THANK YOU, EVERYONE, for all you do for all sentient, nonhuman beings every single day.

Preface:

I became vegan about 13 years ago when the Lord put a Soul Mission (nonhuman rights) in my heart.  Since I did not understand the Lord’s words or my calling, I spent the entire year of 2010 researching and learning about the health, environmental and ethical issues regarding the standard American diet, and, by the end of the year, started eating a plant diet after my shock, ie, factory farming, that left a hole in my heart.  (Looking back, I now Know of a couple of signs about my Mission that I overlooked during my childhood.)

I served at DoD under the Reagan administration, then completed a Bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Virginia and one year of law studies (at an undergraduate level) including legal research and writing at the UVA School of Law Library.  I served at the VA AG’s office, in private law firms and in a large oceanfront development company.  (My forte’ was research and writing as well as trial preparation.)

At a youthful 61, I still may attend law school for the purpose of advocating legal personhood for all nonhuman beings.

A few years ago, I set up New Hope Now 501c3, and created a website and youtube videos for the purpose of Education and Awareness of Nonhuman Rights, health and the environment.  I also drafted Nonhuman Rights bills and met with Congressional counsel to Advocate the bills and request sponsorship for Legislation.

Finally, after years of writing to billionaire philanthropists, applying for foundation monies and researching grants, but not receiving funds for my Rescue Sanctuary, at the end of 2021, I became an Insurance Broker to protect families and their homes by specializing in mortgage protection and, of course, to fund my 501c3.

To this very day, I cannot bear to view the horrific pictures of the Hell we call factory farming.  I have so much Empathy for all sentient, nonhuman beings; and I just want to fix this Nightmare immediately.  I do not want any sentient, nonhuman being to suffer another minute.  When someone asks me “how I can eat a plant diet,” I explain the indelible pictures in my mind and the hole in my heart.  It’s quite easy despite the fact that my previous diet of three decades was a traditional bodybuilding diet,ie, almost entirely nonhuman flesh, by-products and secretions.

The following Meditation Exercise for the Collective Consciousness is based on the principles of the Law of Attraction because if we send POSITIVE energy into the Universe, we can MANIFEST Nonhuman Rights and Liberation.  [When I first became a vegan, nonhuman rights advocate and activist, I shared graphic, horrific photos with everyone I know, and cried and argued constantly until I watched Earthling Ed facilitate logical, Socratic conversations with people (reminiscent of my law courses in college) to make THEM THINK (and experience cognitive dissonance.)] 

 

Meditation Exercise for the Collective Consciousness:

Every morning, as soon as you open your eyes, before you get out of bed to use the bathroom, while you are still in your subconscious mind; AND

every night, directly before you fall asleep, as you are entering your subconscious mind,

with your eyes closed…

See a teeny, tiny, extremely bright white or yellow or green or violet light inside your heart…pause;

See the light gradually encompass your whole body…pause;

See the light expand and fill your entire room…pause;

See the light expand and fill the whole house or building…pause;

See the light expand and fill the entire community…pause;

See the light expand and fill the whole state…pause;

See the light expand and fill the entire country…pause;

See the light expand and fill the whole continent…pause;

See the light expand and fill the entire world…pause;

Now, FEEL (the Love, Joy and Peace) and VISUALIZE ALL sentient, nonhuman beings in the entire world as free, healthy, happy, and communicating with human beings!!!

 

Yes, we CAN manifest Nonhuman Rights and Liberation for all Sentient, Nonhuman Beings in the World.

The ideology of veganism remain analogous to politics and religion because the extremely delicate, sensitive issues continually challenge people’s morals and values.

In addition, factions exist within the Animal Rights Movement, politics and religion. There is nothing wrong with factions; however, it remains imperative for us to meet people where they are in their own journeys. After all, factions exist within both major political parties in the US today, and we acknowledge a third, independent party, Libertarianism. Many factions exist within religion, and people adopt a plant diet for the following four reasons: health, our environment and planet, animals, or some combination thereof.

I have learned that if we (members of the Animal Rights Movement) ever wish to accomplish anything, we need to meet people where they are in their own journeys. If we practice what we preach, ie, peace, love, empathy and compassion, we must make progress.  For example, I followed a strict bodybuilding diet for three decades (and an Italian-American diet for two decades before that) before I adopted a complete plant diet 12 years ago. Now, in hindsight, I remember the signs along the way that foreshadowed my decision to convert to a plant diet.

We must not allow the aforementioned four vegan factions to divide us and hinder progress. We need cohesion and cooperation. We must strive towards unity.

How can we embrace our commonalities? Celebrate your friends’ love of animals, concern for the environment, and choices to prepare and eat plant-based meals.

To my knowledge, the greatest achievement with regard to discussions about animal rights to date remains Earthling Ed’s epiphany and practice of using the Socratic method to converse with people rather than a judgmental, critical approach. He asks questions and allows people to think and reach their own conclusions.

I believe this concept is slowly catching on and the most critical, judgmental folks are the newest members of the movement who speak directly from their hearts out of pure passion, but have not yet developed a mature approach to advocate or discuss their beliefs in a logical, inquisitive way.

Try to understand their genuine intentions. They’ve had a revelation and they remain excited to tell everyone they know. They wish to shout it from the rooftops and scream it from the mountaintops. They desire to advise the world to save the world.  The Animal Rights Movement is a global movement, and the numbers are growing; we just need unity.

Let’s congratulate the folks who participate in Sid Lerner’s and Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future’s Meatless Monday global movement that encourages people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the preservation of the planet.

Likewise, let’s celebrate Distinguished Professor Gary Francione’s abolitionist theory which advocates the status of legal personhood (which even corporations possess) for animals because they deserve the right to life and the right to liberty, ie, the freedom to spread their wings, walk around on the earth, etc. We have no right to take their secretions or byproducts despite the fact that, in doing so, we do not harm them. In addition, we have no right to “own” pets, although a “pet owner” is, arguably, a legal guardian or custodian.

Finally, political parties are generally domestic or national groups as opposed to the Animal Rights Movement which is global. Think about how much more diverse the Animal Rights Movement remains compared to a political party. Think about the varied factions within one political party. Now, compare one country or nation to the whole world. People of many different cultures bring their unique, sacred morals, values, ideologies, beliefs, experiences, education, etc. to the same issue. For example, consider this true story. Many years ago, in a college International Law course, my class engaged in an open discussion about the law of larceny. A female student from the other side of the world from me, commented, “In my country, if a person steals, we just chop off his hand.” I responded, “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” to which she replied, “He’ll never do it again.” Her comment ended the discussion. What could I say? Although I did not agree with the ideology, I could not argue with the logic or efficacy.

In closing, International Law proves difficult to enforce due to the players’ vast differences. It works only when voluntary cooperation exists. By the same token, the Animal Rights Movement depends on our tolerance of each other and our cooperation. If countries can do it, human beings can do it too.