A Year of Action: How PETA Youth Sparked Change in 2024
PETA Youth – PETA India’s teen and young adult division’s inspiring journey of 2024 of creating awareness, fostering compassion, and igniting change was nothing short of transformative, with groundbreaking campaigns, impactful events, and innovative tools that helped bring animal rights to the forefront of conversations and changed young minds across India. Here’s a glimpse into some of the landmark moments:
Abduction Virtual Reality Experience
Imagine being stranded in a desert, abducted by aliens, and subjected to terrifying experiments. PETA Youth’s newly launched ‘Abduction Virtual Reality Experience’ recreated this gripping scenario to mirror the horrors animals face in laboratories. A unique virtual reality experience and a realistic journey, where one puts on a headset and seemingly finds themselves stranded in the desert with friends, abducted by aliens, taken aboard a spaceship, and subjected to laboratory horrors: ‘You watch as your friends endure experiments inspired by real tests conducted on animals, knowing that you’ll be next.’ Showcased at events like Comic Cons in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi, prominent vegan festivals like the Vegan India Conference and Ekatva Festival, and renowned music festival – Sunburn Goa, this campaign was also taken to esteemed college fests such as ‘Goonj’ by Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Engineering and Technology (GBPIET) Uttarakhand, ‘Rage Against the Cage’ by North Cap University Gurugram, and ‘Waves 24’ by Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Goa and served a visceral wake-up call to participants.
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End Speciesism
The ‘End Speciesism’ campaignchallenges the belief that humans are superior to other animals and justifies exploiting them. By advocating for treating all living beings with dignity and respect, the campaign made waves at events like Wagathon Mumbai, Comic Con Hyderabad, Comic Con Chennai, Pune International Literary Festival, and esteemed institutions such as ‘Manfest- Varchasva’ by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, ‘Momentum’ by North Cap University and Institute of International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) Bhopal. The message was clear: compassion knows no species.
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Save the Boy Child
Highlighting the plight of male chicks and calves discarded by the egg and dairy industries, the ‘Save the Boy Child’ campaign educated the youth with gripping visuals and storytelling. The eye-opening initiative include informative posters, leaflet distribution, and a screening of a short video showing how these male animals – deemed “worthless” because of their inability to produce eggs or milk – are discarded and killed. Events at ‘Synchronize’ by XIM University Bhubaneswar, ‘Alcheringa’ by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, and ‘World Moot on International Law and Animal Rights’ by National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) Hyderabad reached young minds, leaving them informed and empowered to make kinder choices.
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I, Calf: A Virtual Reality Journey
Through the power of virtual reality, ‘I, Calf’ placed participants in the heartbreaking reality of a young calf trying to escape separation from his mother who is exploited for the milk humans steal for their consumption. Based on a true story, the viewer is placed “in the body” of a young calf whose mother secretly gave birth to twins. Remembering that farmers took her previous babies away, one of the newborns is hidden to protect him. The immersive experience moved hearts and changed minds at ‘Transcend’ by Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Pune, E- Summit by Jai Hind College Mumbai, ‘AXAV’ by St. Xavier’s College Kolkata, and ‘Spree’ by Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Goa helping them empathize with the animals’ plight like never before.
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Compassion Is Magical
Friendship Day got a heartwarming twist with the ‘Compassion Is Magical’ campaign. The enchanting stall at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Delhi) combined a whimsical theme with hard-hitting information on animal rights and vegan living, spreading joy and awareness in equal measure.
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Hug A Vegan Day
Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics celebrated ‘Hug A Vegan Day’ with PETA Youth’s chick mascot delivering free hugs, reminding everyone that small acts of kindness can have a big impact.
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PETA Youth Talks
PETA Youth sparked lively discussions through educational talks on topics ranging from ‘Delhi on 11th October 2024 and K J Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce on 26th November 2024. A special Vegan Fashion Talk at JD Institute of Fashion Technology inspired attendees to embrace cruelty-free choices in their wardrobes.
In 2024, PETA Youth connected with 4000 students, inspiring change as they joined the call for harsher penalties against cruelty to animals, pledged to go vegan and signed the research modernisation deal petition.
Ready to create a kinder world for animals? Join PETA Youth and make an impact through exciting outreach activities!
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