Shining World Compassion Award Recipient: Lauren Ornelas (vegan) – The Egalitarian Animal-People Rights Activist and Social Justice Advocate

On today’s Shining World Award program, we bring you a caring American citizen, who has tirelessly spent decades advocating the significance of ethical food choices through various campaigns, presentations and social media. Lauren Ornelas, the founder of Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P), is a firm believer in both human and animal-people rights, and that neither of them should be compromised for the benefit of the other. Among the multiple issues addressed, she also voices her concern for child labor in the chocolate industry, by exposing the abusive practice of chocolate companies across the globe.

We would now like to share with you an excerpt of the interview about Lauren Ornelas’s luminous drive to form the F.E.P organization. “I wanted to work and have an organization that recognizes that fighting against both injustices, against human and non-human animals, should be fought for equally. That even though I was vegan, I still needed to recognize the other harm in the food supply, that I could potentially be contributing to. So, I wanted to start an organization that really helped connect these issues and also treated them as equals.”

When asked about the establishment of regional chapters of the organization in other locations, Lauren Ornelas replied with an insightful response. The compassionate veteran social justice advocate also shared her views on the potential of younger generations who are prone to speak out for justice, and bringing about a positive change to the world we live in.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: “Joyfully present the Shining World Compassion Award to Lauren Ornelas, plus US $10,000 for the Food Empowerment Project as a humble token of support for your noble work empowering the underprivileged, with all love, respect, and gratitude. May you enjoy ever more success and may Heaven bless you abundantly always.”

Lauren was deeply grateful to Supreme Master Ching Hai for the recognition of her work. She also conveyed a special message to our viewers. “Just reminding you, if you love animals, and you have access to healthy foods, one of the easiest things that you can do to help them is to go vegan. So, it's a great way to help stop animal cruelty and make choices that are better for others.”