HOUSTON – An animal rights group is getting ready to spread its message at the University of Houston Campus next week.
Farm Animal Rights Movement — an organization known as FARM — will be in town on Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Student Center Circle.
They’re offering students $1 to watch a four minute video of undercover footage from factory farms and slaughterhouses. The concept, called pay per view, is a tactic used to incentivize people to learn how their food gets from farm to fridge.
To date, more than 320,000 people have seen the video, and more than 80 percent of them commit to changing their diets.
“I think the video will work with some people, but I don’t think it will phase others,” said Gustavo Rabadan, a UH senior.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture reports, nearly 10 billion land animals are raised and killed every year in the U.S. alone. The appropriately named 10 Billion Lives Tour travels in a specially equipped truck with eight screens that can accommodate up to 32 viewers.
“There is nothing wrong with raising awareness for things. I think there might be a little bit of a problem when they have the assumption that raising awareness will change everyone's mind,” said Katarina Hamoy, a UH freshman.
“Consumers have the right to know where their food comes from, and the 10 Billion Lives Tour will expose people to the harsh reality of animal agriculture,” said FARM 's executive director Michael Webermann in a press release. “Viewers often tear up or become angry after watching the video and turn that passion into action by making food choices that are consistent with their values.”