Miranda
Robbins
 As
we've done in the past, Vegan Outreach
is profiling
some of our top leafleters. This
week, we turn our attention to Miranda
Robbins. In her first year of leafleting
for VO, Miranda handed out over
80,000 booklets to college and high
school students, and thousands more
at concerts, festivals, and beaches
throughout California. Miranda's
hard work for the animals continues
to inspire many.
Where are you from and where
do you live now?
I was born and raised in Southwest
Florida, but I am from New Orleans.
I'd still be there now had it not
been for meeting fellow AACer Victor
Tsou. Now, I live in Oakland, CA
with Victor!
What are your favorite things
to do outside of leafleting?
Hanging out with my partner Victor
is my favorite activity, though
this takes many forms (including
leafleting!). We enjoy drawing together,
the art of improv, cooking, bicycling,
dancing, karaoke, and visiting the
library. I also enjoy painting and
making mixed cds for my fellow leafleters.
Any requests?
Who has been / is a major influence
in your life and why?
My mother taught me from an early
age to fight for what I believe
in. She also raised me as a vegetarian
and instilled in me a love for all
life, no matter the form that life
may take. My sister, Cheyenne, also
has been a big influence, as she
was the first vegan activist I met.
She has always been passionate about
justice and making sure everyone
is treated fairly and with respect,
which rubbed off on me.
How long have you been involved
in animal rights and how did you
get interested?
Since I was raised vegetarian, there
were discussions about why people
should be vegetarian in my household
pretty often. My form of activism
for a long time was to live by example.
When I went vegan in 2002, I got
a little more involved, but very
half-heartedly. Post-Katrina, I
started meeting people who did more
than just talk and it really inspired
me. I saw "Earthlings"
in October 2006. That really kicked
my butt. I knew I had to start doing
something. About a week later, I
met Monica Ferroe, who was handing
out Even If's at a movie screening.
She really helped me get started
with consistent leafleting and I
haven't stopped since. Thanks, Monica!
What made you decide to start
leafleting? If you were nervous
the first time, how did you get
over it?
Leafleting seemed to make the most
sense to me as an effective form
of advocacy. After consistently
leafleting for over a year now,
I very much believe leafleting to
be the most effective form of advocacy,
next to video leafleting. As far
as being nervous, I still am almost
every time I go out to a campus
or concert. But I feel I have a
duty to share the knowledge that
I have with others, because this
mass oppression isn't going to end
by itself. And once I give that
first booklet away, the rest just
seem to fly out of my hands.
What was your most positive
leafleting experience and why?
It is difficult to choose just
one, because something positive
happens almost every time I leaflet.
I never tire of hearing the excitement
in someone's voice when they learn
that they aren't the only vegan
out there!
What would you say to individuals
hesitant about leafleting?
Get out and do it! Throughout
our daily lives, there are multiple
opportunities to spread awareness
about the mass oppression and exploitation
of animals. Because we can save
so many more lives by encouraging
others to go vegan than we can just
by being vegan ourselves, it is
important to speak out. And leafleting
is one of the easiest and most effective
ways in which you can make a difference.
So what are you waiting for? Now
is the perfect time to start!
Vegan Outreach
P.O. Box 30865
Tucson, AZ 85751-0865
VO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization; all donations
are tax-deductible. |
