My Experience as an Investigator

Ariel Nessel, a philanthropist and entrepreneur, supports Animal Equality's mission and has joined investigations in Mexico and India to raise awareness of the cruelty of factory farming.

The Testimony of Ariel Nessel

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My name is Ariel Nessel and I’m an Animal Equality supporter, just like you.

I’ve experienced what investigators face every day when I joined them inside some of India’s farms, animal markets, and slaughterhouses.

You may be wondering why I decided to venture inside such horrible places.

The reason is simple: I felt that I had to see it for myself to truly understand it. I knew that once I saw first-hand what animals are forced to endure, this personal experience would stay with me for the rest of my life and I’d never stop fighting for them.

During the many years I’ve supported Animal Equality’s work, I’ve seen several of their investigations.

But nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed in India during those days: what it means to stand next to countless animals who are suffering to death and not be able to do anything to save them.

As someone who practices mindfulness, I have always looked to India as an inspiration.

After all, this country was the origin of vegetarianism and where most religions teach the practice of Ahimsa, which means non-violence towards all beings. This principle has guided my life for many years.

That’s why the scene that affected me the most was in a dairy farm.

I remember entering a small shed and seeing a calf. He was only 14 days old, he was thin, and frightened. He was tied up all alone and couldn’t move. His innocent eyes were full of pain and sadness.

It was devastating to see a newborn kept away from his mother and from any other form of warmth like that. I didn’t understand why they would leave him there, without food or water, to slowly die.

And that’s when I learned something truly disturbing.

Since male calves don’t produce milk, minutes after they are born, they are tied up and left to starve to death. I was horrified.

How is it possible that a country that had taught me–and many others–so much about compassion, has fallen victim to such a cruel industry?

But it’s not just India. Every year, 72 billion land animals and 1.2 trillion aquatic animals are confined and killed for food worldwide. And even though the way it’s done varies from country to country, the suffering this industry causes the animals is the same.

Extreme confinement, separation of mothers and babies, painful mutilations, and slaughter are no less painful when done in the United States or in the United Kingdom.

Animal agriculture is one of the cruelest and most powerful industries in the world, with billions at its disposal–but it’s not unbeatable.

Thanks to organizations like Animal Equality, people all over the world are opening their eyes and getting rid of the lies they have been fed for years. That’s how change is created.

And if you’re here, reading my email, you’re one of those people who wants to create a better world for yourself and future generations to live in.

To date, Animal Equality has released over 100 investigations into more than 800 farms and slaughterhouses in 14 countries around the world creating lasting, meaningful change for animals. It’s my privilege to be part of this movement doing this work with you by our side.

And while it was an honor to accompany them on one of their investigations, my experience in India also gave me insight into the lives of the brave individuals working to expose animal abuse.

I’m talking about the investigators who, despite having witnessed animal suffering countless times, keep going back.

Do you know why?

They’ve made it their mission to tell the stories of these animals to the world, so they are not countless, numberless, nameless beings, but individuals whose lives and feelings matter.

I call them ‘compassionate warriors’ because what they’re fighting is a real battle: a battle for justice, for a kinder world. It’s a battle that you and I have decided to fight side by side with them.

But they need and deserve our support. Even though we can’t be with them inside farms and slaughterhouses, we can make sure to provide them with the resources they need to show what they find to the world and inspire tomorrow’s change. Their difficult work and the suffering of the millions of animals they have filmed must not be in vain.

That’s why I’m asking you to please support them and their bravery by donating to Animal Equality today. There has never been a better time to do so, as right now all donations received are matched by an anonymous donor at no extra cost to you.

There’s a wonderful, mystical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life–happiness, freedom, and peace of mind–are always attained by giving them to someone else.

Thank you for being part of this compassionate movement,

– Ariel Nessel