We see the truth of the factory farms, circuses, etc. because we simply open our eyes and mind to the truth, as painful as it is. We are blessed to have these animals by our side in this life. We are here to connect with them and protect them. We are here together, sharing this world. We speak for the animals confined and abused because if we don't, who will? The enslaved animals have no voice. They will never have a voice. Unlike women and African Americans who bravely rose up to unite and speak out to end injustice, animals will never have that chance. We believe as stated by Albert Schweitzer, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, that, "We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals.  Animals suffer as much as we do.  True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them.  It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it.  Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace." This is why we believe we must start to change the world by first changing the way we treat animals, those innocent beings that we hold so much power over. Make the connection. Inform yourself. Open your eyes and mind to the truth, and then speak out. That's why we continue to do what we do, and why we are so passionate and driven about animal rights. 

"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission, to be of service to them whenever they require it. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."  St. Francis of Assisi 

After working with self-professed "girl gone green" Julie Watkins for 6 months, I'd finally received enough prodding and admonishing to try something "vegan."

I've been consuming animal products my entire life you see -- chicken for dinner from Chick Fil A, some eggs and a glass of nonfat milk for breakfast -- I was in no way vegan.

However, I've always been particular.

I have found that I try to distance myself from the animal at all costs - I don't consume chicken that is dark, or on the bone, I cringe when I see veins and blood in my particular meat du jour, and I only consume the "lean" fat-less versions of it all.

So, after waving chicken sandwiches in Julie's face, she finally admonished me enough (I jest - it is typically me who taunts Julie with various meat products and images) to try this "vegan" product - Gardein vegan chicken nuggets.

After Julie got into a "cat-fight" with a pro-meat family member on Facebook, I decided to take the plunge - I made the 2 mile drive to Super Target and purchased a package of these seemingly healthy and veggie friendly goods.

I'm no chef - I frequent our local eateries, almost always refusing to cook at home.

These vegan chicken nuggets were easy to make! All that was required was a cookie sheet and oven - the only two kitchen items I know how to operate with! After 20 minutes of baking, I pulled them out, and quickly devoured them.

They were delicious! They were...not exactly fried. They were breaded - with ancient grains, according to the company. The chicken alternative was a mixture of veggies, I believe - you could fool someone with these! They were not made with any animal product - no eggs, no chicken - and they were low calorie, too!

Since first trying these delightful little nuggets, I have since made return trips to the store - each time returning with more of these morsels!

So while I haven't made the full conversion yet (I REALLY enjoy sandwiches and subs loaded with turkey breast) - I'm on my way. Gardein can convince you (and so can Julie Watkins)!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is a circus giant. I’m sure even many of you reading this will have gone to one of their shows at some point. But giants can fall too, and Ringling Bros. is finally starting to pay for the cruelty that they inflict upon animals. In November, Ringling’s parent company, Feld Entertainment, agreed to pay a $270,000 settlement to the USDA for violations of the Animal Welfare Act - the largest penalty ever for a circus. I truly believe that days are numbered for Ringling and other animal circuses, but those of us fighting their cruelty need help.


Here in Jacksonville, my fellow members of The Girls Gone Green, along with JaxProtest and concerned Jacksonville residents, are working to ban Ringling Bros. from our city. We have created a Change.org petition that now has over 1,500 signatures and counting, and have brought it before City Council. We will be bringing it back to them so please sign & share!


Ringling will be here for four days of shows at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena January 19-22, and we will be there to protest. If you live in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, I ask you to please join us! A few hours of your time to peacefully protest animal cruelty is nothing compared to the suffering that Ringling’s animals endure. The dates, times and address are listed here. You can also help by contacting your City Council member and asking them to support a ban.


If you are not nearby, please help us fight circus cruelty on a national level by contacting your government reps about H.R. 3359: The Traveling Exotic Animals Protection Act. You can use the link about to find your Representatives or Senators, or you can send an automated message already filled out for you by Break The Chain - but remember, the message is stronger when it contains your own words! Speak straight from your heart.


Please watch the video below to hear Jacksonville residents and Girls Gone Green members speaking passionately to the City Council to call for a ban  of Ringling Bros. from our city. You will also see in the video why they are speaking up for these tortured individuals.

Check out this video which highlights a very controversial subject, animal experimentation.  It's about one man's close connection to this reality through his mother's career as a medical researcher.  He struggles with the moral question as to whether it's justified to exploit other beings if it means saving someone you love. 

ARTIST STATEMENT:  I wanted to do this video to visually express how our treatment of animals is not always as black and white as we like to think.  Society's archaic view on animals makes it easy for industries to subject sentient beings to painful experiments and torture them in the name of "progress."  I feel more people need to be exposed to these practices and witness the harm done to thousands of animals in research labs.  Whether we believe it is justified or not, we are obligated to be informed about how our fellow beings are treated.  Injustice for one is injustice for all.
I hope this music video will at least allow the viewer to critically think about the innocent lives lost and the innocence lost within ourselves when we experiment on intelligent and emotional life. 

There is still the old protein myth about how vegans don't get enough.  If you are one of those people who wondered where a person eating low on the food chain get their protein, then this blog is for you!  Julie Watkins is entering a figure competition on October 8th and she wants to prove vegans can build muscles.  

Check out her blog at www.veganfigure.com and get access to healthy, protein-packed recipes, workout routines and tips on improving the way you look and feel.  She invites your participation, so please ask questions and get involved.  The video below is a preview from one of her blogs.  She goes over a routine with her trainer, Giles Wiley from Fitness Together.  Watch it and try it out yourself!

Mercy for Animals is a non-profit organization devoted to exposing mistreatment of animals on factory farms. They are currently touring the country and bringing their investigations to people's attention.  They hope the information provided will heighten people's awareness about their food choices.

Earlier in April, they stationed their multi-media truck in Jacksonville Beach near the Seawalk Pavilion and screened the documentary Farm to Fridge narrated by Babe actor James Cromwell.  The 12-minute long video looped for about an hour and exposed people to graphic images of what happens to animals in factory farms, hatcheries and slaughterhouses.

Traveling nearly 12,000 miles to more than 40 cities, the Farm to Fridge tour spotlights a mobile multi-media advocacy center – featuring a custom-built truck retrofitted with 80” TV screens, speakers and billboard-sized banners.  Phil Letten, campaign coordinator for Mercy for Animals, feels getting the message out is important because, "some people still have no idea how farmed animals are treated before they reach our plates."

He states, "there's not a single law that protects farm animals," and this video, "takes viewers behind the closed doors of today's meat, dairy and egg operations and reveals egregious cruelty to animals."

Mr. Letten is hoping people will want to adopt what he calls a kind and compassionate vegetarian diet after viewing the documentary.  He directs people to Mercy for Animals to request a free vegetarian starter kit.