A non-human’s best friend

>> Animal welfare activist will protest any time, anywhere, in any weathe

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Lucas Solowey

Age: 23

Occupation: Animal welfare activist/co-prez of the Concordia Animal Rights Association

Bio: This hearty downtown stud and Concordia sociology student first became interested in animal welfare issues when, at age six, after being informed of where hamburgers came from, he started crying and crawled under the family dinner table to give his dog a hug, promising him that he’d never eat animal flesh again. Afullfledged animal welfare activist working with the Global Action Network at age 16, the same year Lucas decided to go whole hog and become vegan, he says his efforts have taught him “that one person really can make a difference.” He’s also the local point man for PETA.

The number of cities he’s protested in to date: Fourteen. “Amsterdam, Sacramento, Halifax, Quebec City, Norfolk, San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Reno—the list goes on.”

How the hell a Concordia student finds the budget to travel throughout the U.S. and head to Europe to bitch about all the Canadian furs people are wearing over there? “Well, a lot of times I’m either an intern or I’ve been working on a campaign, or studying abroad anyway so… You know, I’m just like any other college student, I like to have fun and party, but I also think we have a responsibility to make the world as good as it can be. Have fun, but be compassionate and aware when making your purchases because that’s really where we can change the world. Use your buying power to truly make a difference.”

Something Lucas has done which you probably haven’t: Protested naked in a snowstorm as part of a PETA anti-fur campaign. “Sometimes you have to show some skin to save some skin.”

Is it safe to assume it takes massive huevos for a guy to protest naked in the freezing cold given how flattering the cold is to a man’s most important parts? “Well, I was freezing and too distracted to really think about it. Anyway, I was media naked. I had subtle underwear on. But we were pretty exposed, I was with three girls who were topless. One of the girls, Michelle, her breast ended up on the cover of the Journal de Montréal, so yes, it gets attention, it works. It doesn’t matter what your banner might say, so long as you’re naked, you’re going to get media attention.”

CARA’s current top priorities: Stopping the Canadian seal hunt. “It’s more barbaric than ever now. It’s just atrocious. We’re also trying very hard to shut down these horrible puppy mills you find in Quebec. It’s the worst situation in the world for puppies here.”

One fast food chain he would like everyone to boycott, no matter how tasty their birds might be: KFC. “They’re one of the worst in the fast food industry. They scald chickens alive and rip their beaks off as a matter of process. All they care about is profitability.”

How to get involved yourself: Contact Lucas via myspace.com/ xurbanveganx.

Musical preferences: Rise Against, Strike Anywhere, Silverstein.

Last book read: Committed: A Rabble-Rouser’s Memoir by Dan Mathews.

Words of wisdom: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Comments: Dimwit@openface.ca