I’m alia I’m Italian I’m English and I love me it’s in lasagna it’s in my
love me it’s in lasagna it’s in my
love me it’s in lasagna it’s in my culture and it wasn’t a little bit it
culture and it wasn’t a little bit it
culture and it wasn’t a little bit it was a lot but there was one standout in
was a lot but there was one standout in
was a lot but there was one standout in my family and that was my older sister
my family and that was my older sister
my family and that was my older sister she made the defiant move to become
she made the defiant move to become
she made the defiant move to become vegetarian in sixth grade yeah I set the
vegetarian in sixth grade yeah I set the
vegetarian in sixth grade yeah I set the V word I said the viewer but I loved her
V word I said the viewer but I loved her
V word I said the viewer but I loved her but she was preachy I’m not gonna lie
but she was preachy I’m not gonna lie
but she was preachy I’m not gonna lie she was the preachy vegetarian that you
she was the preachy vegetarian that you
she was the preachy vegetarian that you see on stage that you see in the news
see on stage that you see in the news
see on stage that you see in the news that you wish would shut up on streets
that you wish would shut up on streets
that you wish would shut up on streets handing out the pamphlets but one day I
handing out the pamphlets but one day I
handing out the pamphlets but one day I was you know eating my normal wings at
was you know eating my normal wings at
was you know eating my normal wings at the restaurant and she was giving her
the restaurant and she was giving her
the restaurant and she was giving her normal preachy speech and for the first
normal preachy speech and for the first
normal preachy speech and for the first time in my life I looked down and they
time in my life I looked down and they
time in my life I looked down and they didn’t look so appetizing anymore don’t
didn’t look so appetizing anymore don’t
didn’t look so appetizing anymore don’t worry I still ate the wings but
worry I still ate the wings but
worry I still ate the wings but something switched inside of me that day
something switched inside of me that day
something switched inside of me that day I started to do my own research and I
I started to do my own research and I
I started to do my own research and I saw animal bees being abused and I
saw animal bees being abused and I
saw animal bees being abused and I couldn’t take it anymore so I became
couldn’t take it anymore so I became
couldn’t take it anymore so I became vegetarian but being vegan is a whole
vegetarian but being vegan is a whole
vegetarian but being vegan is a whole other thing that’s where you don’t eat
other thing that’s where you don’t eat
other thing that’s where you don’t eat dairy you know ice cream milk eggs the
dairy you know ice cream milk eggs the
dairy you know ice cream milk eggs the good things in life
good things in life
good things in life that was stupid that was extreme I
that was stupid that was extreme I
that was stupid that was extreme I wasn’t going there I’m vegan now
wasn’t going there I’m vegan now
wasn’t going there I’m vegan now this happened last year and it was
this happened last year and it was
this happened last year and it was because I found a random post about a
because I found a random post about a
because I found a random post about a documentary called cowspiracy and it
documentary called cowspiracy and it
documentary called cowspiracy and it showed the ins of the dairy industry and
showed the ins of the dairy industry and
showed the ins of the dairy industry and let’s just say they’re not treated very
let’s just say they’re not treated very
let’s just say they’re not treated very well if I want to put it nicely that’s
well if I want to put it nicely that’s
well if I want to put it nicely that’s how my internship with the Humane League
how my internship with the Humane League
how my internship with the Humane League started out it’s a non-profit animal
started out it’s a non-profit animal
started out it’s a non-profit animal advocacy organization that focuses on
advocacy organization that focuses on
advocacy organization that focuses on the better treatment of farm animals and
the better treatment of farm animals and
the better treatment of farm animals and I planned the annual gala which was in
I planned the annual gala which was in
I planned the annual gala which was in December where lots of humane Lake
December where lots of humane Lake
December where lots of humane Lake speakers come to speak and I also was
speakers come to speak and I also was
speakers come to speak and I also was the head and the face of the subway
the head and the face of the subway
the head and the face of the subway campaign which earned more than 50,000
campaign which earned more than 50,000
campaign which earned more than 50,000 signatures urging subway to reform its
signatures urging subway to reform its
signatures urging subway to reform its chicken policies so that they were
chicken policies so that they were
chicken policies so that they were treated better and we won that campaign
treated better and we won that campaign
treated better and we won that campaign and I got Rookie of the Year awards so
and I got Rookie of the Year awards so
and I got Rookie of the Year awards so that’s pretty cool too at the annual
that’s pretty cool too at the annual
that’s pretty cool too at the annual gala but I know what you’re wondering
gala but I know what you’re wondering
gala but I know what you’re wondering you’re saying that’s nice
you’re saying that’s nice
you’re saying that’s nice Leigha but why do I care I see all of
Leigha but why do I care I see all of
Leigha but why do I care I see all of you all over the media and we like to
you all over the media and we like to
you all over the media and we like to make jokes about you and we’ve heard it
make jokes about you and we’ve heard it
make jokes about you and we’ve heard it before we don’t care okay but I’ll give
before we don’t care okay but I’ll give
before we don’t care okay but I’ll give you three reasons to care the animals
you three reasons to care the animals
you three reasons to care the animals the environment and you please raise
the environment and you please raise
the environment and you please raise your hand if you have a pet
your hand if you have a pet
your hand if you have a pet a gerbil a hamster a cat a dog okay put
a gerbil a hamster a cat a dog okay put
a gerbil a hamster a cat a dog okay put your hands down raise your hand if you
your hands down raise your hand if you
your hands down raise your hand if you love that pet that’s what I assume
love that pet that’s what I assume
love that pet that’s what I assume that’s why we have pets so what’s the
that’s why we have pets so what’s the
that’s why we have pets so what’s the difference did you know that most farm
difference did you know that most farm
difference did you know that most farm animals are as intelligent as a two to
animals are as intelligent as a two to
animals are as intelligent as a two to three year old that they form
three year old that they form
three year old that they form relationships just like we do that they
relationships just like we do that they
relationships just like we do that they have the ability to feel emotions that
have the ability to feel emotions that
have the ability to feel emotions that they can feel pain that there are videos
they can feel pain that there are videos
they can feel pain that there are videos of animals crying and slaughterhouses
this is the reality of factory farming
this is the reality of factory farming it’s not what a lot of us want to see
it’s not what a lot of us want to see
it’s not what a lot of us want to see it’s not what a lot of us want to
it’s not what a lot of us want to
it’s not what a lot of us want to believe is happening but that’s how
believe is happening but that’s how
believe is happening but that’s how animals are being treated and if you
animals are being treated and if you
animals are being treated and if you don’t want to be treated like that I
don’t want to be treated like that I
don’t want to be treated like that I don’t so I don’t know why anyone else
don’t so I don’t know why anyone else
don’t so I don’t know why anyone else would put beings like that through that
would put beings like that through that
would put beings like that through that but if we know what’s bad if we know we
but if we know what’s bad if we know we
but if we know what’s bad if we know we don’t like treating animals like that
don’t like treating animals like that
don’t like treating animals like that then why do we do it
then why do we do it
then why do we do it cognitive dissonance it’s a psychology
cognitive dissonance it’s a psychology
cognitive dissonance it’s a psychology term my amazing teacher dr. mole taught
term my amazing teacher dr. mole taught
term my amazing teacher dr. mole taught me last year in psychology class when we
me last year in psychology class when we
me last year in psychology class when we have two sets of belief beliefs that
have two sets of belief beliefs that
have two sets of belief beliefs that contradict each other we have to put one
contradict each other we have to put one
contradict each other we have to put one of them aside we don’t want to believe
of them aside we don’t want to believe
of them aside we don’t want to believe that we’re bad people we want to believe
that we’re bad people we want to believe
that we’re bad people we want to believe that we’re doing the best we can of
that we’re doing the best we can of
that we’re doing the best we can of being the best person so we push out
being the best person so we push out
being the best person so we push out those other beliefs we focus on one that
those other beliefs we focus on one that
those other beliefs we focus on one that means more to us and a lot of the times
means more to us and a lot of the times
means more to us and a lot of the times that’s that me tastes good and that it’s
that’s that me tastes good and that it’s
that’s that me tastes good and that it’s a part of our culture and that we’re not
a part of our culture and that we’re not
a part of our culture and that we’re not the ones that are hurting these animals
the ones that are hurting these animals
the ones that are hurting these animals so we shouldn’t feel responsible for it
so we shouldn’t feel responsible for it
so we shouldn’t feel responsible for it and it makes sense I understand why
and it makes sense I understand why
and it makes sense I understand why people feel that way because that’s how
people feel that way because that’s how
people feel that way because that’s how I felt too but it’s not just about you
I felt too but it’s not just about you
I felt too but it’s not just about you now the environment is the second one I
now the environment is the second one I
now the environment is the second one I want to talk about
want to talk about
want to talk about that’s me in Israel hiking up a mountain
that’s me in Israel hiking up a mountain
that’s me in Israel hiking up a mountain I love exploring I love traveling and I
I love exploring I love traveling and I
I love exploring I love traveling and I really like the world not being a gray
really like the world not being a gray
really like the world not being a gray blob and us all dying out and the world
blob and us all dying out and the world
blob and us all dying out and the world exploding which is what we’re headed to
exploding which is what we’re headed to
exploding which is what we’re headed to with climate change but a lot of people
with climate change but a lot of people
with climate change but a lot of people don’t know that factory farming actually
don’t know that factory farming actually
don’t know that factory farming actually has a huge impact maybe you don’t hear
has a huge impact maybe you don’t hear
has a huge impact maybe you don’t hear about it in the news maybe when you hear
about it in the news maybe when you hear
about it in the news maybe when you hear about farms you think of Old MacDonald
about farms you think of Old MacDonald
about farms you think of Old MacDonald had a farm eieio maybe that’s what you
had a farm eieio maybe that’s what you
had a farm eieio maybe that’s what you think about maybe you think about green
think about maybe you think about green
think about maybe you think about green pastures and blue skies and red farms
pastures and blue skies and red farms
pastures and blue skies and red farms that’s factory farming that’s forest
that’s factory farming that’s forest
that’s factory farming that’s forest being cut down that Lagoon is waste
being cut down that Lagoon is waste
being cut down that Lagoon is waste animal waste number two that you go on
animal waste number two that you go on
animal waste number two that you go on the toilet except it’s in our
the toilet except it’s in our
the toilet except it’s in our environment except it runs off into our
environment except it runs off into our
environment except it runs off into our streams and our rivers and our water
streams and our rivers and our water
streams and our rivers and our water supply they tell you to ride your bike
supply they tell you to ride your bike
supply they tell you to ride your bike to work they say turn your lights off
to work they say turn your lights off
to work they say turn your lights off when you leave the house but they never
when you leave the house but they never
when you leave the house but they never tell you to stop eating dairy or meat
tell you to stop eating dairy or meat
tell you to stop eating dairy or meat because it’s a big industry it makes
because it’s a big industry it makes
because it’s a big industry it makes money but did you know that methane one
money but did you know that methane one
money but did you know that methane one of the leading causes of global warming
of the leading causes of global warming
of the leading causes of global warming temperatures rising on our planet is
temperatures rising on our planet is
temperatures rising on our planet is because of the agriculture animal
because of the agriculture animal
because of the agriculture animal agriculture industry because uh cows
agriculture industry because uh cows
agriculture industry because uh cows poop a lot pigs poop a lot and it has to
poop a lot pigs poop a lot and it has to
poop a lot pigs poop a lot and it has to go somewhere and the toxins from that go
go somewhere and the toxins from that go
go somewhere and the toxins from that go into the atmosphere and they warm our
into the atmosphere and they warm our
into the atmosphere and they warm our planet now if you don’t care about
planet now if you don’t care about
planet now if you don’t care about animals okay if you don’t care about the
animals okay if you don’t care about the
animals okay if you don’t care about the environment okay but please care about
environment okay but please care about
environment okay but please care about yourself I’m thanking you please care
yourself I’m thanking you please care
yourself I’m thanking you please care about your health please care about what
about your health please care about what
about your health please care about what you’re putting in your body and what you
you’re putting in your body and what you
you’re putting in your body and what you are doing to yourself karma we think of
are doing to yourself karma we think of
are doing to yourself karma we think of it as you know this mystical idea but
it as you know this mystical idea but
it as you know this mystical idea but this is literal this is physical when we
this is literal this is physical when we
this is literal this is physical when we are unhappy when we are happy when we’re
are unhappy when we are happy when we’re
are unhappy when we are happy when we’re excited when we’re in pain we release
excited when we’re in pain we release
excited when we’re in pain we release hormones endorphins into our body that’s
hormones endorphins into our body that’s
hormones endorphins into our body that’s why maybe after a run you know you got
why maybe after a run you know you got
why maybe after a run you know you got this yes I’m gonna lose a hundred pounds
this yes I’m gonna lose a hundred pounds
this yes I’m gonna lose a hundred pounds in this one run we feel motivated
in this one run we feel motivated
in this one run we feel motivated well like I said animals they have
well like I said animals they have
well like I said animals they have emotions and when they are scared and
emotions and when they are scared and
emotions and when they are scared and when they are upset they release these
when they are upset they release these
when they are upset they release these endorphins into their body and we eat
endorphins into their body and we eat
endorphins into their body and we eat them now I can’t tell you that after you
them now I can’t tell you that after you
them now I can’t tell you that after you eat meat you’re gonna suddenly feel sad
eat meat you’re gonna suddenly feel sad
eat meat you’re gonna suddenly feel sad and depressed and stressed out because
and depressed and stressed out because
and depressed and stressed out because you probably won’t unless it’s Turkey
you probably won’t unless it’s Turkey
you probably won’t unless it’s Turkey and you want to go to bed the reality is
and you want to go to bed the reality is
and you want to go to bed the reality is that further down the line all of these
that further down the line all of these
that further down the line all of these hormones and endorphins building up in
hormones and endorphins building up in
hormones and endorphins building up in your body they have bad effects on you
your body they have bad effects on you
your body they have bad effects on you they make you sluggish and you are what
they make you sluggish and you are what
they make you sluggish and you are what you eat right we hear that all the time
you eat right we hear that all the time
you eat right we hear that all the time when you eat healthy food you’re gonna
when you eat healthy food you’re gonna
when you eat healthy food you’re gonna feel better when you eat pop-tarts
feel better when you eat pop-tarts
feel better when you eat pop-tarts you’re probably gonna feel worse it’s
you’re probably gonna feel worse it’s
you’re probably gonna feel worse it’s just the reality of the situation but I
just the reality of the situation but I
just the reality of the situation but I also know what you’re thinking no this
also know what you’re thinking no this
also know what you’re thinking no this is what being vegetarian means right
is what being vegetarian means right
is what being vegetarian means right this is what being vegan means you can’t
this is what being vegan means you can’t
this is what being vegan means you can’t eat anything you gotta check the labels
eat anything you gotta check the labels
eat anything you gotta check the labels all the time and it’s boring the food is
all the time and it’s boring the food is
all the time and it’s boring the food is boring let me tell you a secret
boring let me tell you a secret
boring let me tell you a secret I don’t like salad that much and let me
I don’t like salad that much and let me
I don’t like salad that much and let me tell you maybe once a week I eat it my
tell you maybe once a week I eat it my
tell you maybe once a week I eat it my mom would probably tell you once a month
mom would probably tell you once a month
mom would probably tell you once a month so there’s alternatives okay I also know
so there’s alternatives okay I also know
so there’s alternatives okay I also know what you’re thinking that stuff tastes
what you’re thinking that stuff tastes
what you’re thinking that stuff tastes like rubber and that stuff tastes like
like rubber and that stuff tastes like
like rubber and that stuff tastes like plastic and how dare you compare that to
plastic and how dare you compare that to
plastic and how dare you compare that to a nice chicken sandwich have you ever
a nice chicken sandwich have you ever
a nice chicken sandwich have you ever tried it really have you ever tried it
tried it really have you ever tried it
tried it really have you ever tried it it’s not that bad
it’s not that bad
it’s not that bad it’s actually pretty good and on my meat
it’s actually pretty good and on my meat
it’s actually pretty good and on my meat eating friends will tell you that they
eating friends will tell you that they
eating friends will tell you that they like it I have friends who still eat
like it I have friends who still eat
like it I have friends who still eat meat and they’ve switched to dairy-free
meat and they’ve switched to dairy-free
meat and they’ve switched to dairy-free yogurt because they like it better what
yogurt because they like it better what
yogurt because they like it better what a weird concept right the protein issue
a weird concept right the protein issue
a weird concept right the protein issue let’s address that it is a myth we
let’s address that it is a myth we
let’s address that it is a myth we actually in our culture eating me all
actually in our culture eating me all
actually in our culture eating me all the time we get too much protein I used
the time we get too much protein I used
the time we get too much protein I used to eat eggs all the time and when I went
to eat eggs all the time and when I went
to eat eggs all the time and when I went to the doctor’s my cholesterol as a 16
to the doctor’s my cholesterol as a 16
to the doctor’s my cholesterol as a 16 year old off the charts my doctor said
year old off the charts my doctor said
year old off the charts my doctor said oh don’t worry about it it’s fine but
oh don’t worry about it it’s fine but
oh don’t worry about it it’s fine but suddenly when you become vegan they’re
suddenly when you become vegan they’re
suddenly when you become vegan they’re super worried about every single protein
super worried about every single protein
super worried about every single protein cholesterol vitamin that you have it’s
cholesterol vitamin that you have it’s
cholesterol vitamin that you have it’s not true these are all plan
not true these are all plan
not true these are all plan sources where you can get your protein
sources where you can get your protein
sources where you can get your protein from and some of them per calorie have
from and some of them per calorie have
from and some of them per calorie have more protein than me it’s not for the
more protein than me it’s not for the
more protein than me it’s not for the people that are extreme ellen degeneres
people that are extreme ellen degeneres
people that are extreme ellen degeneres ASAP rocky ariana grande Miley Cyrus
ASAP rocky ariana grande Miley Cyrus
ASAP rocky ariana grande Miley Cyrus Venus Williams football players I’m
Venus Williams football players I’m
Venus Williams football players I’m pretty sure they’re getting their
pretty sure they’re getting their
pretty sure they’re getting their protein Venus Williams seems pretty okay
protein Venus Williams seems pretty okay
protein Venus Williams seems pretty okay to me the biggest thing I can say is no
to me the biggest thing I can say is no
to me the biggest thing I can say is no one is perfect
one is perfect
one is perfect I’m messed up I eat meat sometimes I’m
I’m messed up I eat meat sometimes I’m
I’m messed up I eat meat sometimes I’m in foreign countries by accident if you
in foreign countries by accident if you
in foreign countries by accident if you eat a cupcake one day and you’re on a
eat a cupcake one day and you’re on a
eat a cupcake one day and you’re on a diet are you gonna eat a cupcake
diet are you gonna eat a cupcake
diet are you gonna eat a cupcake everyday for the rest of your life
everyday for the rest of your life
everyday for the rest of your life because you messed up oh you’re just
because you messed up oh you’re just
because you messed up oh you’re just gonna get back on track and you don’t
gonna get back on track and you don’t
gonna get back on track and you don’t need to become a vegan or vegetarian you
need to become a vegan or vegetarian you
need to become a vegan or vegetarian you can maybe instead of one meal of having
can maybe instead of one meal of having
can maybe instead of one meal of having fried chicken try something else there’s
fried chicken try something else there’s
fried chicken try something else there’s a lot of cool foods that don’t involve
a lot of cool foods that don’t involve
a lot of cool foods that don’t involve me that I didn’t know about until I went
me that I didn’t know about until I went
me that I didn’t know about until I went out on a search for them and you don’t
out on a search for them and you don’t
out on a search for them and you don’t realize how much you’re actually eating
realize how much you’re actually eating
realize how much you’re actually eating of it until you start evaluating what
of it until you start evaluating what
of it until you start evaluating what you’re eating it makes you appreciate
you’re eating it makes you appreciate
you’re eating it makes you appreciate your food more when you know better let
your food more when you know better let
your food more when you know better let that be a challenge to do better say I
that be a challenge to do better say I
that be a challenge to do better say I want to be a better version of myself
want to be a better version of myself
want to be a better version of myself tomorrow than I am today you’re gonna
tomorrow than I am today you’re gonna
tomorrow than I am today you’re gonna mess up that’s the reality of being
mess up that’s the reality of being
mess up that’s the reality of being human if I believe that kickin someone
human if I believe that kickin someone
human if I believe that kickin someone is bad and then I kick someone does it
is bad and then I kick someone does it
is bad and then I kick someone does it really matter what I believe if I think
really matter what I believe if I think
really matter what I believe if I think killing and abusing animals is bad
killing and abusing animals is bad
killing and abusing animals is bad but I eat meat does it really matter
but I eat meat does it really matter
but I eat meat does it really matter what I believe your beliefs are only as
what I believe your beliefs are only as
what I believe your beliefs are only as important as your actions it’s not a one
important as your actions it’s not a one
important as your actions it’s not a one step journey it’s learning it’s messing
step journey it’s learning it’s messing
step journey it’s learning it’s messing up it’s failing and it’s getting right
up it’s failing and it’s getting right
up it’s failing and it’s getting right back on the ladder and that’s something
back on the ladder and that’s something
back on the ladder and that’s something that I’ve had to learn along the way you
that I’ve had to learn along the way you
that I’ve had to learn along the way you make three choices every single day at
make three choices every single day at
make three choices every single day at least your or you hurting the world or
least your or you hurting the world or
least your or you hurting the world or you’re helping a little bit to save it
you’re helping a little bit to save it
you’re helping a little bit to save it you don’t need to change the world you
you don’t need to change the world you
you don’t need to change the world you don’t need to go to a soup kitchen every
don’t need to go to a soup kitchen every
don’t need to go to a soup kitchen every day you just need to pick what’s
day you just need to pick what’s
day you just need to pick what’s important to you
important to you
important to you and you can do that by changing your
and you can do that by changing your
and you can do that by changing your world not the world thank you
world not the world thank you
world not the world thank you [Applause]
”
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