I am the author of five books animals, animal rights, and social justice: Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism, a guide to empowering people to get active for animals around the world; Bleating Hearts: The Hidden World of Animal Suffering; A Vegan Ethic: Embracing A Life Of Compassion Toward All; The Way of the Rabbit; and Eco-Spirituality and Human–Animal Relationships. I stopped eating meat after an encounter with one of India’s many cows in 1992, then went vegan a decade later. Beginning in 2004, I was a contributing writer for Satya until the magazine ceased publication in 2007, and am a frequent contributor to VegNews magazine. My writing has also appeared in Vegan’s Daily Companion by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau (Quarry Books), Stories to Live By: Wisdom to Help You Make the Most of Every Day (Travelers’ Tales) and The Best Travel Writing 2005: True Stories from Around the World (Travelers’ Tales), as well as The Vegan, Laika, Vegan Voice, Herbivore, Hinduism Today, Utne.com and newspapers across the United States. I serve on the board of the rabbit rescue nonprofit Save the Buns.
Striking at the Roots
Animal activism around the world
Striking at the Roots 
25 comments
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August 6, 2009 at 5:35 am
thevetproject
Dear Mark, sorry if I post a comment here, but I just bought your book and what a surprise I discover you have a blog, how lucky I am!!! My dream is to import in Italy (where I live) the American way of acting for what animal advocacy concearns… something like PETA or Last Chance fo Animals. You know… open people’s eyes and raise conciousness. I’m sure your book will be highly helpful. 🙂 Simona
August 6, 2009 at 6:45 am
mhawthorne
Thank you for your comment, Simona. I hope you find the book helpful. Thank you for getting active for animals!
August 8, 2009 at 7:42 am
thevetproject
Thank you Mark. I just posted a couple of articles on my blog that I would really appreciate you to read (if you want and if you have time). One is “united we stand, divided we fall” the second is “14 questions a meat-eater shouldn’t ask but a vegan should be able to answer to”. It’s really nothing compared to what other people do but I believe that something small is better than nothing at all… Thank you again if you’ll have time to read my posts. 🙂
Simona
http://thevetproject.wordpress.com/
October 21, 2009 at 9:40 pm
salamati6
Quite frankly, I find the idea of Animal Activism disturbing. How on earth can so many people band together to help animals, but not care about HUMAN suffering around the world?
It certainly shows priorities.
October 21, 2009 at 9:59 pm
mhawthorne
I’m pleased to say your position is simply not true. Who says a person can’t care about animals AND humans? I mean, humans are animals, too. Animal activism is not only about compassion toward non-human animals. It’s about concern for human health (eating animal-based foods leads to a host of diseases); it’s about concern for human safety (people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans); it’s about concern for the environment (animal agribusiness is the biggest contributor to global warming, not to mention what it does to the rain forests, our water and air); it’s about concern for human rights (factory farms are notorious for abusing their workers); and much more. The claim that “animal activists don’t care about humans” always seems to be made by meat-eaters as a way to make themselves feel less guilty about contributing to animal abuse.
January 22, 2010 at 12:35 am
Animal Activism Helps People « Veganista Loves
[…] question above was answered by Mark Hawthorne on his website. He is also the author of the book “Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal […]
March 20, 2010 at 7:17 am
makeachimpsmile
Hi
I really like your blog! I have started my own blog and I am trying to find other kids to blog with me to help save the chimps. if you could help me spread the word that would be great. People don’t think about it but we are primates too! please visit my blog http://makeachimpsmile.blogspot.com/ and if you know any kids who want to blog send please. thanks Brandon
March 31, 2010 at 6:15 am
mhawthorne
Hi, Brandon. Thank you for your comment. I like your blog, too; it looks very professional, and it’s great that you take time to make frequent updates. I will certainly do what I can to promote your blog and your good work on behalf of chimps. Keep it up!
Thank you for all you are doing,
Mark
May 7, 2010 at 9:45 pm
freetonythetiger
Hello Mark
I just discovered your wonderful book. I work at a public library and even ordered a copy of your book so we have it. I am sure it will be very helpful in the cause I am dedicated to, helping a 9 year old tiger named Tony who lives at a truck stop in Grosse Tete Louisiana. I and many others want Tony sent to live at an accredited big cat sanctuary.
FOR TONY
Dee
http://freetonythetiger.wordpress.com/
More about Tony:
Tony’s Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Tony-The-Tiger/328048525558
Big Cat Rescue’s (Tampa FL) Free Tony Page:
http://www.freetony.com
Follow Tony On Twitter:
Tony On Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/FreeTonyTheTiger
iReport: Does ANYONE Care About Tony The Tiger???
http://rss.ireport.com/docs/DOC-429566
Tony On Weebly:
http://freetonythetiger.weebly.com/
October 1, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Sheryl Messing Barnes
Very inspiring. What your doing is working!
October 1, 2013 at 4:14 pm
Mark Hawthorne
Thank you, Sheryl, and thanks for the work you do!
March 8, 2014 at 6:26 pm
thepassionforcompassion
Hi Mark
I just wanted to personally thank you for your wonderful book- ‘Striking at the Roots’, and all the fantastic work you do on behalf of the animal kingdom. I read your book at the beginning of my vegan journey and continue to refer to it frequently! In a large respect, it formed part of the impetus for developing this blog- to help in some small way, to spread the message and be their voice.Your an inspiration to me and I look forward to reading more on your blog! Warm Regards, Fern
March 9, 2014 at 10:52 am
Mark Hawthorne
Dear Fern,
Thank you very much for taking the time to post a comment and for your kind remarks about “Striking at the Roots.” It is so rewarding to hear how much the book has impacted your activism. I checked out your blog, and it looks wonderful. Keep up all your great work — and thanks again!
March 9, 2014 at 11:51 pm
thepassionforcompassion
Thanks Mark and thanks for liking my page! Did you see one of your quotes leading into a recipe post, on the facebook page late last week?!
March 11, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Mark Hawthorne
I did, Fern; thank you so much. I really appreciate your support!
July 30, 2014 at 5:38 am
heleneodonnell
Hi Mark, I’ve just discovered your blog and started reading some of the articles and comments – I’ll now be following you. As an animal welfare campaigner with expertise in industrial farming issues, I can’t agree more about animal activism being intricately linked with human matters. Animals, people and the planet go hand in hand and you simply can’t take one out of the equation without ending up with a very skewed, unethical and unsustainable view of the world. Please feel free to check out my own blog at http://www.heleneodonnell.com and let me have some feedback. My latest article is about compassion for all.
July 30, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Mark Hawthorne
Hi, Helen. Thank you so much for your kind remarks. I think more people are starting to recognize the important link between animal rights and human rights, and I am glad to know about your site. I will spend some time looking at it. Thanks again!
Mark
July 30, 2014 at 8:48 pm
Jennifer Schoelzel
Hi Mark. Wondering if you could back me up on making a follow up call to a pig wrestling event going on near me in the village of Stephensville Wi next weekend (Aug 9). I have already contacted them and think a call from you quoting the Wi statute law would greatly help. I can provide you with my email address upon request. Thanks so much
Jenni
July 31, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Mark Hawthorne
Happy to, Jenni. Just give me the contact details.
September 30, 2014 at 10:48 pm
Denise Ferris
Dear Mark,
I’m the assistant director of TAWESO – Tanzanian Animal Welfare Society. We’re a grassroots organization trying to improve the lives of animals in Tanzania – a hard challenge as it’s a developing country with minimal resources and international donors often focus on the MDGS.
We’re hoping to increase awareness of our organization by reaching out to people who promote animal rights. After reviewing your blog we’d love for you to promote our organization in a blog post, we can provide pictures, links to our website (and social media accounts) and in return we’ll mention your blog on our FB site (7000+ likes) and provide a direct link to your blog from our website. I hope this is something you’d be interested in. You can reach us via a Facebook message.
Denise
https://www.facebook.com/TanzaniaAnimalWelfareSociety
October 1, 2014 at 7:08 am
Mark Hawthorne
Hi, Denise. Thank you for contacting me. I will send you an email shortly.
~Mark
September 10, 2017 at 3:06 pm
barblarue
Hello Mark! I’ve nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award…details in my post here: https://mercyforallanimals.wordpress.com/2017/09/10/blogger-recognition-award/
September 10, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Mark Hawthorne
That is very kind of you. Thank you.
January 3, 2022 at 7:45 am
Jay VanLandingham
Hi Mark! I just discovered this blog and subscribed. Thanks so much for what you do. I am a vegan author and am publishing a few fiction series on animal rights issues and climate change. Hope we can connect in some way.
January 3, 2022 at 10:10 am
Mark Hawthorne
Thanks for your message, Jay. Unfortunately, my blog is on hiatus and I don’t know that I will ever post another. Are you on LinkedIn or Instagram? I am more active there:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hawthorne-942b363/
https://www.instagram.com/markhawthorneauthor/
Thanks again!