Interview with Amanda Schemkes of Action for Animals

This week we interviewed Amanda Schemkes of Action for Animals, a non-profit animal advocacy organization based in Seattle, Washington. Action for Animals is sponsoring Veg Fest 2012, and we wanted to give our readers a chance to get to know a bit about the important work they do. To learn more about them, visit their website.

CAA: Why are you sponsoring the Veg Fest?
Amanda: Action for Animals is sponsoring the Veg Fest to support an event that will help to educate people about why and how to be vegan. Veg Fests are great for getting people interested in veganism, providing a sense of community, and introducing people to animal rights groups that they can get involved with. We hope that this Veg Fest will lead to people making changes in their lives to help animals.

CAA: What is your mission?
Amanda: Action for Animals’ mission is to promote positive change in the ways people view and treat animals. Because every animal has the right to live his or her life free from oppression and exploitation, AFA promotes veganism – not using animals for food, clothing, entertainment, research, trade, or any other objectifying purpose – and animal rights activism as the best ways to take action for animals and work for their liberation.

CAA: What are you most excited about at the Veg Fest?
Amanda: The aspect of Veg Fest that we are the most excited about is the opportunity to educate people about veganism and animal rights, to inspire people to do more to help animals, and to connect with caring individuals.

CAA: What do you see in the future for animal advocacy?
Amanda: In the future of animal advocacy, we hope to see activists and organizations take a firm stance for animal rights and veganism and to not compromise the future that animals deserve — one in which they enjoy true liberation from systems of exploitation. As animal advocates, we have a responsibility to the animals to expand the movement and to push the general public to recognize that all animals have intrinsic value and that veganism must be a foundation for our interactions with animals. Our responsibility to animals is greater than reducing their suffering; it is to work for the day when no animal’s life is defined by their value to humans.