Despite our differences, we can get together and make a difference

The Village University Bookstore hosted a book signing with Ingrid Newkirk, Co-Founder of PETA today at noon. Though the book tour officially ended, Ms. Newkirk came to the University to address a small gathering of PETA and University Bookstore Employees and hold an inspirational discussion about her book One Can Make A Difference.

The book is a good, easy read if you are in the Chicken Soup for the Soul kind of mood. Barnes and Noble has it backordered and the University Bookstore has about seven copies left on its shelf. “In this economic crisis,” Ingrid Newkirk said, “a book is a good investment. You can buy it, barter it… and [in other cases,] burn it!” The book features heartening essays from fifty different authors such as Sir Paul McCartney, the Dalai Lama, Russell Simmons, Brigitte Bardot, and other brilliant individuals. The book focuses on how everyday people with limited to no skill set can get together with other similar-minded individuals to start movements that will challenge the world.

When she first began to put together the book, she wanted it to be completely composed of animal stories. Instead she performed interviews with many of the different essayists to hear their stories for herself. She wanted others, Old Dominion University students included, to be inspired to look for opportunities to keep from wasting their lives. “Life is always calling,” she said, “remember and answer the door.”


Ms. Newkirk began her discussion with the humble foundations of PETA where she and a few other individuals gathered together in her basement to discuss where you could purchase products that were not tested on animals and how to construct meals without meat. Then, one day a prominent member of their then small organization (Alex Pacheco, co-founder of PETA) went to work for the Institute of Behavioral Research and was appalled at the mistreatment of the macaque monkeys in the lab. The organization began to take pictures and video to document the treatment of the monkeys and then went to the police. The ordeal became known as the Silver Spring Monkeys incident, which drew media attention and launched the PETA organization into a worldwide movement What became the simple interest of a few individuals continued to garner support and today they stand 2 Million members strong.


From the interviews I have read on the Internet about the way she treats her employees and her organization’s method of correspondences to businesses, I figured she would be a bully, but I found it a pleasure to meet Ms. Newkirk. She was eloquent, charismatic, and polite. Though her followers regard her as a celebrity, she acts very down-to-Earth. Her employees think highly of her as well—beyond the facetious liking that goes with the person who signs your paycheck. Those I met at the gathering seem to be pupils that are full of knowledge about her publications and do a spin cycle of listen-process-absorb to every word she says.

The discussion lasted about an hour with the biggest lesson being that all you need is enthusiasm to do what you believe in.