Targeted Youth

Teen forms group to stop animal abuse
By HANNAH PERRIN / VOICE CORRESPONDENT
STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

Animal abuse happens all around the world. Locally, some teenagers are trying to put an end to it.

“I feel that animals are the most overlooked of society. They are not able to stand up for themselves; they require people to do that for them,” said Ryne Poelker, a PORTA High School senior.

Earlier this year, Ryne started a MySpace page for Springfield Animal Rights to bring awareness on animal abuse and to protest the practice.

Ryne started his animal-rights movement freshman year, when he decided to become a vegetarian. He said he originally become vegetarian because he felt the way animals were treated was unnecessary. He also read a book called “Animal Liberation” by Peter Singer that put things into perspective for him. Read More

Most animal rights organizations have been targeting our nation’s youth to become their foot soldiers in the war to eliminate animal agriculture. They give step by step instructions on how to organize protests and start their own school clubs. All of the supplies needed will be provided free of charge to them as well. This is why it is so important that we work to tell the true story of agriculture in our schools. There are many different ways to work with your schools. Anything from farm tours to reading books to the kids that accurately depict agriculture can make a big difference in the lifetime views towards agriculture that these kids will have.