I'm always keen to talk about the radicalism in the values of those who began the vegan social movement in the 1940s - and I'm always concerned if their vision is challenged in what I regard as movement-damaging ways.
Currently, it seems to me that the ideas that (1) veganism is a diet and (2) veganism is only about human relations with other animals are movement-damaging trends.
Here's part of the official "blurb" for the talk..
In 1944, during “World War II,” the vegan social movement emerged as declared peace and justice-for-all. At least three of the anti-authoritarian founders of the vegan movement were conscientious objectors, refusing to kill anyone, and prepared to suffer the consequences of their moral consistency. Donald Watson says that people were “shattered” by the experience of a global conflict, and the early vegan movement pioneers set about analysing why humanity was so violent and what could be done – their solution was a revolutionary philosophy of veganism. Their vision of a vegan future was truly remarkable.
Presently, that vision is being challenged and reduced versions of veganism are currently proposed. In this talk, I will argue that modern day veganism has lost the radicalism of the founders of our movement: a revolutionary vision needed more than ever at a time of climate crisis.
Many thanks to Tim Barford and Alan Lee of VegfestUK and Jeremy Hess of Vegan Interactions who filmed and edited the talk. Special thanks to Karin Ridgers of VeggieVision TV who helped us to find the correct exit.
Currently, it seems to me that the ideas that (1) veganism is a diet and (2) veganism is only about human relations with other animals are movement-damaging trends.
Here's part of the official "blurb" for the talk..
In 1944, during “World War II,” the vegan social movement emerged as declared peace and justice-for-all. At least three of the anti-authoritarian founders of the vegan movement were conscientious objectors, refusing to kill anyone, and prepared to suffer the consequences of their moral consistency. Donald Watson says that people were “shattered” by the experience of a global conflict, and the early vegan movement pioneers set about analysing why humanity was so violent and what could be done – their solution was a revolutionary philosophy of veganism. Their vision of a vegan future was truly remarkable.
Presently, that vision is being challenged and reduced versions of veganism are currently proposed. In this talk, I will argue that modern day veganism has lost the radicalism of the founders of our movement: a revolutionary vision needed more than ever at a time of climate crisis.
Many thanks to Tim Barford and Alan Lee of VegfestUK and Jeremy Hess of Vegan Interactions who filmed and edited the talk. Special thanks to Karin Ridgers of VeggieVision TV who helped us to find the correct exit.
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