Animal Rights Group Offers Cash for Animal Cruelty Education

The nonprofit organization Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) is offering residents around the country the chance to learn about animal cruelty while earning a little money. 

Head to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters (1400 Independence Ave. SW) in Washington, DC, on Friday to watch four minutes of a video taken in factory farms and slaughterhouses—and get paid a dollar to do it. 

As part of the FARM initiative, dubbed the 10 Billion Lives Tour, a specially equipped van with eight screens will stop in busy public locations and offer people $1 to watch the video documenting the treatment of farm animals, according to FARM.

According to the USDA, 10 billion land animals are raised and killed every year in the United States. FARM’s initiative aims to decrease consumption of animal products, with the ultimate goal being a vegan diet.

“Consumers have the right to know where their food comes from, and the 10 Billion Lives Tour will expose people to the harsh reality of animal agriculture,” FARM ’s program director Michael Weber said in a statement. “Viewers often tear up or become angry after watching the video, and turn that passion into action by making food choices that are consistent with their values.”

About 28,000 people have seen the video, which features hidden-camera footage inside animal agriculture facilities and reveals the conditions and standard industry practices that take place there, and 84 percent have pledged to change their diets, according to FARM. 

The van will be parked in front of the USDA from 9 a.m. until noon on Friday. Afterward, it will travel to Ben’s Chili Bowl (located at 1213 U St. NW) from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

For more information on FARM and the 10 Billion Lives Tour, visit http://www.farmusa.org or http://www.10billiontour.org/.