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PRESIDENT’S VIEW: Animal Agriculture & California’s Inferno

PRESIDENT’S VIEW: Animal Agriculture & California’s Inferno

Dr. Marilyn Kroplick has led In Defense of Animals as President since 2011, championing the interconnected welfare of animals, people, and the environment. When the Palisades fires erupted in Los Angeles, she evacuated to Freedom Farms, our new sanctuary in Creston. Drawing from her expertise as a board-certified psychiatrist, an award-winning political activism photographer, and a Stanford-certified sustainability specialist, she is transforming this former family farm into a sustainable permaculture sanctuary — a living model of how agricultural practices can align with our ethical and environmental values.

As wildfires like the ongoing Palisades fire devastate communities, destroy homes, and claim lives, we see the consequences of ecological imbalance unfolding in real time.

These fires are fueled by the climate crisis, and the climate crisis is fueled by industrial practices — most notably, animal agriculture. The destruction caused by these fires is a stark reminder of the urgent need to reevaluate our relationship with the planet and its inhabitants.

Animal agribusiness and the climate crisis are inseparable. The brutal exploitation of animals fuels environmental destruction at an alarming scale. Animal farms are ecological disasters — clearing forests, draining and polluting water, and driving up greenhouse gas emissions. Whether it’s local, organic, grass-fed, or factory-farmed, every bite of meat, dairy, and eggs comes with a heavy toll: lost rainforests, poisoned rivers, an overheating planet, increased pandemic risk, and of course, horrific cruelty to animals.

Methane from the millions of innocent cows exploited by animal agribusiness is heating our shared planet much faster than most people realize. Meanwhile, the current use of land, water, and grain to sustain animal agribusiness is recklessly unsustainable. These industries are not just cruel to animals — they are robbing a livable world from future generations of all species. The science is clear: transitioning to plant-based systems is one of the fastest, most impactful ways to combat the climate emergency.

But animal agribusiness doesn’t just cause fires, and rejecting it isn’t only about sustainability — it’s also about justice. Animal farms don’t just harm other animals; they harm humans too. Communities living near these facilities face toxic air, polluted water, and devastating health consequences. Workers perform traumatic, dirty, and dangerous jobs for poverty wages. These injustices hit marginalized populations the hardest.

Breaking our addiction to animal products isn’t optional; it’s urgent. Every choice we make has a ripple effect. The time to act is now. By choosing delicious, healthful, plant-based foods, we can support American farmers to transition to growing crops directly for humans, dismantle destructive animal agribusiness, and build a future where all species, including humans, can thrive.

What YOU Can Do

At In Defense of Animals, we are here to support and encourage anyone who wants to transition to being vegan — to create a world where humans and other animals are not exploited, where we reject the destruction caused by animal agribusiness, and where we actively support the growing movement of plant-based food systems. Please take a look at some of our resources to help guide you through your transition:

Each of us has the power to create real change through our choices. By embracing veganism, we can protect the planet, stand against all animal exploitation, and build a future rooted in justice, compassion, and sustainability.

Thank you for being part of this mission and for your unwavering dedication to protecting all beings and the environment. Your compassion is a force for change, and together, we can make a lasting impact.

You can support our work by donating

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