International Vegan Day 2012 Revisited

November 11th, 2012

November 1st – International Vegan Day – is largely celebrated in the animal advocacy movement and as consumer trends shift and brands (and the IDF) get on board it is quickly turning into a capitalist orgy devoid of critical reflection. This year we tried our best to push a different focus and the posts below are a compilation of our posts on and about “International Vegan Day.”

Today is world vegan day. We are going to post some videos throughout the day that we hope people check out. Veganism, as an ethical practice, is a tool in a larger struggle to liberate other animal species from human society and the planet
from human destruction. It is, and never will be, an end unto itself.

Video #1 is high quality and a great look into the trajectory of the Jonathan Paul – one of the greatest and most active animal liberationists alive. If it doesn’t inspire you – check your pulse because you are probably dead.

RESCUED: Animal Liberation (featuring Jonathan Paul) from Dog Park on Vimeo.

World Vegan Day Video #2

Great video of a speech Mirha-Soleil Ross gave way back in 2000 about an interview she did with Rod on Animal Voices and how it inspired her. In 2012, Mirha-Soleil is a secret handshake for animal liberationists who don’t fucking suck (i.e. animal liberationists with a broad critique and understanding of power, domination and oppression – especially queer theory and queer liberation). There is a larger history of Mirha’s parter Mark Karbusicky, her critiques of many movement talking heads – but I want to start with people really paying attention to and getting into this video. I am watching this in public and trying really hard not to cry. Remember this video next time someone markets some “real” and “authentic” AR bullshit line to gain access and privilege into the social norm. Remember this video every single time people in this movement play off of the hate of people who do not conform, those who do not perform their gender to standard, in order to prioritize themselves (they aren’t actually helping other animals). So much to destroy.

World Vegan Day #3

Below is a shot doc that was loving made to remember Jill Phipps – an animal liberationist in the UK who was killed when a driver ran her over at a demonstration against calf export in 1995. The Phipps family is one of the most storied animal liberation families and Jill’s life – and tragic murder – should be an inspiration and cause for reflection for all. Another video I can’t watch without crying.

U spomen Jill Phipps | Jill’s Film from Stop specizmu | Stop speciesism on Vimeo.

World Vegan Day Video Post #4

Would be doing a huge disservice if I didn’t include Breaking Free Video Magazine #1 and #2 in my alternative World Vegan Day collection. Two of the greatest grassroots animal liberation documents ever. Period.

https://vimeo.com/31275919

https://vimeo.com/33888095

This is a great illustration of why International Vegan Day is largely bullshit. The Israel Defense Forces put this image up today in celebration – garnering 1,394 likes. The same IDF who bulldoze homes, enforce apartheid and destroy Palestine and the Palestinian people. Fuck. That.

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6 Responses to “International Vegan Day 2012 Revisited”

  1. Candice says:
    November 11, 2012 at 4:31 am

    I just watched the Mirha-Soleil video, very interesting, and coincidentally she talks about not understanding what she was reading much of the time as she was learning about oppressions. I sometimes don’t understand what you are saying, even in your intro to this video, when you say “Remember this video next time someone markets some “real” and “authentic” AR bullshit line to gain access and privilege into the social norm. Remember this video every single time people in this movement play off of the hate of people who do not conform, those who do not perform their gender to standard, in order to prioritize themselves” – I don’t know what you are talking about there, especially in the context of that video. Can you elaborate?

  2. Denis Kelly says:
    November 11, 2012 at 4:38 pm

    Some examples are speeches and books By Bruce Freidrich of Farm Sanctuary (formerly PETA) who presents on activist professionalism and says that the way to animal liberation is to make veganism part of the social norm (which excludes the struggles of queer people and many others who do not conform to social norms). Another example would be cisgendered men who have taken up the study of “vegan masculinity”. They constantly site homophobic slurs uses against them because they are vegan, but instead of desiring queer and animal liberation which would free animals, queer people and these men from oppression, they instead prioritize themselves in search of a “vegan masculinity” that sustains their privilege as men and humans. “Real men are kind to animals”. In the context of this video Mihra explains hows how multiple oppressions are inextricably linked, something that is lost on Bruce Freirdrich’s work about professionalism and social norms and studies about “Vegan Masculinity. “

  3. admin says:
    November 11, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    Denis nailed it. Just to add though – in queer theory gender is seen as “performative,” meaning that no “real” or “authentic” gender exists but that a variety of genders are performed and the the social norm demands conformity or isolation. When we use those terms within our movement – especially “real men….” what we are implying is that “men” can be vegan and not be “queer, gay, fag, sissy, etc.” It inherently is a dismissal of people who do not perform their gender to societies standard (either intentionally or unintentionally). As such, claims of “authenticity” and “realness” can be understood as language that masks and enforces power dynamics.

  4. Candice says:
    November 17, 2012 at 2:13 am

    Ooohhh, okay, ya I get it now, I’m (was)not familiar with the terminology in this context. That’s funny, ‘vegan masculinity’, I’ve never heard that before, but ya, it does brings mind some stupid shit I’ve read I guess

    Thanks for the 101

  5. Candice says:
    November 17, 2012 at 2:17 am

    Oh, one more query,’professionalism’??

  6. Candice says:
    November 17, 2012 at 2:23 am

    Oh! wait! let me guess cause it came up in class the other day, someone said something about if others can’t get listened to (marginalize) we can ‘represent’ their interests, looking all well dressed and sharp and as professionals we would be more likely to be heard…but,(I thought) that is only reinforcing power differentials and marginalization…am I right? sort of?

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