Dear friends,

At some point you signed my petition, "Ban the sale of foie gras in California Farmer's Markets." I am thrilled to say that we can now declare VICTORY on this petition, since the production or sale of foie gras has been banned in California as of 2019! https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-foie-gras-prohibition-court-ruling-20190107-story.html While this court decision took several years, our petition played an effective role in the interim. We were able to use your large number of signatures to convince several local Farmer's Market managers to remove foie gras sales from their markets, while the case made its way through the courts! So, THANK YOU for supporting this petition and for taking a stance against rampant animal cruelty! Since you have all shown that you care about stopping cruelty to animals, I'd like to ask you to consider taking a few additional steps. The MOST important thing you can do to reduce cruelty to animals in this world is simple: take them off of your plate. While going vegetarian or vegan might sound difficult, it's a lot easier if you approach it with small steps, like cutting out meat/dairy/eggs for one or two days a week. There are TONS of great online resources you can sign up for to help you make a transition to a kinder, more sustainable, and healthier plant-based diet. I'd like to suggest one in particular:

https://veganoutreach.org/mc10w/

Vegan Outreach's "10 weeks to vegan" program will send you weekly emails for 10 weeks, giving you guidance on how to replace animal products with plant-based foods that taste just as good, and sometimes better! I highly encourage you all to sign up for this amazing program. Secondly, consider donating to an animal-protection charity this December. Animal protection non-profits offer some of the most cost-effective to do good in the world. A single dollar spent could save the lives of one more more animals, who would otherwise suffer a miserable and cruel existence on a factory farm or inside a laboratory. Here are some organizations I would encourage you to consider donating to:

Vegan Outreach: https://veganoutreach.org/2019-challenge/?sourceid=1041367

Mercy for Animals: https://tinyurl.com/rbb6y8m

PETA: https://tinyurl.com/wzgvw8d

Animals are arguably the most innocent and helpless victims of human cruelty and greed in this world, and they need your voice to protect them. By taking a stand against animal cruelty and exploitation, you reject the notion that "might makes right" and support the idea that all creatures deserve a peaceful life free of violence from humans. THANK YOU for being a hero to animals everywhere.

With Gratitude, Mohan Gurunathan