Special Reports
Farm Sanctuary ♥♥♥♥♥♥
2006 Farm Sanctuary Gala
Farm Sanctuary's Honorary Committee |
Reported by Entertainment Team, Los Angeles, California, USA (Originally in English)
New York City - just the mention of its name conjures up images of glitz and glamour, of skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty. The Big Apple, as this diverse metropolis is affectionately called, is home to the Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park. The city is also known as one of the fashion and financial capitals of the world. Broadway, Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden are just a few of its numerous and varied attractions which captivate tourists from all over the world.
Almost five years ago, the September 11, 2001 tragedy took place at the World Trade Center in the heart of the Financial District of Manhattan. Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately made a financial contribution for victims of the disasters. In addition, our Association members traveled to ‘ground zero’ to assist in relief work and provide vegetarian meals for rescue workers. It is to this same tragic backdrop that our Association members returned on the evening of May 20, Golden Year 3 (2006) to participate in an event of a different nature – the 20th Anniversary Gala for Farm Animals hosted by Farm Sanctuary at the historic Cipriani Wall Street. This New York landmark occupies an entire city block and stands as a triumph of Greek revival architecture, framed by four sets of monolithic Corinthian columns.
Established since 1986 Farm Sanctuary is the nation’s leading farm animal shelter and advocacy organization. Its primary function is to expose and stop the cruel practice of factory farming as well as to promote compassion for animals through a vegetarian diet. Its honorary committee includes well-known celebrities such as Kim Basinger, Michael Bolton, Ashley Judd, William Shatner and Charlize Theron.
Ever compassionate to the plight of animals, Supreme Master Ching Hai once shared an insight regarding animals during an informal meeting with our Association members, “Animals have souls exactly like you do and they also suffer.” Thus, Master Ching Hai continues to encourage and promote vegetarianism as an alternative way of living, evident by the recent distribution of the Alternative Living flyer by our Association members around the globe.
In tribute to Her work on behalf of the animals, Farm Sanctuary invited Supreme Master Ching Hai to this compassionate and meaningful event. However, due to her busy schedule, Master Ching Hai sent representatives in her stead.
Many celebrities also attended as hosts or award recipients, and to show their full support for the animal cause, which included Daryl Hannah, Alicia Silverstone, David Boreanaz, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Persia White, Grant Aleksander, James Cromwell, Emily Deschanel, Lisa Edelstein, Jesse and Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Dave Foley, Greg Germann, Mariel Hemingway, Swoosie Kurtz, Jill Larson, Moby, Dan Piraro, Lindsay Wagner, James Reynolds, Paul Sorvino, Loretta Swit, Steve Valentine, Joan van Ark and Debra Wilson among others.
The gala commenced with a private VIP reception to welcome celebrities and special guests. The following are exclusive interviews from the VIP reception at the Farm Sanctuary gala by members of the televised program, “A Journey through Aesthetic Realms.”
Alicia Silverstone, Actress (Clueless, Batman & Robin): Ten billion farm animals are killed every single year in America…and that’s astounding. One million animals per hour are slaughtered for food and that really disturbs me. And knowing that American people are so sensitive and compassionate and knowing that if they knew what was going on in these factory farms, it wouldn’t be okay with them…
Interviewer: And what made you become vegetarian? Are you vegan or vegetarian?
Alicia Silverstone: I’m a vegan and I loved animals, but I ate them and I didn’t really make the connection and I tried to ignore it and I finally made the connection once I got informed.
Dennis Kucinich, United States Congressman: We’re both vegan. We practice in ways that inform who we are in our lives.
Greg Germann, Actor (Ally McBeal, Friends with Money): I told my 8-year-old son what I was doing. I tried to explain it to him and he said, “Well, if we’re kind to our animals, then we’ll be kind to each other.” And I thought that was a great way to think about it. You learn empathy at all levels.
Interviewer: How long have you been vegan or vegetarian?
Persia White, Actress (Girlfriends): I’ve been a vegetarian for over 20 years. I’ve been a vegan for about 5.
Interviewer: Supreme Master Ching Hai is a spiritual leader, humanitarian and a philanthropist; she inspires millions of people to become vegetarian. The program shares Her humanitarian work and celebrities who are vegetarian.
Persia White: Hi, Supreme Master Ching Hai. Thank You for all the work that You do. That’s beautiful. I appreciate it.
Dan Piraro, Award-winning cartoonist of Bizarro: When I went to Farm Sanctuary, I met cows and chickens and pigs and roosters and geese in a natural unstressed environment and I found out that they are every bit as sweet and sentient as a cat or a dog. If you wouldn’t eat your cat or dog, you shouldn’t eat these guys. If you love animals, the first thing you should do is stop eating them, not the last thing.
Daryl Hannah, Actress (Splash, Kill Bill): I am a vegetarian. I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 11. I was in a parking lot at a restaurant and I made friends with a little calf and I asked the truck driver what the calf’s name was and he said, “Veal, tomorrow morning at 7.” And I never ate any more meat…I couldn’t associate with what I was eating anymore from that point on, so I became a vegetarian sort of involuntarily. But it just happened and it stuck. And it’s actually the healthiest diet, so I’m glad it stuck. We’re such an amazing species; we have the power to imagine the future and to affect it if we want to. So I think we can come up with ways to obey all these issues, but we just really have to address them and face the fact that they are serious issues to address.
Joan van Ark, Award-winning Actress (Dallas, Knots Landing): I believe that animals are hearts and souls and that’s the way we have to treat them and regard them. I am a vegetarian…I’ve just evolved to that because I think it is healthier. Hi Supreme Master! I celebrate all Your work and all Your beliefs. Congratulations!
Mariel Hemingway, Actress (Lipstick, Manhattan): I believe in the ethical treatment of animals. I think it’s imperative; it’s the right thing to do.
David Boreanaz, Actor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bones): There are a lot of animals out there that are mistreated, either taken for granted or just abused and I think it’s a horrible thing and there should be more of an awareness about that.
Interviewer: How long ago did you become vegan?
Moby, Musician: I’ve been vegan for almost 20 years…I became a vegetarian because I love animals. Hello, my name is Moby. I’m saying hi to Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Interviewer: If you could speak for the animals, what would you say?
Swoosie Kurtz, Tony and Emmy Award-winning Actress (The Fifth of July, Liar, Liar): Please care about me. I have a soul and I feel pain and I suffer just like you do. Treat me as well as your cats and dogs.
Lindsay Wagner, Emmy Award-winning Actress (Bionic Woman, Paper Chase): To me, we don’t have a right to be cruel to anything or anyone - the environment, the animals, each other, our families.
Loretta Swit, Emmy Award-winning Actress (M*A*S*H): I’m a vegan. I don’t wear them; I don’t eat them.
Gene Bauston, President & Co-Founder of Farm Sanctuary: Farm Sanctuary works to change how society views and treats farm animals. Most people don’t think about how their food is produced, don’t think about how animals are treated, so Farm Sanctuary was founded to educate people, raise awareness, and encourage folks to make more humane food choices. We also try to pass laws to ban cruel factory farming systems.
 |
|
Learning of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s noble work for the animals and humankind, many of the special guests were deeply touched. They happily received information on the television program as well as the DVD, “The Real Heroes,” featuring Supreme Master Ching Hai’s lecture on vegetarianism, in which She said, “So be a hero, be a vegetarian!” Celebrities also signed autographs to Supreme Master Ching Hai since she was not able to attend. In the gala’s souvenir book, a page was reserved to introduce guests to Supreme Master Ching Hai and the special program, “The Real Heroes.” Also printed was Supreme Master Ching Hai’s quote, “If we want to truly lead a life of ‘Love thy neighbor,’ our neighbors should include our animal friends, especially since they harm us in no way. They only beautify our lives; they are loving, and they make our lives more lively, colorful and interesting. We should preserve them, watch them, love them and enjoy their presence. God has made it clear; Hes says, ‘I made all the animals to befriend you and help you.’” (Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Harvard University, USA, February 24, 1991 Originally in English. News #134 “Pearls of Wisdom”)
The evening proceeded beautifully with a gourmet vegan dinner and awards ceremony. The information that was shared inspired many to open their hearts and compassion to the plight of farm animals. We hope that in the near future a more humane world will be shared by all beings, man and animal alike. This is in line with Supreme Master Ching Hai’s vision:
“If we did not eat meat, no one would kill, no one would raise cattle. All the food would stay where it was and they could eat it and become healthy and strong. It’d be good for every nation, and it’d be good for our nation as well. We waste a lot of money on arms and on raising animals. All the arable land is wasted nowadays on raising cattle, pigs and the like, or most of it. So if we used these areas to cultivate wholesome, healthy food, I think the nations would benefit more and our nation would have more peace and no need for armed defense.
There’s no need to give away your property; just give up the meat-based diet. That’d be enough to save the world, as well as your own and the nation’s health.” (Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Berkeley University, C.A., USA Oct. 13, 1989 Originally in English. News #102 “Master’s Words”)
Thank You, Master, for giving us this opportunity to share in Your compassionate work of uplifting all sentient beings to higher realms of peace and loving kindness.
Celebrities signed autographs to Supreme Master Ching Hai |
 |
1. Swoosie Kurtz, Tony and Emmy Award-winning Actress (The
Fifth of July, Liar, Liar) |
