BARC bites back for animal rights

The human species may have bitten off more than it 'should' chew.
The Westernized diet specifically uses more animals for food, causes clear-cut forests and reforms wild habitats to feed an ever-growing need for meat in North America.
The Brock Animal Rights Club (BARC) created the 'Critical Animal Film Series' to showcase these growing issues and to promote vegan diets. BARC invites all interested students and staff to the critical viewing of meat and diet related documentaries followed by a group discussion and vegan snacks.
BARC is an organization which is dedicated to raising awareness about all forms of animal-exploitation throughout Brock University and the Niagara Region. BARC also promotes a vegan lifestyle as the most effective and compassionate choice people can make to help animals, world hunger, the environment and personal health.
BARC will be hosting the series of free documentary film screenings from Sept. 24, to Nov. 26, in Thistle Hall on campus to promote discussion and awareness concerning western meat-based diets, environmental impacts and the exploitations of animals.
"In general BARC hopes to raise awareness and stimulate critical thinking about the many ways society exploits non-human animals," said Kimberly Costello, Director of Campaigns and Events for BARC.
"We also hope that by viewing the films people will be inspired to become active in advocating for the causes or issues addressed in the films."
The series will run with a viewing every two weeks starting in late September with five dates total starting with Super-Size Me Thursday Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m. in Thistle Hall Room 244.
"Documentary film screenings are valuable and powerful methods for raising awareness about social justice issues and support for social-advocacy. The films chosen for this particular film series are engaging and stimulate critical thinking about western-commercial diets and the ways in which non-human animals are exploited in society," said Costello.
Costello has personally been involved in the animal rights movement for several years and is a long-time vegan. She is also in the second year of her PhD at Brock and specializes in researching human out-group prejudice, discrimination and speciesism.
"I would argue that non-human animal exploitation is at the root of all other forms of oppression. At the very least, there is clearly a connection among all social justice movements whether it is slavery, woman's rights, gay rights, or animal rights. Therefore I am personally motivated to organize events such as this film series which are imperative for raising awareness and stimulating critical thinking about the inexcusable and inhumane forms of non-human animal exploitation," said Costello.
BARC is co-sponsoring the Critical Animal Studies Film Series with the Institute for Critical Animal Studies (ICAS), Brock University Social Justice and Equity Studies MA Program and the Brock University Department of Sociology.
Resources will be available for those who are interested in becoming more active in the associated causes, learning more about the various issues addressed in the films, and learning about the benefits of veganism, a plant based diet which is cruelty free way of living.
For additional information contact Kimberly Costello, Brock University Graduate Student at (905) 641-5279, or by email at kimberly.costello@brocku.ca.
People interested in joining BARC are encouraged to contact brockanimalrights@gmail.com.