What distinguishes this film is its emotional warmth and personal vignettes, in which farmers themselves talk about their own struggles around the treatment of animals and the beautiful farm/refuge that's been created to teach the children. The film helped remind me of the Seventh Principle of the UUA, that all life is bound up in the sacred, interconnected web of existence of which we are a part. Beyond its educational value, this film contains lessons from and for the heart.

If you live in the New York Metro District and would like to bring this film to your congregation, UFETA member Marisa Miller has a portable 6-foot-wide screen, projector and sound system. To help advertise the screening, she can provide you with free posters designed by Peter Max. She can also team you up with farm animal experts to field questions for a discussion. Feel free to email her at marisamiller@verizon.net

Marisa Miller's Comments: I've seen the film three times now, and I still cry every time. Although there are several laugh-out-loud parts too, which makes the film is so much more poignant.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I would like to make sure everyone knows that if you live in (or near) the Metro NY district, I would be happy to help organize a screening of the film at your church. I work for artist Peter Max's animal protections foundation, Global Green. We just bought a 6-foot portable screen, a brand new projector, and a portable sound system for the sole purpose of holding screenings of this film. Peter designed the poster for the premiere of Peaceable Kingdom, and he is willing to alter it so that churches can use it to advertise their own screenings. We can supply the posters.

Again, I cannot stress enough how well-received this film has been, even among people who don't particularly care about animals. I personally know of eight people who have stopped eating animals since they saw it (and two of them were legislators!). The difference with this film is that it's a beautiful piece of cinematic art, and it features two farmers, which lends it so much credibility. The subject matter appeals to environmentalists as well. I've been billing it as " The story of how farmers and everyday folks work together to turn the tide of industrial farming." By describing it that way, it gets a lot of people in who wouldn't normal see an animal film. And those are the people we need to reach!

About The Witness: in this award-winning documentary, Eddie Lama explains how he feared and avoided animals for most of his life, until the love of a kitten opened his heart, inspiring him to rescue abandoned animals, become a vegetarian, and ultimately, to bring his message of compassion to the streets of New York. With humor and sincerity, Eddie tells the story of his remarkable change in consciousness, sharing along the way some of the realities of animal abuse in our society.

From Yale Wishnik, Ph.D. of the California Teachers Association: "The Witness provides a catalyst for emphasizing the importance of relationships and the value of all life--human and non-human animal alike. Classrooms everywhere, in and outside the schoolhouse, need to pay close attention to the message presented by Eddie Lama. His wisdom is simple, yet poignant, as he shows that nothing is more powerful than an act with a purpose and no lesson is more important than one filled with compassion.

Blessings, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau