I attended the Great Plains Conference on Animals and the Environment on Saturday. Paul Shapiro, Daniel Redwood, JoAnn Farb, and Gene Baur were among the speakers. Many facts were shared showing how the earth is suffering due to animal agriculture in keeping with the conference theme. Recent findings indicate that the impact is far greater than was reported in “Livestock’s Long Shadow” which indicated that 18% of greenhouse gases were coming from animal agriculture. Worldwatch Institute is now saying the figure is closer to 51%.
Yet with that sobering news came a ray of light as well. In the U.S., animal slaughter has decreased from 9 ½ Billion to 9 billion. As we mourn the loss of those precious 9 billion earthlings, let us also celebrate the saving of half a billion others. While the number of vegans has not increased substantially over the last 10 years, nevertheless millions of people are eating fewer animals than they once were. They are opening up to the possibility that eating less meat is possible. That kind of opening might be just enough to help them feel the joy within that comes from eating a nonviolent meal and knowing deep inside that no one had to die for their meal.
This week let us pray for the healing of Mother Earth and her air, her water, and her sacred ground. We give thanks that fewer animals are being brutally raised and killed for food in the U.S., and we hold in our hearts every moment a sweet and tender comforting love for all those whom we cannot yet save. There is a communion between us and these animals—whether we call it prayer or visualization or right thought or all of those, our connection to them is powerful and profound. You are their heroes, their voices, “burning with love for all creation.” Thank you.
If you haven’t already done so, please join us at the Prayer Circle for Animals facebook page.
With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy, and Will, Madeleine, and the Circle of Compassion team.
PS - We now have a Facebook Group for the Prayer Circle For Animals where we can share, discuss, visualize, and send our prayers together -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/prayercircleforanimals