Acharya Prashant and Gauri Maulekhi Join Forces to Combat Animal Cruelty and Climate Change
In a compelling discussion held in Greater Noida, prominent animal rights advocates Acharya Prashant and Gauri Maulekhi highlighted the urgent need to address animal cruelty and its connection to climate change. Acharya Prashant, founder of the Prashant Advait Foundation, emphasized the deep link between non-vegetarianism and climate change, pointing out that deforestation for animal fodder is significantly contributing to global warming. “This year, all heat records have been broken. The earth is moving towards a great destruction,” he stated.
Gauri Maulekhi, a renowned animal activist and trustee of People for Animals, echoed these concerns. She stressed the difficulty of curbing animal violence without public awareness but noted her organization’s success in saving millions of animals. She revealed alarming statistics, including the annual production of 68 lakh tons of meat in India, and criticized the unnatural practices in egg and milk production, highlighting the intense suffering inflicted on animals.
Maulekhi elaborated on the severe pain animals endure due to industrial farming practices. She described the exploitation of hens and lactating animals, revealing the use of chemicals and injections to increase productivity, causing immense suffering. “The pain of oxytocin is so dangerous that lactating animals start writhing in pain just by looking at it,” she said.
The discussion also covered the brutal realities of the slaughter industry. Maulekhi detailed the inhumane conditions in which animals are transported and slaughtered, including the use of red chili powder to keep animals from sitting and being crushed during transport, and the painful methods used in slaughterhouses.
Acharya Prashant, the founder of the PrashantAdvait Foundation and a PETA-recognized influential vegan, passionately advocates for veganism. He emphasizes that embracing veganism is not only crucial for animal rights but also offers significant benefits for human health and the environment.
Maulekhi’s dedication to animal welfare is well-documented. Since joining People for Animals in 1995, she has led numerous initiatives, from organizing adoption programs for abandoned dogs to coordinating animal ambulance services. Her international advocacy includes lobbying to end large-scale religious slaughter at the Gadhimai Festival in Nepal and consulting with Humane Society International.
Her notable achievements include evacuating over 6,000 animals during the 2013 Kedarnath floods and pushing for the implementation of state animal welfare boards. For her contributions, she has received numerous awards, including the Nari Shakti Puraskar and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Lucknow University.
The collaboration between Prashant Advait Foundation and People for Animals marks a significant step towards addressing the intertwined issues of animal cruelty and climate change. Both leaders urged the public to raise their voices for the voiceless and work towards a more compassionate and sustainable future.
