Star Street Teamer: Elijah Sharma February 1, 2008

Posted by Rachel-O | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

When he's not modeling, texting friends, or watching movies, Elijah Sharma, a peta2 Street Teamer, is out there fighting for animal rights. He's hard-working and innovative, and he has a pretty fun sense of style. He sends us these incredible campaign updates about all the stuff he does in New York, so let's see what he's got to say.

Where do you go to school?
I go to Guilderland High School (GHS) in the capital region of New York state.

Are you vegetarian or vegan, and why?
I am proud to say I'm vegan! I am vegan simply because I do not understand why it is acceptable to exploit other animals like ourselves for our own luxury.

What animal rights issue or issues do you feel most passionate about?
I feel most passionate about animals raised for food because it enables systematic animal abuse and killing to be a part of everyday life. I also feel very passionate about dissection in public schools; it upsets me that animal abuse and exploitation exists under the guise of education.

How did you hear about peta2.com?
I heard about peta2.com after watching "Meet Your Meat" on PETA.org.

What are your favorite resources from peta2?
My favorite resource on peta2.com is all the interviews with celebrities, singers, band members, and other interesting people. My group, Last Chance for Animals GHS, often uses these great people as examples of how easy and beneficial cruelty-free lives can be.

What do your parents and friends think of all your activism?
At first my parents were not interested in my animal rights ideas, but that was years ago. Since then my mother has become a vegan and my father a vegetarian. My parents are generally very supportive and are glad that they have learned so much from my persistence.

How did your group at school get started?
In my freshmen year of high school, I was learning more and more about animal abuse and exploitation from peta2.com, and I really thought that our high school needed a group to bring concerned students together to fight for animals. I thought a high school group would be a great way to make a huge impact on the lives of countless individuals. Last Chance for Animals GHS was started in my freshmen year. I am now in my junior year, and the group is stronger and more exciting than ever.

What are some campaigns you're working on, and have you seen any success?
Last Chance for Animals GHS has worked on many campaigns. On a school level, we have added vegetarian burgers to the daily lunch menu and are currently working on adding soy milk. We have also had an intense dissection/vivisection campaign and have increased the number of students opting out. We've done video screenings, tabling, petitions, and letter writing. We have met with the superintendent, the school board, the high school principal, and the head of math and science as well as being featured in local papers and television news media.

Our demonstrations and activism have also caused the school district to provide written statements of students' right to abstain from dissection/vivisection to students and parents. We have also had fur and foie gras campaigns and are just launching our new and exciting fashion-based campaign, in which we are asking people not to wear or support Uggs. Last Chance for Animals GHS has had many other campaigns, and our Web site, http://www.lastchanceghs.com, has everything anyone wants to know on it! However, I'd have to add that the biggest successes we experience are every time somebody stops us to tell us how they are going vegetarian or won't be buying any more fur trim.

What do you do for fun when not doing activism?
For fun, I really like to spend time with my friends. Shopping and seeing movies is something I love to do, as well, and going out to eat, of course. I really like to spend time talking and texting on the phone and watching a lot of movies. Lately, I and my friend and co-president of Last Chance for Animals GHS, Corrina Goutos, have been working on some clothing designs. I am also very interested in becoming a model.

Do you think Colonel Sanders was dropped on his head as a child?
Maybe, or maybe nobody told him that chickens feel pain and emotion just as he does. I bet if he were alive today, he would be more receptive to peta2.com than KFC currently is.

Feeling inspired? Join the peta2 Street Team for activism ideas and to earn free stuff exclusively for our Street Team members!

Comments

Post a comment