[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.34,0:00:04.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Most 12 year old kids go to school, come home,\Nmaybe play video games or an after-school
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.90,0:00:09.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sport, go to the movies with their friends\Nand work on homework. And then there’s Thomas
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.62,0:00:14.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ponce, who, by the age of 12 had formed his\Nown lobbying organization and was active in
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.67,0:00:19.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,local government, meeting with congressmen\Nand officials and providing a voice for the
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.10,0:00:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,animals. With corporations and the animal\Nproducts industry having some of the loudest
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.18,0:00:28.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lobbyist around, Thomas is working to level\Nthe playing field and ensure that the animals
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.01,0:00:33.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are heard. Having started his path to animal\Nactivism at the age of 4 years old, Thomas
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.05,0:00:37.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is no ordinary kid. He’s a veritable force\Nto be reckoned with.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.93,0:00:46.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hi it's Emily from Bite Size Vegan and welcome\Nto another vegan nugget. I’m so excited
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.65,0:00:51.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and honored to introduce to you, Thomas Ponce.\NThomas has received countless awards and accolades
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.95,0:00:57.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including FARM's National Animal Rights Young\NActivist Award for 2013 and The Animal Hero
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.97,0:01:02.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Kids ‘Kind to All’ Award, earning him\Na feature in the book Animal Hero Kids: Voices
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.68,0:01:08.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the Voiceless, PETA’s Compassionate\NKid Award when we was eleven, and oh yeah,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.09,0:01:14.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no less than TWO awards from the President.\NThomas is the second Animal Hero Kid I’ve
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.01,0:01:16.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,interviewed with serious White House connections.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.53,0:01:18.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Pretty soon it’ll be time for…
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.44,0:01:23.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Moving on...
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.17,0:01:27.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thomas received a grant from the Pollination\NProject to make his lobbying organization,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.74,0:01:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lobby for Animals, a reality. Never one to\Nstop there, Thomas is now a member of their
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.10,0:01:36.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,grant advisory board for environmental and\Nanimal rights related grants. Most recently,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.97,0:01:41.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thomas just had an article published in AV\NMagazine of the American Anti-Vivisection
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.89,0:01:45.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Society, which you can find the link to on\Nthe blog post for this video, which is
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.83,0:01:47.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,linked below in the video description.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.91,0:01:52.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thomas just turned 15 and remains passionate\Nabout the importance of young people getting
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.32,0:01:57.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,involved in activism. Just so you know, the\Naudio at times isn’t too stellar, so if
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.33,0:02:02.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you want you can always turn on the captions.\NI really urge you to listen to his words.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.26,0:02:04.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is one incredibly bright young man.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.100,0:02:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it’s important for young people\Nto get involved in their communities. It’s
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.02,0:02:12.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we that are growing up in this world and we\Nneed to get active and involved. And we can’t
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.85,0:02:16.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,expect things to get better if we don’t\Ntry to change them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.77,0:02:21.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, if we address issues in our communities\Nand the world we live in, it’s each of our
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.70,0:02:25.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,personal responsibilities to do so. If you\Nsee something wrong that is happening, speak
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.91,0:02:30.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up, question, don’t just go with the flow\Nbecause it’s been the same thing for a long
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.94,0:02:34.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,period of time, you know because it’s a\Ntradition.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.10,0:02:40.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we listen to our heart, if we listen to\Nour brain, then we can do right all the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.05,0:02:44.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can make a difference. If we get involved\Nwith our communities, that’s one of the
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.25,0:02:48.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,best ways to do so. Finding something you’re\Npassionate about, Googling it, researching it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.88,0:02:53.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Doing whatever you can to get the most\Ninformation about that subject then act with
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.34,0:02:58.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that information. Knowledge is the most power\Nyou can have in this world, and when you use
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.07,0:03:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it correctly you can make a huge difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.78,0:03:04.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I asked Thomas about how he got started in\Nhis activism.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.56,0:03:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got started in my activism when I was about\N4 years old. Throughout this time I’ve always
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.79,0:03:14.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had a love and respect for animals. That love\Nthat I had turned to activism when I made
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.19,0:03:17.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the connection of where our food comes from\Nand the horrors that animals have to go through
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.100,0:03:20.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every day in order for that to happen.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.49,0:03:25.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once I had that realization, the turning point\Nto become vegetarian was a very simple decision.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.47,0:03:30.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I got older, and as I learned more, I learned\Nthat just because I wasn’t eating meat didn’t
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.94,0:03:35.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mean that I wasn’t still contributing. So,\NI decided to become vegan,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.10,0:03:36.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which would completely cut that off.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.94,0:03:41.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Throughout that entire time, I had been attending\Nprotests, I’d been signing petitions, I’d
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.82,0:03:47.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,basically been doing anything to spread the\Nword of animal rights, and I was determined
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.44,0:03:51.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to open people’s eyes to the idea of animal rights.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.06,0:03:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lobbying isn’t the most common form of animal\Nactivism you hear of, so I asked Thomas how
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.06,0:03:59.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he found his way to the\Nlegal side of animal rights.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.08,0:04:03.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I heard about FARM’s National Animal\NRights Conference, I said, “that is something
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.35,0:04:08.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I need to go to.” So, I was in Washington,\NDC, it was great, fantastic. I met an attorney
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.59,0:04:12.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there and she basically, she talked to me\Nabout lobbying. It was like a light bulb went
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.97,0:04:20.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,off in my head, and when I got home I started\Nresearching more about lobbying. And I actually
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.95,0:04:28.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,took a class through the Humane Society about\Nlobbying and from there on out, I’ve been
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.75,0:04:33.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hooked. And that’s when I decided to create\NLobby for Animals. Basically my purpose with
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.79,0:04:38.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is to give people the tools necessary\Nto succeed in the lobbying field.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.12,0:04:42.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In case you have no idea what we’re talking\Nabout, I asked Thomas to explain lobbying.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.56,0:04:47.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Lobbying is basically talking to your legislators\Nit’s, whenever you want to make a change
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.54,0:04:54.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in law. Let’s say there’s a bill that\Nwill completely stop animals in entertainment.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.05,0:04:59.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There will be no more animals in entertainment\Nfrom then on. You can talk to your legislators,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.39,0:05:04.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can call them, email them, write them\Nletters, and schedule a conference with them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.68,0:05:10.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you can let them know your position on\Nthis. Because they’re our legislators, they’re
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.32,0:05:14.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,here to listen to us, it’s their job. And\Nif we don’t let them know how we feel, if
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.99,0:05:17.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we don’t let them know what we\Nwant to see in office, then
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.81,0:05:19.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they have no way of doing their job correctly.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.75,0:05:23.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With all the available forms of activism out\Nthere, I asked Thomas why he chose
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.47,0:05:25.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lobbying for his mission.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.03,0:05:30.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can definitely, we can go to protests,\Nwe can sign petitions, we can do everything,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.58,0:05:35.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but - when we go towards the laws we’re\Nstriking it at it’s core. So, we are hitting
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.21,0:05:39.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the subject right in the center. Laws like\Nthe ag-gag bills, and it’s everything like
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.89,0:05:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that that can be combated with lobbying. It\Ncan be very much so combated with lobbying.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.24,0:05:51.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I asked Thomas to share what victories he’s\Nhad in his time lobbying for the animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.03,0:05:55.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of the victories that I’ve had, I\Nwouldn’t even call them victories, it’s
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.19,0:06:04.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more like small wins. Whenever I see people\Nwho actually get it, whenever I see - let’s
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.02,0:06:08.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,say I schedule an appointment to talk to a\Ncongressman, and I’m talking to them and
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.82,0:06:11.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that they’re actually starting to\Nthink a different way, or that I’ve at least
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.64,0:06:14.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,opened their eyes up to thinking a different\Nway, then that’s a personal victory. Let’s
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.78,0:06:19.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,say they’re for a bill that’s for vivisection,\Nand then I talk to them, and then they change
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.83,0:06:23.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their mind and they flip that stance, that’s\Na personal victory, in my opinion.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.95,0:06:28.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,During our interview, Thomas and I discussed\Nthe power kids and young people have in affecting
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.42,0:06:33.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,change. And how they’re often underestimated\Nin their abilities and what they can handle.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.59,0:06:36.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As you’ll see, Thomas proves his own point\Nbeautifully.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.78,0:06:41.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We do not, and as I’ve said this before,\Nwe do not give kids enough credit. They have
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.47,0:06:47.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the most creativity, they have the best ideas\Nthat you can ever see. As you said, adults
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.29,0:06:55.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have this preconception that, you know, this\Nperson’s 6, 7, 10, 11, they are not ready
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.41,0:06:59.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see this type of information, they’re\Nnot ready to see what’s out in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.01,0:07:04.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They definitely are. If they’re passionate\Nabout something, don’t stifle it and don’t
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.49,0:07:08.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,assume because they’re kids they can’t\Nunderstand it and they can’t handle it.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.19,0:07:12.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because there are a lot of kids out there\Nthat can definitely comprehend this stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.07,0:07:17.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We need to allow our kids to go into the field\Nthat they’re interested in, to be passionate
Dialogue: 0,0:07:17.37,0:07:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what they want to be passionate about.\NLet them research about it, let them learn
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.12,0:07:27.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about it, let them be interested in what they\Ncare about. If we instill the idea of compassion,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.16,0:07:32.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then they’ll carry that on with them throughout\Ntheir lives, they’ll carry that on to their children.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.12,0:07:35.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to leave you with part of Thomas’\Nacceptance speech when he received the Animal
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.63,0:07:41.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hero Kids Kind to All Award. Mind you, he was\N12 years old when he gave this speech.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.03,0:07:45.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,“Each time you make the choice of what to\Neat or wear, which products to buy, whether
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.67,0:07:50.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to attend a circus or marine park, and which\Ncompanies you choose to support, you have
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.33,0:07:54.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to realize that your decisions affect more\Nthan just you. Remember, there are other
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.34,0:07:59.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lives at stake, the lives of animals, and\None life should not be held more valuable
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.34,0:08:03.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than another. Just because you are not committing\Nthe act yourself, doesn’t mean it’s not
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.51,0:08:09.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happening or that you are not contributing\Nto it. As a consumer, if you are not making
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.30,0:08:14.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ethical, cruelty-free choices, you are still\Nfueling the demand. If you do not speak up,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.76,0:08:19.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,buy differently and demand things be\Nchanged, you are contributing to the problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.80,0:08:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It takes proactive people to bring about change.\NPeople who will take the time to learn about the
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.73,0:08:28.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ways in which they can get involved and make\Na difference for animals, as well as for the
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.61,0:08:34.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,world we live in. The information and resources\Nare out there for whomever wants to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.04,0:08:39.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am a firm believer that knowledge is definitely\Npower and when you speak with knowledge and
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.05,0:08:43.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from your heart, people will listen, regardless\Nof your age.”
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.39,0:08:47.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One way to get started is to visit Thomas’\Nwebsite www.LobbyForAniamls.org, where you
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.97,0:08:53.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can find guidance in getting active and contacting\Nyour legislators. Thomas welcomes emails and
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.00,0:08:57.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is always ready to help. You can also connect\Nwith him on Facebook. See his links below.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.86,0:09:02.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope you enjoyed hearing Thomas’ story.\NI’m totally blown away by his activism and
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.61,0:09:07.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of the young people I’ve had the pleasure and honor\Nof working with in this Animal Hero Kids series
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.48,0:09:13.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my kids interview series. Never think\Nthat your age, or anything about you can hold you back.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.16,0:09:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you were inspired by Thomas, do give the\Nvideo a thumbs up and share it around to help
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.37,0:09:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,show what kids can accomplish. If you’re\Nnew here, I’d love to have you as a subscriber.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.44,0:09:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I put out fresh content covering all aspects\Nof veganism every Monday, Wednesday and some
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.48,0:09:30.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fridays. To help support Bite Size Vegan’s\Neducational efforts, please see the support
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.63,0:09:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,links below or click on the Nugget Army icon\Nor the link in the sidebar. Now go live vegan,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.31,0:09:38.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lobby for the animals,\Nand I'll see you soon.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.27,0:09:42.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Interviewing so many young people who have\Naccomplished so much so early in life...
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.13,0:09:47.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,really makes me feel like I haven't done much.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.40,0:09:52.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where was the internet when I was a kid?!