The Farm to Fridge Project

This past week, Mercy for Animals, an amazing animal protection organization we've spoke about before on here, released their latest documentary video about the animals we use to make into food. It's called "Farm to Fridge,"and it consists of 12 minutes of undercover footage on factory farms across the nation, ranging from egg-laying facilities to dairy "farms", and all the way to factory fish farms. While harrowing and very difficult to watch, I made an empowered choice and decided to view it first before sharing it here, and I must say, it has completely reminded me that the work of an animal activist is never done. 


I was angry, sad, and basically an emotional wreck watching this thing and those old feelings of helplessness began to creep in as I took in the gravity of this seemingly hopeless situation. But in my two years of vegan living, I've learned that in order to find something positive, something to smile about, amongst the dark truth of animal abuse, we need to act. Whether it's through a blog, a video on your facebook wall, or creating an animal rights/vegan book club, we need to push through the pain and filter it into something hopeful and uplifting, something tangible, something people can use to empower their own lives.

Thus, the Farm to Fridge project was born. What is the Farm to Fridge Project? Well, I'll be sharing "Farm to Fridge" on my facebook wall for seven days, and each day, I will remind everyone out there that if they choose to watch it and feel helpless afterward, I can help. This is my pledge, and it's the least I can do for these innocent, sensitive, and  needlessly abused animals.

And now I reach out to you - my beautiful, compassionate, kiss-worthy community of readers and activists: 


Will you make a pledge with me to feature "Farm to Fridge" on your facebook wall for the next week? Or at least the next day? Because even if a thousand people don't stop to watch it, one might. And that one may be a person who never before considered changing his or her ways from carnist to vegan. 

I would love to get a tally of who decides to participate, so could you comment below this post if you'll be pledging to share the video?

Thank you, as always, for your rockin' support and open hearts. It is my sincere hope that this project will inspire and empower others to open their own hearts to positive change. Let's be the change we wish to see in the world, as Gandhi so beautifully beckoned us to be during his lifetime.  Let's help give people a reason to fight for something positive, a reason to open their minds ever more to beautiful and compassionate change, a reason to really smile.

Comments

Bev said…
Hi Linday,
I'll share it on my blog http://redhotveganmomma.blogspot.com/ It'll go on my facebook and twitter as well.
Anonymous said…
I will be sharing this on my facebook wall
Anonymous said…
I did yesterday and have had positive feedback already!
jessica sosna said…
i have it posted!!! already had somone write "eat meat - god did not put chickens on the earth becuase they are pretty" can you believe the ignorance? I guess i can, but then i posted back that if he is eating it, he should be aware of how it gets there.
Unknown said…
I shared it! Hopefully it will reach others.
dirtyduck said…
i like what jessica wrote back to her neg commenter, what a good reply! i will try to post this on my facebook. i have never done anything like this before....somebody hold my hand!!
Lindsay Wolf said…
Hey everybody - thank you so much for spreading the word! You are all inspirations to me, and you should commend yourselves for putting it all out there by sharing this video. Rock on!!
Matt said…
Shared! and shared again. Thanks KMIV! YOu rock!
Melissa said…
Thanks for sharing this video! I will definitely be posting it on Facebook and sharing the link on my blog.
jana said…
i am sorry...i cannot watch these undercover videos anymore....call me a coward if you want to, but i have seen more than enough of them in my lifetime. i know what i know, and i do more than enough for my animals. i educate people all the time. i can't watch it, and i can't bring myself to share it with my fb peeps. :( it just upsets me too much.
Lindsay Wolf said…
Jana,

I totally and completely hear you, understand where you're coming from, and respect your decision. These videos are nearly impossible to endure, especially when you're a seasoned watcher of undercover investigations. Thank you for sharing your perspective on this - I know that these videos are not going to be for everyone, and that's fine. I do have a thought though - if this is too much emotionally to share with people, what if you pledged to share seven fun facts about going vegan on your FB wall, or one vegan recipe a day for seven days? Maybe find a fun way to put a spin on this pledge?
Dani Baker said…
There are some excellent comments here... good for all of you! For Dirtyduck - I know how you feel; I'm a little confrontation-phobic as well. My only tip is that when I want to wimp out instead of trying to educate someone, I remind myself who I'm doing it for and how their life makes mine look like a fairy tale. Would I be able to look them in the eye and say "Sorry I didn't stand up for you; it makes me uncomfortable..."

One last thing - I write about animal rights for Examiner.com and I did a review of "Farm to Fridge" which I invite you to share with anyone you think it might influence to watch the film:

http://www.examiner.com/animal-rights-in-chicago/farm-to-fridge-by-mercy-for-animals-review
jana said…
hi lindsey - i regularly post and share vegan recipes on facebook, as well as links from Farm Sanctuary, Ban the Bullhook from GA, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and a LOT of other animal and rescue groups. believe me, i more than do my part for the animals and when I was in college was active with the Animal Liberation Front. i worked at PAWS Atlanta for two years and saw firsthand how awful people are to animals. i think these videos are VERY important, and to Dani Baker: I am not wimping out. I have played an important role in the rescue and rehabilitation and sponsorship of animals everywhere in the world (USA, England, Australia, Borneo), and feel confident when looking them in the eye, knowing I have done all I can do for them.
Lindsay Wolf said…
Jana - it sounds like you are doing an amazing job advocating on behalf of animals everywhere - rock on! I never know how deeply each reader works to help animals when they comment on here, so thanks for sharing all of the wonderful work you've already been doing and continue to do. It's definitely clear that you need no suggestions on how to continue your advocacy. :) Keep up the awesome work!

For everyone else, thank you so much for supporting the blog and this pledge, and hopefully we can open some hearts and minds with this! And Dani - I will definitely check out your review of "Farm to Fridge" - thank you for making it a priority at the Examiner!
Anonymous said…
I thank you for posting this but I am in complete agreement with Jana. I spent much of 2010 watching cruelty and advocating, and found myself depressed and hopeless. So 2011 is about more advocating, more FB status updates about my delicious cruelty-free diet, more positive actions like petition signing, letter writing, and moving toward establishing my own small farm animal sanctuary in my backyard. I want to love the world again, even if it is more love for the four-legged denizens. :)
Lindsay Wolf said…
Thanks for sharing Julemry! I feel that there are benefits to any kind of advocacy - whether it be sharing an undercover video or sharing a vegan recipe. These videos are heart-wrenching to watch, but at least for me, I've found that they inspire me to act, and so I will continue to share them for as long as my mind, body, and spirit will allow me to.
deleted said…
Thanks for sharing this Lindsay! I've interned with MFA and I volunteer with them now in my spare time and this is definitely one of the best short documentaries to show.
Coonana said…
I am telling many people about this horrifying video. It is not the first I've seen, of course, dealing with factory farming. However, this one has left a strong impression on me. MFA is sending me a copy and I will attempt to get it on the local access tele. What stands out for me on "Farm to Fridge" is the utter unfairness of the entire situation. Here we have innocent beings whose only fault is that they have the bad (too say the least)fortune of being born into this unethical and unethical morass. I have another issue that continues to bite me on the ass about this whole thing. Once upon a time, I was a strong believer in God and Jesus, the Good Shepard. Now I say, "Jesus, where are you?" If God exists, please shut it down. This free will stuff isn't working. I will retire in 3 year and change and I have a new job to do when I retire. I want to bury factory farming, as shown in this video. Peace to all.
Anonymous said…
I thought it over, and after a surprising amount of deliberation, decided to post the vid to my FB page...

I hesitated for a couple reasons. For one, I have posted similar stuff many times before, and I am afraid I will alienate people or make them suspect of anything I share.

Second, I am not a vegan myself. It has been a long journey to where I am at now--a mostly plant diet with a few local eggs each week, some raw goat cheese every once in awhile, and raw honey.

There isn't a name or an "ism" for how I eat, but it is what I've come to after years of experimenting and soul-searching.

The reason I finally decided to post this particular vid is because I could barely watch it. Only 12 minutes, and yet so powerful.

Regardless of whether people are omnivores, vegetarians, or vegans--this needs to be seen by all.

Cheers,
Ken
Anonymous said…
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this. I have seen brief examples of this type of treatment of factory-farmed animals before but nothing has ever affected me like watching that 12 minute film did.
I wasn't crying while watching it--I was sobbing.
I absolutely will share this on my blog and on my Facebook wall. Like you said, if one more person watches it as a result of my sharing itand is moved by it, then it will have served its purpose.
-Lisa