When the earthquake hit Washington, D.C., yesterday, thousands of people evacuated the Smithsonian museums and streamed onto the National Mall where, ever so conveniently, they were met by PETA's Glass Walls exhibit. In the aftermath of all that shaking, the exhibit staffers gave away more than 500 vegetarian/vegan starter kits and "Glass Walls" DVDs narrated by Sir Paul McCartney!

While the East Coast quake gave PETA's outreach efforts a boost, you don't have to wait for the next act of nature to see the powerful Glass Walls display. Visit the exhibit across from the Museum of Natural History most days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through September 4.  

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

All summer long, the millions of people who will visit Washington, D.C.'s National Mall will be greeted by  PETA's arresting "Glass Walls" display across from the Museum of Natural History. With 12 massive panels and a large-screen television playing Sir Paul McCartney's "Glass Walls" DVD, the display causes passersby to stop to watch, talk to PETA staff, and take away copies of the video and vegetarian/vegan starter kits.
 

 
One mother walking with her teenage son stopped, pointed, and told him, "Watch—this is how animals are treated at slaughterhouses. This is terrible!" She said she was going vegan and left with information. A young boy also repeatedly brushed off his impatient father so that he could continue to scan the panels. A passing bike rider vowed never to eat chicken again after stopping to watch the section of the video about chickens.

In the first month alone, more than 10,000 copies of "Glass Walls" were distributed, along with similar numbers of vegetarian/vegan starter kits, free stickers, and other resources to help people transition to a vegan diet. We expect to distribute more than 50,000 DVDs before summer's end and change the minds and lives of thousands of people.

If you are in D.C. this summer, swing by the National Mall to check out the "Glass Walls" display or check it out online at Animal Liberation Project. You can also get the information from PETA's literature catalog and grab some extras to give to your friends.

 
Written by Michelle Sherrow

On Saturday, PETA's DC Outreach Team, which is based at the Nanci Alexander Center for Animal Rights in Washington, D.C., held its 400th outreach event of 2010. No, that's not a typo! To mark the occasion, PETA volunteers and interns helped hand out almost 1,000 copies of PETA's vegetarian/vegan starter kit (VSK) and The Kids' Guide to Helping Animals magazine.

One volunteer estimated that 90 percent of passersby took a VSK. Many people said that they had been thinking about going vegetarian and were impressed by the numerous vegan dining options in the D.C. area. Since a whopping 45 percent of people who pick up a VSK kick the meat habit—and since every vegetarian saves more than 100 animals a year—the Outreach Team is making some tracks!

To be a lifesaver for animals wherever you go, please join PETA's Action Team so that you can order literature, get tips, and get started helping animals right away.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

Obesity rates are climbing across the country, with one exception: Washington, D.C., is the only area in the U.S. to see a decline in the adult obesity rate. Some people may cite Michelle Obama's healthy eating challenges for D.C.'s flab-less makeover, but it seems that PETA's work to encourage the city's residents and visitors to adopt a vegan diet is having an impact. Check out other ways PETA is getting involved in D.C.:

In addition to having more than 60 stands for our vegetarian/vegan starter kit around D.C., PETA also organizes more than 15 animal rights outreach events per week. There have been patriotic vegan food giveaways outside gross, flesh-filled barbecues; volunteers have served vegan food to the homeless; PETA's "cow," "chicken," and "pig" mascots have handed out free vegan recipes; we've dispensed more than 250,000 pieces of animal rights literature over the past year; we've put up banners; and that's not all. We are also promoting buying cruelty-free products, stopping NASA's cruel monkey tests, and helping make D.C. free of fur, leather, wool, and silk!

Written by Katie Arth, PETA's D.C. area organizer

Our neighbors to the south have been busy bees for animals lately. Last Saturday, more than 9,000 people took part in a massive activist-organized march for animal rights in Mexico City. How inspiring are these pics?!

The event raised tons of awareness, got lots of media coverage, and allowed organizers to gather more than 6,500 signatures on a petition asking the government to introduce tougher penalties—including jail time—for people who are convicted of cruelty to animals. Not bad for a day's work.

If you are the mood for a margarita and a march for animals, swing by Mexico City on June 27 to join this stellar group of people for another march in honor of Mexico City's official Animal Rights Day. Or if you are just feeling inspired by all this activism, be an amigo to animals by trying one or two of PETA's easy summer outreach ideas.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post