Activist Advertising 101

Sometimes it's hard to come up with new and innovative ways to share our advocacy message with others. But there are many small ways to advertise your activism that have a B-I-G impact! The following are a few inexpensive and immediate ways to inspire dialogue and encourage action:

1- Include an animal quote in your e-mail signature. I use: "Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as important to the child as it is to the caterpillar."

2- Do you carry a vinyl planner, calendar, or binder? They're prime real estate for sharing your message! Fasten a PETA bumpersticker or "Fake, Not Leather" pin on the cover. Mine sports a vegan decal with some turkey footprints!

3- Don't forget the back window of your car. Use liquid chalk to send your message to the drivers behind you.

4- Keep some vegetarian/vegan starter kits in your car and drop them off at doctors' offices, restaurants, and anywhere else that you happen to stop.

5- Print off clear address stickers that say, "Vegan-Ask Me Why!", "Not Leather-Ask Me Why!", or "Faux-Ask Me Why!", and attach them to nonleather purses, shoes, and jackets. Don't forget your stainless-steel water bottle-there's lots of space there!

6- Summertime is treacherous for animal companions. Keep some flyers in the glove compartment of your car that highlight the dangers of leaving animals in hot cars or chaining dogs outside in the heat.

7- If you don't buy a PETA window shade for your car, make your own! Take a piece of cardboard and glue a large, inexpensive thermometer (check your local dollar store) to the middle of it. Add stick-on letters around the thermometer that say, "Please-Don't Leave Your Dog Unattended This Summer."

8- And my all-time favorite! A weekly trash pickup is something that most of us have in common. Next time you wheel your trash bin out to the curb, add a PETA bumpersticker to it.  My bin is covered in stickers, and people actually beep their car horn in support of the messages when they drive by!

9- When you take vegan food to a potluck, print out or handwrite recipe cards to give to the other guests.

10- Ask the leader of your place of worship if you can have some space in the weekly bulletin for animal companion tips.

11- Save some trees by sending PETA e-cards for the holidays!

The possibilities are endless! Got any ideas that you'd like to share?