Featured Members

Each quarter FVA recognizes outstanding activists who devote much time and effort in helping animals through a variety of means. Each person helps in a very different way but with a common goal, aiding those with no voice. Any action taken, be it animal care and rescue, legislation, tabling events, event planning, marketing, ect. are all of equal importance. We are so proud to have such a diverse group of individuals dedicated to the animals. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you and are in awe of all you do.

All past featured members coming soon.

Quarter 3, 2010

Hussein Mourtada

Hussein was born in Sierra Leone, a small country on the West Coast of Africa. He came to the US at age 17 and earned a B.S. in Computer Engineering. After living in Boston for many years he relocated to Fl to attend USF for his MBA. Hussein has always been very athletic, playing football (soccer), basketball and volleyball as well as practicing Kung Fu with a traditional master named Yao Li.

Growing up in Africa, hunting in the jungles was basically a rite of passage. He would hunt with friends and family, but never liked it, feeling it was barbaric and cowardly. Vegetarians were not common in Africa and he was taught that animals were a food source.

Hussein became vegetarian 15 years ago while working in Boston for a high tech company, meeting people from very diverse backgrounds. One colleague was a vegetarian from India. As they discussed eating habits Hussein realized that animals are not a food source nor here for us to exploit and kill. Since we are taught this from childhood, we grow up with this barbaric behavior in which eating other animals is normal. He gradually eliminated meat from his diet, becoming vegan due to his compassion for all animals. He now feels better than ever both physically and mentally. He used to have allergies to many fruits and nuts, but now those allergies are gone. Since becoming vegan he has become involved with a variety animals groups. He volunteers for The Tampa Children’s Home, educating them on compassion for all beings. He organized a vegan dinner for the children, cooked by the board of FVA. He also volunteers often with Wildlife Haven and at countless FVA events.

“Growing up, we usually do not have a choice for the environment we are brought into. Once we are old enough there is no excuse to continue following behaviors we know are wrong. I lived many years of my life being in an unconscious existence. That is, just following what is accepted as the norm. As I began to open my eyes, heart and mind, there was a whole new world to be discovered. I have always been against cruelty (oppression, exploitation and violence) of any kind, whether it is towards other humans or animals. Nothing justifies violence...”

“Question everything and everyone - especially normally accepted principles and those in positions of authority. Just because something has been done a certain way does not mean that it is the right way. Eliminate cruelty from your life and evolve to be the awesome species that you can be. Don't be in an unconscious state of existence, but be an active participant in life, and make it cruelty free.” - Hussein Mourtada