All Together Activism: Quality Family Time
First appeared in Vegetarian Baby and ChildBy: Kerrie Saunders, MS, LLP, PhD
www.DrFood.org
www.DrFood.myArbonne.com
Adults know that favorite childhood memories are all about good times spent together with family and friends. I think many forms of non-violent activism are ideal ways to spend time together, while role-modeling good stewardship of our animals, environment, and personal health.
Albert Schweitzer once said, "Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing." Now put that together with Margaret Mead's comment, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." I hope you'll share my passion that we must role model for our children the art of compassion and the science of activism.
Consider starting with simple ideas, and be certain to pick projects that are age-appropriate for your children. Stay open to 'teachable moments' about compassion, even when it comes to a perpetrator of negative behavior. For example, offer your child some insight into principles like 'violence is a learned behavior - most often a bully gets terribly bullied at home by a parent', or 'family dairy farmers are often working in the only business they know to support their families', or 'how tragic it would be for anyone to be so numb to an other being's (animal or person) experience'. These concepts are not excuses for behavior, they are explanations of real-life situations. Talking over related topics will also help to gently prepare your child for later defense of his or her own beliefs out in a non-veg*n culture.
So here's a list of some great ways to weave in healthy activism to your quality time together.
- Champion A Charity - There are many non-profit groups or volunteer organizations that can use extra helping hands. Perhaps your local humane society needs a fresh coat of paint, or people to hang signs advertising an upcoming pet guardian/adoption event.
- Get Into The Schools - The Center for Compassionate Living, Youth for Environmental Sanity, Antonia Demas, PhD, and the CHOICE campaign all have ready to go programs designed to bring the benefits of plant-based foods or principles of non-violence into classrooms.
- Recycle Rap - Get a system going! Put a Dana Lyons' CD on the stereo (great environmental activism music for all ages!), and see how much waste you can reduce by reusing and recycling your old stuff! If your community already has a program, be sure your home participates fully. If not, get a group together to start a community program. One great place to start is Seattle, Washington - they have a model program and a mountain of information on community recycling.
- Liven Up Your Library - Consider doing an exhibit or showcase at your local library or community center for a month. Vegans In Motion, at www.all4vegan.net has a great list of Do's and Don'ts to make sure your exhibit gets effective attention. Maybe the kids could chip in or do chores to raise the price of a donated library subscription to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's Good Medicine magazine, at www.pcrm.org. Other internet sites even offer free vegetarian starter kits at www.veganoutreach.org, and www.goveg.com.
- Get Writing - Draft a letter that can serve as an all-purpose consumer activism tool. The first paragraph will thank the restaurant/grocery store/company for providing the Vegan product. The second paragraph states that your family is happy to do business with them and to help promote such an ethical product or company. Each member of the family can sign the bottom of the letter separately. Your family can pick a different restaurant, grocery item, or household product every month to acknowledge. Simply go to your form letter and update the recipient's name and address, date of letter, and the name of the Vegan product. An alternative project could be the same idea, but substituting why you won't be supporting their non-vegan products and then make a helpful suggestion. Caution: Try to spend more time with positivism than negativism.
- Book Some Time - Pick a relevant book of the month to be read as a family. You can make a game of it, alternate reading aloud, assign alternating 'book reports' to each member of the family, or even rotate possession of the book and have discussions after reading it separately - in families with older children. Perhaps some small new family activism project could be inspired as a result of the readings selected.
- Movie Nights- Lots of educational videos are now available from Dr. Michael Klaper, John Robbins, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Jay Gordon, Howard Lyman, and Tribe of Heart, just to mention a few. You might also consider watching other types of movies (i.e. Lion King, Bambi, Lassie, Aristocats, etc.) and have brief discussions about the interactions between animals and humans in the movie. It is important to stay age-appropriate, look for cues that the child is getting overwhelmed, and remember that all views have a right to be heard. Often, the wheels of thought continue long after the discussion or event ends, so be open to later talks as your children process what was said.