I don’t know about you, but the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election seems to be neverending. Is it November yet?
Marathon political race aside, the prospect of voting for our next commander-in-chief reminds me of how important voting is as a vegan. Your vote is your voice, and the fact that you have one allows you to speak for the billions of animals who don’t.
Here are just a few ways that you can vote for the animals.
With your dollar
Every dollar you spend in support of a vegan company is a dollar saved from a non-vegan one. Every vegan product you purchase is a vote for companies to sell more of those products. Every animal you adopt from a rescue or shelter keeps money out of the pockets of pet stores and puppy mills.
At the local level
Bills are introduced to help animals, and our local politicians are called on to represent the people. Call your senators, your representatives, and your other political leaders when you want them to support a bill that bans animal testing or bullhooks. Change can be made: Ringling Bros.’ decision to retire their elephants from their circus is in part due to local laws being created that make it harder for them to continue with inhumane training tactics.
With your wardrobe
As if the prospect of Donald Trump in the White House isn’t scary enough, the truth about how animals are exploited, hurt, and killed every day in the name of human wants can be overwhelming. It’s important that we don’t forget our sense of humor when we can. This summer, Woodstock Sanctuary is running their own candidate in the presidential race: Clover the goat. If you want to “Make America Goat Again,” there’s even a t-shirt. This is a great reminder that messagewear speaks without saying a word – especially when linked to an on-topic conversation.
Any time I speak up for myself, I am reminded that I’m lucky I have that ability. I am reminded that it’s my duty to speak for those who can’t. How do you vote for animals? How do you speak for those who are silent?
Feature photo by Ellen Fitzsimons
