POTOMAC, Md. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — When it comes to our changing world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. But the truth is, every single action, no matter how small, can contribute to a larger movement. From reducing your carbon footprint to advocating for change, individual efforts not only benefit the environment but also have a profound impact on our mental health and the well-being of future generations. By taking a proactive role, we can cultivate a sense of agency, inspire hope, and ensure a healthier environment for our children and make a difference.
From Micky and Moose to Coco Chanel, Ringo, Jeffrey and Machu, every one of the 41 animals here at Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary has a story.
Dani and Sunshine jumped from a truck. Instead of becoming bacon, they found a home here with Michele Waldman. She started Rosie’s to help herself as much as the animals she rescues.
“I’m a psychotherapist, that is my day job. But I asked myself what would I advise to my clients? And one of the things that came to mind was to get into action,” explained Michele.
The raising of billions of animals each year for food comes at a price for our environment. Scientific research has determined animal agriculture contributes to up to 19% of the world’s greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. The United Nations attributes 90% of deforestation to the expansion of agriculture. Feeling overwhelmed, Michele decided to do something to bring awareness about the environmental impact and the benefits of plant-based eating.
“Rosie’s is about taking action and I try to teach that to everybody that comes here,” she said.
Taking action not only helps create a more sustainable future, but also empowers us, impacting our mental health, and that of our children’s. Make a difference.
“Kids see what their parents do, and then parents like everybody else lead by example,” stated Lise Van Susteren, MD, forensic psychiatrist at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Sciences.
And research shows that by taking action feelings of anxiety, depression and hopelessness decrease.
“It’s powerlessness that mostly drives anxiety,” Dr. Van Susteren explained.
Taking control one person, one goat, pig, horse, chicken — one action at a time.
“Sometimes people say, well, what one person does doesn’t matter. Yes it does. Because you influence all the people around you,” said Dr. Van Susteren.
In just six years Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary in Potomac, Maryland has grown and seen more than a thousand visitors each year. Michele keeps the farm running by donations. She hopes to inspire people, both young and old, to get involved however they can, wherever they can. You can check on the animals at https://rosiesfarmsanctuary.org/. Rosie’s is named after the first animal Michele and her two sons rescued — a golden retriever found in a backyard breeding operation.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Executive Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; and Bob Walko, Editor.
Produced by Child Trends News Service in partnership with Ivanhoe Broadcast News and funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
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Sources:
https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2020.1805344
https://www.edf.org/issue/climate-smart-agriculture/livestock-methane
https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/35851/DF.pdf
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
