Barefoot Vegan Mag Jan_Feb 2017

“We must
communicate the
very real and
urgent need for
change, rather
than pretend that
baby steps are
enough.”
carrying out our actual activism. Some of these people
actually sound like a vegan Miss Manners, extolling pop
psychology or self-help tropes which I don’t see advancing
our cause. My work is instead focused on exploring the
culture that perpetuates “non-veganism.”
As for our vegan community, I think it would help us
immensely to develop a platform that conveys more
dignity, confidence and storytelling savvy. I’d like to see
more honesty and conviction about our goals for animal
liberation and the kind of radical activism achieving those
goals will require. I’d like to see a greater reverence for
truth as the most powerful tool we have against the
exploitation industries that are built upon fictions and lies.
This means that animals never become our “bargaining
tools” to broker deals with their exploiters or with the
public. After all, who are we, as their supposed advocates,
to negotiate the use — any use — of their bodies, or to
negotiate the level of their suffering or victimisation? What
other victim advocates would find this even remotely
ethical? I can’t think of any. I’d like to see more of us
abandon the myth that we have the luxury of time to
advocate transition in steps. If we listen to the urgent calls
from leading climate and environmental experts, then we
must honestly face the fact that time is most certainly not
on our side. We must communicate the very real and
urgent need for change, rather than pretend that baby steps
are enough. They aren’t. As Noam Chomsky famously said,
“Just tell the truth.”
As you quite rightfully point out, it can
be quite a popularity contest between
the various animal advocacy
organisations vying for financial
contributions and public attention. For
those that can’t afford to be so physically
active with their advocacy due to
whatever reason, what advice would you
give in terms of how to choose an
organisation to support? Are there any
criteria for an effective organisation?
In the process of writing my book, I came to question
many more assumptions than I had anticipated. And
one of them is this belief that non-profit organisations
are at the forefront of change and progress for our
movement. I think we just assume that they are — some
appear so polished, professional and convincing — but
maybe that’s just wishful thinking. As much as I
appreciate the Free from Harm donors who have helped
us advance our mission in so many ways, I can’t help
but wonder if larger organisations that become heavily
dependent on and therefore influenced by donors do
not risk losing their focus and impetus for meaningful
change. Maybe instead it will be certain visionaries who
are driven by nothing more than a passion for their
cause who people will rally around, like they rallied
around Cesar Chavez. Other movements have not
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