Leafleting is an incredibly effective form of activism. Essentially, we are just handing out brochures of truth, and letting people decide for themselves. As many people consider themselves animal lovers, and are simply not aware of the harsh realities of modern animal agriculture, this enables people to make the connection themselves. Research has shown that when people come to conclusions on their own accord, they are more likely to stick with their decisions. Trying to guilt people, or simply tell them to “go vegan,” might result in a temporary change, but the most lasting change comes from personal reflection.
I should know. My personal dietary and lifestyle choices are a direct result of leafleting activism; in 2005, Joe Espinosa of Vegan Outreach handed me a leaflet at NIU, and, appalled by what I saw, I soon went vegetarian. For awhile I tried to be a considerate vegetarian, only eating dairy and eggs from “organic” and “free range” farms (truth in labeling is something that I will l later address on this website), but as I did my own research, I came to learn about the harsh realities of the dairy and egg industries as well. All of my decisions, and all the people that I have influenced, and all of the people I will continue to influence for the rest of my life, have come to fruition through the reception of a single booklet. THAT is why leafleting is so important, and that is why we at Justice For Animals firmly believe in leafleting on the NIU campus.
I periodically give talks on leafleting, once or twice a year, so if that is something you would like to learn more about, please use our “contact us” link at the top of the page. While there are many techniques that will result in more favorable outcomes while leafleting, the bottom line is that ANYONE can grab a stack of booklets and go hand them out, and end up making a huge difference for animals.
-Jon
