31.8.11
Important Workshop on Veganism on Animal Rights Zone following ARZone Podcast.
I'm really looking forward to this weekend's workshop in Animal Rights Zone (ARZone). Having said that, I'm hoping not to be saying much. I want to hear the stories from the ARZone members about how and why they became vegan. Of course some of the stories may be about still becoming vegan - and I guess a couple of brave persons may claim that they are comfortable being vegetarian. I'm not sure if many - or any - flesh consumers are members of ARZone. They would we welcome. of course, if they are there to explore issues in human-nonhuman relations.
I'm hoping to not have to say much, because I've tried, along with other admin personnel from ARZone, to explore the issue of going and living vegan in the latest ARZone Podcast (ARZone PC 12).
The reason I think this workshop will be of particular importance is because there is no settled agreement about how best to approach people with the vegan message. In fact, saying "people" is problematic in itself, and John Robbins' "different strokes for different folks" (from Diet For A New America) applies here.
Hope to see you there.
24.8.11
Be With You In A Second.
Many if not most animal advocates will be familiar with this graphic
This graphic is (graphically) ticking off the deaths of other animals by the second. Chickens die at the rate of 287 per second; pigs at almost 4 per second; and cows at more than 1 per second.
As shocking as these numbers seem, they are only the tip of the ongoing problem since they represent only three types of other animals used and exploited by humans and, moreover, the numbers apply only to the USA.
I wonder, then, as I see essay-length postings on Face Book and elsewhere, when animal advocates are essentially talking to one another - and that usually means criticising one another - whether we ever pause to think of these numbers while we type. I think we should. I think we owe it to other animals that we do.
I say "we" because I am guilty of taking part in this internal incessant noise that goes on in the animal protection movement - and in all social movements in fact. Indeed, to some extent, I favour it within reason, since social movements need to think critically about what they do and about why they do what they do. Critical thinking is - or can be - aided by respectful dialogue and thoughtful interaction among concerned parties in movements.
Whenever I'm through reading (or helping write) the latest 50-post exchange, I wonder if my time could be better spent. I think many times the answer to that is an unequivocal "yes."
Momo to self: must do better.
We do well to remember that old slogan: it's for the animals, folks: not us, not careers, not ego, not gain, not social or "movement" status. It really is for the animals.
This graphic is (graphically) ticking off the deaths of other animals by the second. Chickens die at the rate of 287 per second; pigs at almost 4 per second; and cows at more than 1 per second.
As shocking as these numbers seem, they are only the tip of the ongoing problem since they represent only three types of other animals used and exploited by humans and, moreover, the numbers apply only to the USA.
I wonder, then, as I see essay-length postings on Face Book and elsewhere, when animal advocates are essentially talking to one another - and that usually means criticising one another - whether we ever pause to think of these numbers while we type. I think we should. I think we owe it to other animals that we do.
I say "we" because I am guilty of taking part in this internal incessant noise that goes on in the animal protection movement - and in all social movements in fact. Indeed, to some extent, I favour it within reason, since social movements need to think critically about what they do and about why they do what they do. Critical thinking is - or can be - aided by respectful dialogue and thoughtful interaction among concerned parties in movements.
Whenever I'm through reading (or helping write) the latest 50-post exchange, I wonder if my time could be better spent. I think many times the answer to that is an unequivocal "yes."
Momo to self: must do better.
We do well to remember that old slogan: it's for the animals, folks: not us, not careers, not ego, not gain, not social or "movement" status. It really is for the animals.
14.8.11
Whatever You Do, Don't Do That.
In 1995, Julian McAllister Groves published an article in The Sociological Review entitled Learning To Feel: The Neglected Sociology of Social Movements in which he found that animal advocates are often accused of "spoiling" family celebrations or other social gatherings due to their philosophies on human-nonhuman relations and their diet.
One activist respondent told Groves that friends invited him and his wife to their home but they were keen on the child of the household remaining ignorant about what "meat" was. The friends said to the activist, "We're not going to say anything about food" - and essentially they seemed extremely worried that information about the "meat" in the boy's meal may "start him thinking."
Couldn't have that, of course.
I was reminded of the article (see it briefly written up here) yesterday when I helped run an information stall in a Dublin district for Vegan Ireland. The location for a good spot to catch passing shoppers happened to be outside one of the doors of a small McDonald's restaurant which is part of a shopping complex.
We set up with our vegan leaflets, recipe books, etc., and soon noticed the McDonald's manager staring at while talking into a mobile phone. He was spelling out the dread word: "V-E-G-A-N." Oh no, the vegans have landed! Of course fearing for the well-being of all of humanity, the manager rang for the Guardians of the Peace of Ireland.
Two police officers duly arrived - not a lot of domestic violence and banking fraud on this day apparently - but they did not even get out of their car, looked at us for about 30 seconds, and sped off, no doubt having got the important message that the doughnuts had arrived at the station.
There was nothing for it but for the intrepid McDonald's manager to approach the vegan table.
Positioning himself in such a way that he would not read the terrible mind-boggling vegan literature on the table, he asked us to move on. When we requested why we should, he said that our presence outside the fast food emporium was not welcome, mainly because it "reminded" his customers about what they were eating.
We asked if he thought his customers so dim that they were not aware that McDonald's served dairy and flesh products. We said he thought they probably were aware of that, yes, but he nevertheless did not want them "reminded" of the fact (and despite the fact that the table has no graphic pictures or posters on display). He said that customers had been firing anxious glances over at the vegan table - we were clearly in danger of starting them thinking.
Couldn't have that, of course.
We declined his offer to do him a favour and move on and so, a few minutes later, the heavy mob arrived in the shape of the regional supervisor who hailed from London, England. This guy is so ambitious that he's worked for McDonald's for more than 10 years at this stage and "loves it.". He gave us a much more aggressive version of the "please move along" routine. We also declined his kind offer.
After that he arranged for his staff members to parade in front of the information table trying to block its view. He also attempted to place a sign advertising McDeath's meals immediately in front of the table.
At all costs, it seems, his customers must not begin to think.
One activist respondent told Groves that friends invited him and his wife to their home but they were keen on the child of the household remaining ignorant about what "meat" was. The friends said to the activist, "We're not going to say anything about food" - and essentially they seemed extremely worried that information about the "meat" in the boy's meal may "start him thinking."
Couldn't have that, of course.
I was reminded of the article (see it briefly written up here) yesterday when I helped run an information stall in a Dublin district for Vegan Ireland. The location for a good spot to catch passing shoppers happened to be outside one of the doors of a small McDonald's restaurant which is part of a shopping complex.
We set up with our vegan leaflets, recipe books, etc., and soon noticed the McDonald's manager staring at while talking into a mobile phone. He was spelling out the dread word: "V-E-G-A-N." Oh no, the vegans have landed! Of course fearing for the well-being of all of humanity, the manager rang for the Guardians of the Peace of Ireland.
Two police officers duly arrived - not a lot of domestic violence and banking fraud on this day apparently - but they did not even get out of their car, looked at us for about 30 seconds, and sped off, no doubt having got the important message that the doughnuts had arrived at the station.
There was nothing for it but for the intrepid McDonald's manager to approach the vegan table.
Positioning himself in such a way that he would not read the terrible mind-boggling vegan literature on the table, he asked us to move on. When we requested why we should, he said that our presence outside the fast food emporium was not welcome, mainly because it "reminded" his customers about what they were eating.
We asked if he thought his customers so dim that they were not aware that McDonald's served dairy and flesh products. We said he thought they probably were aware of that, yes, but he nevertheless did not want them "reminded" of the fact (and despite the fact that the table has no graphic pictures or posters on display). He said that customers had been firing anxious glances over at the vegan table - we were clearly in danger of starting them thinking.
Couldn't have that, of course.
We declined his offer to do him a favour and move on and so, a few minutes later, the heavy mob arrived in the shape of the regional supervisor who hailed from London, England. This guy is so ambitious that he's worked for McDonald's for more than 10 years at this stage and "loves it.". He gave us a much more aggressive version of the "please move along" routine. We also declined his kind offer.
After that he arranged for his staff members to parade in front of the information table trying to block its view. He also attempted to place a sign advertising McDeath's meals immediately in front of the table.
At all costs, it seems, his customers must not begin to think.
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