As Vegan activism grows, so does public debate and policy on food industry
Whatever one thinks of their actions, the issues raised by the vegan and anti-speciesist movements are part of the public debate. They are, in fact, questioning our entire society.
ALEXIA RENARD: ‘The vegan movement — as diverse as it is — is increasingly active and vocal, as several events have shown recently… In our climate emergency era, the vegan movement is fed partly by ideas to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. But veganism is first and foremost about animal rights. Other and more central issues that feed the movement are the respect of fundamental animal rights and a refusal to normalize the consumption of animal products.
Therefore, veganism can embody multiple networks and different types of actions, personal and collective… Last month, a dozen activists entered the Joe Beef restaurant in Montréal as customers dined to denounce meat consumption and animal exploitation. A few days later, the city’s Restaurant Manitoba had glue put in its locks as did the bar Vin Mon Lapin. A note left behind denounced their association with a slaughterhouse project in Granby outside Montréal. No one has taken responsibility for these last actions.
But what is the connection between collective action and the personal, such as a personal decision to go vegan? Turning a traditional meat pie recipe into a vegan dish is not the same thing as going into a farm or a restaurant to protest the living conditions of animals for slaughter…
The multiplicity of voices and actions from diverse social spheres makes veganism a true citizens’ movement. Not all vegans define themselves as animal rights activists, however, conscientious objection and the coexistence of collective and individual action is a fundamental characteristic of the vegan movement. Another characteristic lies in the profound diversity of its actions, but also in the activist strategies and groups that make it up. While some are oriented toward direct action, others are interested in changing dietary behavior and popularizing veganism.
Some groups promote street activism, while others choose more institutional avenues such as creating petitions or working with municipalities. In December, a group of activists also entered a farm in the Montérégie area in southwestern Québec to raise awareness about the living conditions of pigs raised for human consumption. This action by vegan activists received extensive media coverage…
Whatever one thinks of the actions taken, one thing is clear: The issues raised by the vegan and anti-speciesist movements are part of the public debate. In this sense, these two movements are not limited to the organizations that carry them and the ideologies that run through them. They are, in fact, questioning our entire society’. SOURCE…
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