Speaker: Josh Balk
The Invisible Suffering of Animals
Share an experience that opened your eyes to the hidden suffering of animals (or anyone else)? What's a lesson you've learned in life about effective responses to suffering?
Share Reflection
Josh Balk is the co-founder and CEO of The Accountability Board, an organization that utilizes shareholder engagement to advance animal welfare and other issues with the world’s largest corporations, like McDonald’s, Kroger, Walmart, Burger King and more than a hundred more. Previously, he was the Vice President of Farm Animal Protection at the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) where he led the passage of a dozen state laws banning cages for egg-laying hens, mother pigs, and/or veal calves, including the historic California Prop 12 law, the strongest law in the world for farm animals. He also led corporate negotiations with the largest food companies to enact animal welfare. Balk is also a co-founder of EAT Just, the maker of Just Egg and the first company to ever sell cultivated meat in the world. Prior to his work at HSUS and co-founding EAT Just, he worked at Animal Outlook where he did undercover investigations at chicken slaughterhouses and factory farms.
Five Questions with Josh Balk
What Makes You Come Alive?
I think I've felt and feel most alive is when I'm waging campaigns for animals. Whether legislative campaigns--like a ballot measure--or corporate campaign, those to arenas I feel like I'm in the fight, and that's what the animals need.
Pivotal turning point in your life?
I'd say working as an undercover investigator in a slaughterhouse. It made me realize that whether I'm effective or not for animals has real life consequences. Before, devoting my life for animals was more an emotion of empathy toward their plight and philosophy, but this caused me to forever believe that nothing matters more than being effective to help them.
An Act of Kindness You'll Never Forget?
I'll always remember my friend Ari (and his family) letting me move in with them for about a year during a challenging time in my life.
One Thing On Your Bucket List?
I don't really have one!
One-line Message for the World?
Please care about the suffering of animals--and now do something about it.
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