Joaquin Phoenix Advocates for a Turkey-Free Thanksgiving
Joaquin Phoenix, a renowned vegan actor and activist, has been actively advocating for a vegan Thanksgiving. He has urged people to demonstrate compassion during the holiday season by leaving turkey off their plates. Phoenix, along with other celebrities, has signed the Turkey-Free Pledge created by Farm Sanctuary, an animal rescue organization. The pledge calls attention to various issues, including animal cruelty, environmental destruction, the exploitation of slaughterhouse workers, and the negative impact of factory farming on rural communities. By avoiding turkey for Thanksgiving, the pledge aims to save the lives of the estimated 46 million turkeys killed for the holiday each year and serve as a symbol of protest against the detrimental effects of animal agriculture on the ecosystem.
Phoenix’s advocacy for animal rights and a plant-based lifestyle is not a recent endeavor. He has been a vegan for over 40 years and has been involved in various campaigns promoting veganism. In the 1990s, Phoenix appeared in an advertisement encouraging the public to save turkeys by choosing plant-based foods for Thanksgiving. The ad featured Phoenix in a supermarket, selecting fruits and vegetables, with a message highlighting the cruelty faced by turkeys during the holidays.
“If you celebrate Thanksgiving, stop paying someone to hurt animals for your Thanksgiving centerpiece. Choose a vegan roast so that everyone can have something to be thankful for this holiday season.”
– Joaquin Phoenix
Additionally, Phoenix and his partner, Rooney Mara, have supported Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Turkey initiative. They visited the sanctuary in Acton, California, to meet rescued turkeys and issued a statement emphasizing the emotional, intelligent, and social nature of turkeys. They highlighted the plight of turkeys during the holiday months and encouraged people to adopt turkeys instead of eating them. Their advocacy extends to protesting against the immoral treatment of workers in the animal agriculture industry and its role in accelerating the climate crisis.
Phoenix has also been involved in other campaigns to promote veganism. Recently, he partnered with the nonprofit Los Angeles Animal Save to create billboards in Los Angeles featuring his image in front of a slaughterhouse truck with a pig inside, accompanied by the message “Save Animals. Go Vegan.” The campaign includes bench advertisements with images of farmed animals and similar messages.
Through these initiatives, Joaquin Phoenix is not only promoting a vegan lifestyle but also highlighting broader issues related to animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and social justice within the food industry. His efforts reflect a commitment to using his platform to advocate for change and encourage more compassionate choices, particularly during the Thanksgiving holiday.
