PETAbodybuilder

Hello All.. My name is Mike Brazell, I use to work work for PETA... I recently departed the organization and am getting back on track with my life in the fitness world. I am a personal trainer at Gold's Gym, and I also teach Aerobics. The ride with PETA was a long one, but it opened a lot of doors, and I've met a lot of great people along the way (including Robert and Brendan). The new ride will be a great one. I now finally have time to prep for the March Bodybuilding season, and intend to do it on a raw diet. I'll also have more time to finally interact in the posts, and am excited about all the new opportunities and experiences. I find it funny that the first question people ask me about my PeTA departure is: "Are you still VEGAN?" I was Vegan before I went to PETA, and will be forever. Once you do it for the animals, and reap all the benefits for your health.. could you ever really go back? I look forward to reading all the posts, and as always its inspiring to see so many vegan fitness fanatics out there!!! Keep it up!! Mike Brazell CFT CSN MAT Certified Fitness Trainer

yeah, that is my goal... i'm going to take it one day at a time and refine my training... we should def trade up info and how things are working and what not...

I come to Richmond pretty frequently... So we will def have to be in touch. [email protected] is my email addy..

Hello all... aside from doing bodybuilding.. I've been involved in martial arts for a little over 25 years now... I last competed as a non-vegan many years ago, and now have decided to put my bodybuilding on the back burner, and go after my passion for martial arts once again... Just looking to see if there are any other MMA fighters on the fourm, and what is working for you all: Supplements, training schedules, etc. I also do a ton of traveling for PETA, and am planning on posting my training journal on the fourm, and what cities i will be in. So if any one checks in and want to train while I am in town, it would def be appreciated. Hope everyone had a great holiday!!! Thanks

We will be there to help promote the elephant ordnance.. and ringling will also be in town during that time that i am in Chicago... Ill be in touch when its closer to time.

cool... haha... awesome... whatever you cant help but say "awesome" when you are on such a "cool" site... or vice versa...

Awesome... i will be in town from November 11th-19th... just let me know....

awesome!!!

I will be there on a leafleting adventure for PETA, and would love to go out an help in the leafleting efforts if you are still embarking on them... you can email me directly at [email protected].... I love shattering that image that some people have of vegans...lol...

I am def not arguing with you, but I do not know what your background is, and I am addressing the issuse and concern you are raising here in this post. This is just an issue that we will just have to agree to disagree on. I apologize if you felt it as an attack, but I am just offering up the an explanation to issues you addressed.

We do many of the things that you mention... We do contact TV stations, we do send out PSA's, we work with groups like veganbodybuilding to promote athletes (we have a new web feature called buff vegans coming out soon), and we do a lot of stuff behind the scene... We host Gala events that the celebrities attend and get to interact with activists... We host conferences that help individuals become better activists... Our focus is on Animal Rights. That is why there are amazing groups and organizations like veganbodybuilidng to focus on the nutrition, fitness, and athlete part of veganism. We send many people to this site and others if the concern or the issue is out of our scope. The idea, as noted before is that we have to get the attention of those who would otherwise not want the information. The women that we have at our demonstrations are all volunteers who love to do what they do for the animals. We are not just limited to having women do these demos, as we have had men in the same position (myself included). The idea is to get the message and the information into as many hands as possible. If we get one psa on PBS, x many people will see it... if we get a photo in New York Times, and then in an AP wire, it will be seen by millions- internationally. We have to approach this at what would be the best in getting the message out. If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of these demos, I encourage you to do so. You will see it from a differnt perspective, as Robert noted earlier. We do appreciate your ideas, and keep them rolling...

I def agree that it is a wonderful idea... There are so many things, that all of us can do for the animals... and we love it when we are given suggestions... I cant promise that we will use all of them, but you never know... and/or we can help get your ideas into hands that will use them... we have contacts all over the place, and I love hearing from activsts... Keep them rolling and thanks again for the ideas!!!!! Mike PETA

If any of you want to follow what robert said on here: Mike Brazell PETA IGC-VEGAN 501 Front ST Norfolk, VA 23510 or you can reach me at: [email protected] 757-622-7382 is our office number.

That is actually a very good idea... and I will forward that along... Thank you--- and you can also send ideas directly to me at [email protected]. Mike-

Actually Ingrid has done several demos "naked", and none of our activists are fully nuded. You can google Ingrid and Bird Flu... She did a demo in TIME SQUARE, where she layed naked in a coffin, in winter (which was pretty cold)... I myself have done several events for gay pride including make out demos, leafletting, and doing it as part of our "sexy" demos... We do what we do to get people to stop and listen, and the reaction that we get is far from what you are posing... if i were to stand there and leaflet in slack and a polo, most people would just walk by... and the media would not be interested... The idea is to get the message to as many people as possible, and we do a good job as spokespeople at keeping the issues on animal rights... I always offer up the the lines of communication to what people who DON'T like what we do to offer up what they think would be effective... A lot of people do not support everthing that we do, but we are always open to suggestions to make things more effective, or even incorporating new ideas... Too often we are criticized for what we do, but no options are given that would be a comperable way of getting the message out to the masses... What do you think would be effective... I try to be as active as possible on message boards, and have been on this on, addressing individuals concerns about animal rights, and what we do here at PETA... You can see my photos at: www.myspace.com/petabodybuilder

For those of you who are concerned about our tactics, I will be happy to address those for you. I am availible anytime to do so. As I have said many times before, we are always here to discuss your concerns or to give you or stance or perspectives on issues and to help you understand why we do what we do. I am usually more active on the forum, but have been on the road for about a month now, and will be hitting it again here very soon. You can address me via this fourm, or at [email protected]. Thanks for all that each of you do for the animals... Mike B. PETA

Just got back to the home office in VA, whew... what a long trip... the best stop: PORTLAND... got to hang out with Robert...Many of you might not know it, but He and I have been friends for several years now... he even helped me make the transition into the vegan way of bodybuilding by giving me some advice many moons ago.. Robert is def a powerhouse, and he made our stay in Portland an experience that we wont soon forget... The animals are have a wondeful defender in Robert!!! Keep up the good work all of you... Mike Brazell PETA

For all those that do not like our tactics, or think that they are ineffective.. Instead of just saying that they are "stupid" tell us how you think we could improve, or what you think would be effective. From being an active participant in many PETA events, I can say for sure that they are effective, and I have seen many people choose a life of compassion becasuse of them. Selling the idea, is just an example of putting the seed in someones head. I am not saying that you should try and sell someone, nor that we are in the business of "selling" veganism, but that if we do not actively get the message out to others, they how will they know? We are always open to suggestions and ideas, and to not mind the criticism. I just challenge everyone who does not like it, to offer up a reason why- and to give an alternative. We do take these things into considerations, and if you dont want to voice yourself on the board, I have offered up my contact information in the thread. Thanks again for all that each of you do for the animals. Mike B. Vegan Campaign Coordinator PETA

There are many ways to reach different people, and like any effective salesman you have to find what connects to that person. For some it is the cruelty and that is enough, for some it is their health and that is enough, but you have to find what hits a resonating chord in that person. I play videos when I sit in coffee shops, I get people talking about it by walking away, by "accidentially" letting the volume jump to high, and it incites a conversation... you dont need to push it in their faces, but there are many ways to strike up conversations about animal rights and veganisim. If we only wait for people to ask for the information, then many will never know the truth about what they are eating, or the harm they are causing. We of course are spokespeople for the animals and must enusre that all of our actions are always going to garner the best response for them. It sometimes means coming out of your own comfort zone and learing how to bring the issue up in any conversation... But if we don't speak for them, and do not act for them... who will? But I also agree.... there are many of us, with many ways, and with many opinions... but in all... we all share the common bond of love and compassion for what we are doing... of course we are not all going to agree on the tactics... but if the end results are the same... we needn't agree...

That is the beauty of activism.... For what each of us do, whatever route we choose, and whatever road we end up walking down... as long as you become a voice. We each have to decide how far we are willing to go for our cause. For me the passion was strong enough to leave the Navy and to become a voice for animals. I have seen cruelty on many levels both towards humans and animals... It is awesome that we have outlets like these for discussions, and as I said before... We welcome any and all suggestions and advice. Dont think that we dont listen or wont take your opinions or thoughts inot consideration... Any of you can contact me directly with anything: complaints, concerns, questions, or if you need some leaflets, or just want to know how to get active.... [email protected] AIM: petabodybuilder myspace: http://www.myspace.com/petabodybuilder Thanks for all that each of you do for the animals... Mike-

Hey All, I just came back from a very successful demonstration tour in Alabama addressing the recent confirmation of mad cow (3rd reported case in the US). This is def an important issue and one we should all be concerned with. Here is a link to an article and an TV interview I did in Montgomery AL... http://www.montgomeryboycott.com/video_peta.htm http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/NEWS/60316013 Let me know if you have any questions or comments!!! Thanks for all your do for the animals... Keep up the great work!!!

We do have a low cost spay and neuter program that offers assistance at a reduced cost for all procedures. It is unfortunate that so many animals are in these shelters and are unwanted and unloved. I wish we could build a place where they could all run and be happy and never have to worry about being alone. The reality is that we have to educate those around us about these issuse, so that the number of animals that are euthanized is reduced becuase there aren't so many unwated animals being born into our society. I am very pleased though to see this type of conversation going on here in this forum.

The only way to be a no kill nation, is to be a no birth nation. Millions of animals are in shelters, and millions suffer and unfortunatly as long as people support pet shops, pet breeders, and dont support the shelters then there will be a need for euthanasia. It is not easy to put an animal to sleep, but the alternative life of suffering in some of the no-kill shelters can be just as bad (locked in small cages for years, suffering from lonliness, dementia, and sometimes they conditions they are kept in are inadequate). You can go to our website helpinganimals.com for more information on what you can do. We always have to ask ourselves, what is in the best interest of the animals involved. The people who have to put the animals to sleep (many of whom are friends of mine) also suffer- They do society's dirty work, and for them it is not something that is easy, but for many of these animals it is a kind and gentle departure from a world of suffering and lonliness.

Most def... the video itself got more press from it being banned than if it had gotten aired. I was the media contact for that and did quite a few interviews about the comercial, But it did give me a chance to talk about the horrors of the dairy industry which is often times overlooked. www.milkgonewild.com Keep up the good work and if you ever need anything to help in your efforts don't hesitate to ask. Mike--

Always... Mike-