People are encouraged to pledge their support to sustainable eating and living as part of Edgar’s Mission’s Be Kind to Animals Week in October.
Now in its eleventh year, Be Kind to Animals week involves a commitment to eat, live and shop sustainably by choosing plant based recipes and products for the duration of the week.
Be Kind to Animals Week is this year hoping to exceed 5000 pledges.
Founder and director of Edgar’s Mission, at Lancefield, Pam Ahern, said the week was a good opportunity to stop and think about how making healthy and sustainable choices could improve peoples’ and animals’ lives around the world.
In addition to reflecting on everyday choices, the week aims to show the many ways people can make a positive impact on animals’ lives.
“You can support your favourite animal welfare charity by volunteering or donating, organise a beach or park clean up, leave water out for local wildlife and so much more,” Ms Ahern said.
To support participants in their pledge, Edgar’s Mission, who started the Be Kind to Animals Week campaign in 2010, will be distributing free ‘Kindness Kits’ along with daily emails containing plant-based recipe inspiration and other sustainable tips. There is also a chance to win a hamper full of ethical products.
Events over the past 18 months have demonstrated a need to reflect on the importance of caring for one another, with Edgar’s Mission rescuing 196 animals and bringing them into the care of the sanctuary.
Included is Kiki Dee, a tiny lamb whose eye had been pecked by a bird.
“Today, after lots of love and care, she is a happy and very affectionate sheep,” Ms Ahern said.
“It just goes to show the power of kindness, and it also speaks to the range of emotions all animals feel, no matter what they look like.”
Ms Ahern will host a series of virtual library talks via Zoom on October 1, October 2, and October 6.
To make a pledge and for more information, free resources and a downloadable colouring competition for kids, visit bekindtoanimalsweek.org.au.
