At this end of the year, when we celebrate connection, gratitude, and highlight good works, I want to give a big shout-out to some of our western Massachusetts organizations that make huge efforts each year to bring education of animal rights, human rights, and planetary rights to all of us.

Western Mass Animal Rights Advocates was founded by Sheryl Becker in 2011 and, along with many dedicated and new members, has been working tirelessly to increase consciousness, respect, and compassion for our fellow animals through public outreach, education, peaceful protests, workshops, and collaborative support on current animal rights initiatives (www.facebook.com/groups/WMARAP/).

Youth Empowered Action Camp in Hinsdale is a social justice leadership camp that trains aspiring activists to make bigger differences in the world by bringing together internationally renowned change-makers to educate youth on issues from climate change to colonialism and racism, gay and gender rights to animal rights (yeacamp.org/about-us-2/). 

Berkshire Voters for Animal Rights is a western Massachusetts organization that works to protect animals through political action, advocacy and education. They work directly with our legislators, the MSPCA, and other animal justice efforts to ensure laws are passed and education shared that benefit animals and humans in our state (www.facebook.com/BerkshireVotersforAnimals/). 

Sunny Meadow Farmed Animal Sanctuary in Barre is a safe haven for rescued farmed animals and wildlife, providing opportunities for volunteers to learn humane education, make like-minded connections, and provide direct compassionate care for the animals saved from abuse and slaughter (www.sunnymeadowsanctuary.org). 

The Berkshire Farm Sanctuary in Peru’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and provide a safe haven for abandoned, abused and neglected companion and farm animals and promote humane education and compassion to all beings. They offer events all year for the animals (berkshirefarmsanctuary.org/). 

Western Mass Rights of Nature is part of a global movement that advocates for reforming legal systems to recognize the inherent rights of the natural world to exist, thrive and evolve (sites.google.com/view/western-mass-rights-of-nature). 

These are just some of the organizations in our area. Please, if you have any interest in learning and advocating for animal, human, or planetary rights, check out these sites and get involved. 

Kim Clark lives in Greenfield.