We want to thank everyone who attended the Animal Rights National Conference last weekend! It was a true pleasure to meet so many of you in-person at our exhibit table, panel presentations, Activist Support Circle, and Interfaith Vegan Coalition Meeting.

Conference highlights included shout outs for the movie Okja, responsible for a huge spike in "vegan" Google searches when it came out on Netflix, and excitement about the lab cultured meat industry, perched to replace factory farming as the environmentally-friendly alternative. The Save Movement, among the fastest growing animal advocacy groups, was featured in many conference conversations. Attendees honored the passing of beloved animal rights philosopher Tom Regan and toasted to the end of Ringling Brothers Circus after over 100 years!

IDA President Marilyn Kroplick, MD, announced the launch of Carnivores Anonymous, our free 12-Step program supporting and providing strategies to help people maintain optimum health, lose weight, reverse chronic illness and tackle food addiction while adopting a plant-based diet. To participate or lead a local group, visit www.carnivoresanonymous.org. 

Sustainable Activism Campaign Director Lisa Levinson presented on the “Surviving Our Activism” panel to a full house of activists seeking emotional support. We were very pleased to see this growing, positive attitude toward self and community care! To join our activist support community, visit www.animalactivistsupport.org.

Lisa introduced our new Interfaith Vegan Coalition during the “Engaging Through Religion” panel, where Jewish Veg’s Jeffrey Cohan quoted Tom Regan who urged activists to rouse “the sleeping giant of organized religion.” The coalition provides religion-specific resources for activists to encourage their place of worship to go vegan. Access our Advocacy Kits here: www.interfaithvegancoalition.org.

We hope to see all of you at AR 2018!