The following article Down to Earth: True stories of the heart, written by MFS volunteer Anne Mazar was published in The Metrowest Daily News on April 5th, 2013.
James LaVeck and Jenny Stein want to be change agents through the art of storytelling. Their films tell the narrative of people who have had life-changing experiences, making them question the use and killing of animals in our society. They are steadily making an impact with screenings of their films throughout the U.S. and in 21 countries, winning awards along the way.
Stein and LaVeck had dreams to become Hollywood screenwriters and later worked in Silicon Valley as communication consultants. They both saw many problems in the world that troubled them. LaVeck explains, "… We were standing on the sidelines, and this felt wrong. Of all the many issues we were aware of the injustices being endured by billions of animals seemed to call out to us... A major turning point came when a friend told us a story about a man whose job it was to drive truckloads of pigs to the slaughterhouse. One day he was unloading the pigs as usual, but this time, one of them got stuck while going down the chute. This particular pig just wouldn’t go, so the man did as he had been trained, sticking this poor animal with an electric prod. When he did that, the pig looked back at him, and they had eye contact. Then something completely unexpected happened. As the truck driver described it, ‘It felt like the hand of God was upon me.’ In a single instant, he decided that he could no longer participate in the injustice."
The following article Souls Without a Voice, written by MFS co-founder Cheri Vandersluis was published on the Spirit of Change website on April 9th, 2013.
All my life I’ve loved animals. My journey through life twisted and altered that love as it does with so many other people. My husband, Jim, also went through his life loving animals. He, too, had to adjust his love and life. Jim is a third generation dairy farmer. This is a brief introduction about our journey toward true compassion and veganism, rescuing a few precious farmed animals and teaching others about what happens to these souls without a voice. This is a multi-layered, complicated issue but I will attempt to keep this relatively simple.
When I was very young, I wanted to be first a physician, and then a veterinarian. Unfortunately I was growing up in a time when I was told women don’t pursue those careers. So after attending a liberal arts college I made a very naïve decision to work for a pharmaceutical company in Connecticut. Not really knowing exactly what I would be doing once hired, my goal was simply to help animals. Sadly, there were no animal rights groups to educate me or to take me by the shoulders and shake some sense into me back in those days!
The Boston Vegetarian Society proudly presents The 18th Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival
Saturday, October 26, 2013, 11AM* - 6PM
and Sunday, October 27, 2013, 10AM - 4PM
*Saturday 10 - 11 AM preview.
A limited number of tickets ($5) are now on sale to visit the Exhibitor Room before the doors open at 11 AM for Free Admission to all.
Reggie Lewis Athletic Center
1350 Tremont Street
Boston, Massachusetts
Subway stop across the street
Please check out the Boston Vegetarian Society website for info about about upcoming events and membership.
Come visit the Maple Farm Sanctuary booth at The 2013 Natural Living Expo
Saturday, November 16 - 9AM - 7PM
and Sunday, November 17 - 10AM - 5PM
Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlboro, MA
Featuring 225 exhibitors all in one hall, offering the latest holistic and green products, fair trade shopping and information about body-mind-spirit healthy living, this $12 weekend admission expo is an annual event not to be missed! Save $2 on general weekend admission by purchasing your ticket in advance for $10: click here.
November 2013 - Thanksgiving Potluck and Sanctuary Visit
Please join us for a Compassionate Thanksgiving Celebration!
Saturday, November 23rd, 2013
Schedule of events:
12 - 2:30pm Vegan Potluck
2:00pm Raffle winners announced
2:30pm - 4pm Sanctuary Visit
$10 donation per person requested for those bringing food
$15 donation if you do not bring food for the potluck
Kids under 12 free!
Includes one free raffle ticket per person.
(Proceeds to support the animals of Maple Farm Sanctuary.)
Please tell us what kind of dish you will be bringing in the comments (appetizer, main or dessert). Drinks will be provided.
Special desserts provide by Upton based V Organic Cafe!!
Please bring a vegan dish to share with the group. Kindly refrain from using any animal products in your dish, this includes meat, fish, eggs, dairy and honey. It's easier than it sounds, check out these links for tips and inspiration!
Join us for a screening of a Tribe of Heart documentary, featuring Maple Farm Sanctuary
