Earth Day!

Alright, so tomorrow is Earth Day! I don't know if everyone else is stoked... but I am. Sadly, I'll be at work all day so I won't be able to participate in any events or anything like that, but there are plenty of other ways in which I will participate in the celebration of our lovely planet. So I thought I'd compile a list of small, random, easy things that anyone can do to help make even a small impact... some may seem silly... but they really do add up. Now, I'm no expert on environmentalism, and a lot of these things I, myself, have to work on as well... but I thought it'd be fun to compile what I could think of... and attempt to follow them as best I can.... and encourage others to do the same... as well as anything else they can to help impact this place.

• For starters... the biggest thing anyone can do to help the environment is Give up Meat and Animal Products. The factory farming industry and animal enterprises are the single largest contributor to this planets depletion. Veganism is environmentalism
• Walk or Bike instead of Drive
• Turn lights off that aren't needed
• Turn off and Unplug what's not being used 
• Buy and start using a water canteen instead of plastic water bottles
• Start a recycling bin at your work or home
• Take shorter showers
• If you're a Starbucks junkie, bring a reusable cup with you
• Air dry your hands after washing, or use reusable cloth, rather than paper towels
• Purchase only Organic and Local produce 
• Don't watch television, go outside and take your pet for a walk 
• Wash your clothes/hands/dishes/anything... in cold water
• Plant a tree or garden 
• If you spot litter... pick it up and put it where it belongs 
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth 
• Take a reusable lunchpale to work, not a lunch bag
• Use tupper-ware, not plastic bags
• Use reusable bags at the grocery store 
• Don't use the air conditioner or heater
• Get off the computer for a while and read a book 
• Use Eco-friendly and cruelty free household and cleaning products
• Buy Less! (as Tonya Kay would say... the Non-Consumer is the Green-Consumer)
• Donate old clothes
• Don't print it if it's not absolutely necessary 
• Opt to go Paperless - pay your bills online 

I know I'm missing a lot of things... but my brain is slowing turning off, and that's what I've come up with. 25 simple things you can try to do tomorrow... and try to continue doing from here on out, to make whatever impact you can in saving this precious place we like to call our home. <3

Update....

I know I was posting a bit recently about a possibility of moving across the country to go work for Farm Sanctuary... and then I never posted about what happened with that... so I just wanted to do a little personal update on what's going on in my life right now, for those that may be interested.
Seeing as how I am still here in Southern California... I, obviously, did not get the job. Last week was pretty hard on me after getting the news, but it's all sort of coming together now. I understand why I was not chosen to go work in New York, and am partially grateful that I did not get the position. As amazing as the experience would have been to live and work at an animal sanctuary.... many more opportunities are arising for me here at home, and I can see that now was not the time to leave.
A lot is changing (as my life always seems to be changing) and a lot of awesome things are coming up in my near future. Not moving across the country has given me the opportunity to continue my newly embarked on volunteer work for an amazing organization called Action for Animals. They are based outside of California. so my involvement with them is proving to be beneficial for them, since I can do events here in Southern California when they don't have the ability to fly down... as well as be great experience for me, seeing as how they are requesting that I help table some really incredible events with them such as the Animal Rights National Conference, Worldfest and Warped Tour. So I'm extremely excited about the upcoming events that I'm so privileged to be a part of, as well as continuing to find my niche here along this crazy road. All the reading I've been doing lately has really got me hooked even more in this crazy world of animal rights activism and I find myself wanting more and more to be a part of everything that's going on. Though I know I do not have that ability right now... so I'll continue to do what I can... while experiencing everything else through books and computer screens.
I hope that one day soon, I find myself at a place in my life where my entire days can be dedicated to animal rights and activism. Instead of sitting behind a desk doing work that means absolutely nothing to me, aside from being a way to pay my bills, I'd like to be sitting behind a desk, researching and reporting on issues that I care about... or organizing and participating in events that support this movement and spread awareness...
At this point in time... I honestly have no idea where I'm headed... or when I'll get to where I'm suppose to be. I know I'm not there yet... but I feel like everyday I'm inching closer to the right path... and that is good enough for me.

Green is the New Red.

As most of my friends know... I enjoy reading the way most of my friends enjoy partying. I'll do it willingly on a Friday night cozy in my bed with my puppies... while everyone else is out being crazy. I've even been known to read out loud to my pups... not because I'm expecting them to retain all the information along with me, but simply because reading aloud helps me remember what I've read (and it's just fun to read to my dogs, I admit this). Above all sorts of reading material, if you tell me that it has to do with veganism or animal rights... I'm all in and willing to read immediately. And I've read some really amazing books on said topics, but none like this. Never has a book grabbed me so intensely, that I finished it in 3 days. I work full time and never have the time to finish books as quickly as I'd like, but I couldn't put this one down. I've read books and books about the treatment of animals... the effect that their consumption has on our human health... the detrimental effects that factory farming and animal enterprise has on our planet... but I had yet to read a book about the things that people have done to take action for these movements, or the consequences that these people have been faced with.
 Up until recently the only thing I ever associated with "terrorism" was the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. I had heard of nothing prior and did not keep up with much news after. I'm 21 years old and only recently have I become interested in political affairs, so my knowledge is pretty bleak. I never thought that a seemingly compassionate movement that I strongly stand beside day in and day out could be put up in the same ranks as terrorist acts such as 9/11... but it has. In "Green is the New Red" Will Potter documents numerous accounts of animal rights activists and environmental activists being labeled as terrorists and being put on trial (and convicted) for acts such as protests, leafleting, information distribution, speeches, civil disobedience, running websites, etc ... all these acts protected under the First Amendment... (and then of course the bigger issues of animal liberation acts of freeing laboratory animals, arson to animal enterprises and things of that nature). He tells of animal enterprises lobbying to further legislation and widen the gaps in passing the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, to attempt to invoke fear in these "terrorist" (whom the rest of us like to name as activists) and how people pressed on in the movement and continued their underground actions despite what the government has been doing to try to stop them (or us, depending on how you view it). It's crazy reading about all these stories of actions that have been made and deemed as terrorism... when in the history of Animal Liberation Front actions, not a single human being has ever been harmed. It's considered terrorism because the government is feeling the economic strain by an ever growing group of conscious human beings. Money, money, money... it's all anyone seems to care about anymore. Potter goes into detail about other convictions outside of animal activism and environmentalism and how they are not tied to terrorism though their characteristics are much more along the lines that most of us understand, due to physical harm being done to humans.
I wish I could explain all the points that Potter made in this book, but I cannot... I'll have to read it another couple times before I can even retain all the incredible information (not because it's difficult to understand, but because he covers so much ground). And besides... I don't want to ruin the book for other people. Honestly... it doesn't matter what your stance in on the animal rights or environmental movements... this book is such an amazing source of information on those subjects as well as how our government works these days... and it's truly mind-blowing. I have to admit that for the first time in my life, I actually kissed this book upon its conclusion. I've been a vegan/vegetarian for quite some time now but I've just recently been wanting to take that further and be able to call myself an activist... and this book doesn't scare me away from that wanting... it actually makes me want it even more. I'm proud of what the people of this movement have done and the successes they have made and the repercussions they have been willing to endure... and I hope that one day I have the courage that they do, to truly stand up to what they see as wrong and use direct action to bring about change.
Now, I find myself hungry to know more and get more informed about what's really going on. Thank you Will Potter for filling my head with knowledge and making me more aware of what I stand for and even more proud to continue standing for it.

I highly recommend that everyone read "Green is the New Red" by Will Potter and keep up with his website greenisthenewred.com

On Blitzen!

I actually cried while watching this just now.
Tears of happiness.
THIS is why I NEED to be at Farm Sanctuary.

Life is Changing...

I've never been happier than I am right now. I've never felt closer to a dream or so excited about my future. I'm starting to see that big steps actually make a difference sometimes. I finally took a huge risk for me... and it just might be paying off. Last weekend I applied for a job with Farm Sanctuary believing it was a huge longshot, that they probably wouldn't even consider me... you know, all those doubtful thoughts, but still hoping for the best and proud of myself for even taking a step like that. Well, I was very wrong, in the best way possible. They contacted me yesterday stating they wanted to interview me for the New York shelter! (Now, let me just explain that I've ALWAYS wanted to live in New York. It was my biggest dream when I was little, but I gave up on it because it just hasn't been feasible in my life) I had a phone interview yesterday and it seemed to go really well! And the woman I interviewed with informed me that she'd be in touch this week to give me more details and let me know... My heart has been racing for 24 hours straight! I can't even explain how exciting this is for me. I was barely expecting to hear from them, but I was especially not expecting to hear from them about working at the NEW YORK shelter. But I'm crossing all my fingers (I'd cross my toes too but my recent surgery makes that humanly impossible for me) and sending out the most positive energy into the universe. I feel like this experience will completely change my perspective on life. I feel like it's going to start a domino effect of me actually beginning to live how I've always wanted to. Working at something I'm passionate about and not just something that pays my bills.
I've started planning my road trip up there (yes, I'm going to drive all the way across the country from my home in Southern California, to my new home in Upstate New York)... I've already decided that I'm stopping at every "Welcome to (State Name)" sign and taking a picture (since I'll be passing through 11 states to get there, and I've never really been anywhere in the United States). I've started cleaning out my apartment... since I know I won't be able to take much. I'll be living in shared housing on the farm with other employees and interns so I won't have much room for things... which I'm actually really excited about. I often times rely too much on "things" and I hate that. I'm going to bring clothing, my writing books, my guitar, my computer and some books to read. That's it. I feel like this is going to be such an amazing experience for me to just get away from the real world for a while and just get in tune with nature. Spend time with these animals that I care so much about. Educate myself a bit and do some good writing. I want to document my time on the farm and just use my computer to skype home and see my friends and family and puppy. That's one thing I'm not stoked about... I have to leave Goliath behind (and all my friends and family too haha) but my mom is going to take good care of my baby and everyone's ready to skype me and keep me update on home life.
So depending on how a call goes later this week... my world could be Drastically changing and I should be on a road trip to New York in 3 weeks. And I'm hoping so badly that is the case.
I need this. But most importantly... I deserve this. I've been working too long just to pay my bills, it's time that I work to make me happy and support a cause that I am attached to and extremely passionate about.
So here's to living and making life everything you want it to be. It shouldn't be any other way.