Youth who came to the event were interested in making a difference on a lot of different issues. Many campers were interested in getting involved in, or strengthening their schools’ Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) and got resources and ideas from each other, as well as the GSA Network. Fundraising ideas were suggested and decided upon, such as bakesales, movie screenings, and t-shirt sales. Youth also discussed projects and awareness campaigns their GSAs could take on next!

Some of the campers were interested in environmental issues, and several are planning to attend an April training hosted by the Citizens Climate Lobby which is forming a chapter in Portland with the help of Laura Carver, who is YEA’s Assistant Director by day and a climate change and environmental activist…also by day! Several first time participants came up with a plan to have a school fundraiser to buy silverware to replace the disposable sporks currently being used in their middle school cafeteria. Another high school student plans to start a campaign to stop selling bottled water in the school’s student store and to join forces with his school environmental club to launch the campaign to raise awareness about the problems with bottled water. The issue of bottled water came up at a previous YEA Academy, and a short video called “The Story of Bottled Water” explains it well.

Several campers are taking this activist tip and ordering leaflets from organizations such as Mercy for Animals and PETA to spread the word about the benefits of veganism and how animals are mistreated on factory farms. It’s a very easy way to make a big difference! Other campers are involved in building houses with Habitat For Humanity, and volunteering with local organizations like the Blanchett house and the Oregon Food Bank that are working to address poverty and homelessness. Participants discussed ways to step up their fundraising efforts for these programs. YEA! It is inspiring to see so many young people participating in so many different projects.

The feedback from the overnight was an overwhelming “More overnights!” and we are looking forward to offering this program again. The next YEA Academy in Portland, OR, is from 11am-4pm on April 14th, and of course we hold week-long overnights each week-long session of YEA Camp! Camp is fast approaching in July and August in Oregon, northern California, and New Jersey. Visit www.yeacamp.org for dates and details and to register.

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For more than a decade, animal advocacy organizations such as Compassion Over Killing (COK), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Mercy For Animals (MFA), and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have conducted dozens of undercover investigations revealing horrific cruelty to animals on factory farms. No federal laws provide protection to animals during their lives on farms, and if not for these investigations most people would be unaware that the meat, dairy, and eggs they eat has come from animals mutilated without painkillers, kept in cages so small they can barely turn around, and living in their own filth.

These investigations have earned an enormous amount of attention in the media, with stories in thousands of publications and TV stations, giving millions of people reason to reconsider their purchase of meat, dairy, and eggs. Some investigations have led to workers being convicted of animal cruelty, while another led to the largest beef recall in the country for food safety concerns exposed by the investigations.

This week, the state of Iowa passed a law to take a stand on this issue. Iowa is the largest producer of pork and eggs in the whole country, so this is a big deal. Does the law require better treatment of animals? Or further investigations of farms in the state? No, it most certainly does not. Nicknamed “ag gag,” the law makes it illegal to lie on a job application if applying for a job at a farm, making it illegal for an undercover investigator to get a job in Iowa, and making it next to impossible for consumers to learn what is happening on farms in Iowa.

There are many things we can do to oppose industries that profit from harming animals, the planet, or people. One thing we can do everyday is boycott them. Every time you choose a vegan meal, you can choose compassion over cruelty. You can also share some of the videos linked above on your Facebook so other people can become aware. By following the above organizations on Facebook and joining their email lists, you can be kept posted on their important work and help publicize their past and future investigations so more people can make informed choices about their food.

Comment below to let us know what you think of this law, the videos linked above, or how you want to help.

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