezing in working out, eating, sleeping, showering, watching more Battlestar Galactica than is likely advisable, and eating again—yes, eating is important enough to be on this list twice. Putting together a pretty (and pretty kick-ass, if I dare say) magazine is endlessly fun, but is it enough? When your profession is also your passion, should you ever really stop working?

Answer one: of course! I mean, you can’t really make the case that sitting on your duff while getting your BSG fix—or whatever your non-nerdy fix may be—somehow helps make more people go vegan. Trust me, I’ve tried. But, in order to be effective when you are technically on the clock, taking some time off and shutting down your non-positronic brain is a must. Whether it’s indulging your nerdishness, getting a massage, or simply sleeping, downtime does wonders for refreshing both body and mind.

Answer two: of course not! So, remembering to take time for yourself is great and all, but, you know, we have work to do. Since animals’ sentience, a-freakin-dorableness, and wide range of emotional expression doesn’t somehow seem to be able to stop people from eating them, it’s not time to clock out until the world goes vegan. Maybe that sounds like a little too much, and maybe it is. But if we were able to rationalize away the fact that it’s up to us to help animals, chances are we wouldn’t have jobs that centered on that very task. Thankfully, the idea of “work” becomes a little bit more fluid when pretty much every aspect of your life revolves around it. Hosting SF Vegan Drinks, where I get to meet awesome vegans, relax, and possibly even enjoy a tipple-type treat? Work. Checking out vegan restaurants in any city I happen to visit? Yeah, it’s my professional duty to hit up Sticky Fingers when I’m in DC. Hanging out with amazing activists and continually being inspired to keep working? Yep, also work. Working all the time—all the time that I’m not literally unconscious—doesn’t seem quite overwhelming when you consider what “working” actually entails.

So, find what it is that you love doing, and do it. All the time. Does that sound overwhelming? Just remember that to be an animal activist, leaving them off your plate every day counts. So what if your day job is a bank teller? Even if you can’t be a baker/sanctuary owner/guidance counselor/pilot/full-time volunteer, doing a good job for animals can take almost as many forms as you’d like it to. Oh, and about going to med school? Adopting a vegan diet means that you, you personally, save the lives of roughly 100 animals per year. Go ahead, call me Dr. Castoria.

Of course, if you want to make working for animals your full-time gig, go for it! Finding a fulfilling, interesting, job—aka, winning the gainful-employment lottery—is pretty much a two-step process. Step one: figure out what cause you’re passionate about. If you talk your friends’ ears off about how much you love animals, chances are that working in animal advocacy will hardly seem like work at all. Step two: apply your skills, liberally. Maybe you’re really, really good a striking up a conversation with strangers—get ye into outreach. If you’re a natural-born numbers-cruncher, find an organization that can use your super-human powers over spreadsheets, and crunch away. Doing something at which you naturally excel will not only make your work seem easier, it will make those you work with think of you as a super genius. Finding a job that fits your skills and personality might mean starting off at your dream organization as a volunteer, then slowly becoming absolutely indispensable. Even if you have to transition from your day job to your dream job over a period of time, the exhilaration of finally landing a position that marries your skills and passions—and offers you a paycheck and bennys—is well worth the time investment up front. Just make sure to keep ice at the ready for the pinch-induced bruising.