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Farm Sanctuary Announces New "My Friends at the Farm" Video Narrated by Actor Casey Affleck

A Resource for the Classroom FREE to Teachers

June, 2004 - Good news for teachers! Farm Sanctuary's Cultivating Compassion humane education program makes it even easier for caring teachers to bring compassion to their classrooms. In an increasingly violent world in which making profits often takes precedence over seeking peace, Farm Sanctuary's Cultivating Compassion program offers materials designed to encourage respect and kindness toward all living beings and the environment. In addition to our Teacher's Guides offering lesson plans, hand-outs, and activities for teaching that animals have feelings, too, we are pleased to announce an exciting new video for the classroom, My Friends at the Farm.

Narrated by actor Casey Affleck, it is the first video ever to introduce the realities of factory farming to children as young as 8 years old in an age-appropriate way. By contrasting the peaceful lives of individual sanctuary animals with lives of billions of animals raised for the food industry, children are encouraged to think critically about the consequences of their food choices. Dan Piraro's cartoon narratives take three animal "ambassadors" from the factory farm to their new homes at Farm Sanctuary. Kids both on the farm and in the classroom express their feelings about animals who they may have viewed as only "breakfast, lunch, and dinner," but now may see as living, feeling beings with their own love of life. The video is an excellent companion to our Cultivating Compassion Teacher's Guides, and comes with an accompanying My Friends at the Farm brochure for kids.

In the words of one teacher:
"This educational video handles an important and thought-provoking topic in a delicate and sensitive way. Children can relate to this video. It gives them a positive message and empowers them to do something. Children and adults might be surprised to learn what goes on in farms today, but Farm Sanctuary shows the truth while still being age appropriate. I would recommend the video to teachers who want to encourage an engaging dialogue among students about the treatment of animals."

Working teachers can request a complimentary copy or the video may be purchased for $10 at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225 ext. 221.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.