We have asked Chris of Olde Ghost about ethical veganism and intersectionality

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olde_ghost_2c
Sounds, Animal Liberation, Veganism and Intersectionality

We have asked Chris LaPointe, co-singer of Olde Ghost from Seattle Washington about ethical veganism and intersectionality

First, I’d like to appreciate the fact that you acknowledge veganism and its intersectional subjects. All too often I have encountered the inability of humans to make and understand the connections between these issues. At face value some of these issues may not seem to be related but as you delve deeper conceptually there are definitely connections. That’s one of the aspects I like most about these forums and discussions; making deeper, more meaningful connections. I think the main thing we need to recognize and promote is this interconnectivity. We need to not only promote this in our relatively small community but beyond to the global community.

As a career, I’ve worked with environmental organizations for more than a decade. One of the situations that always leaves me feeling perplexed, confused and oftentimes upset is how people so devoted to the protection, preservation and rehabilitation of the physical environment seem to lack the true understanding of the connection between veganism and the impacts a meat based diet has on the environment. In these discussions I’ve had a lot of people counter with “well, the meat I eat is free-range therefore its ok” or some blind attempt to dismiss the topic by discussing the negative impacts of soy bean production or the fact that the vegan lifestyle is just “extreme.”

Although it’s a lame attempt to dismiss the premise of veganism and deflect the conversation I fully acknowledge the impacts of soy bean production and agriculture as a whole have on the environment and the people living and working in those areas. I would really like to see these type of topics discussed further. With that, I really believe this correlation needs to be addressed, researched and discussed. The common denominator, I believe, is there are too many people on earth competing for limited resources. Ultimately, those with money and power are the ones who “succeed” due to exploitation of the land, farmers and other people living in the area in which the agriculture is taking place. This then brings to the surface a number of social justice and environmental justice connections.

As a band, Olde Ghost really doesn’t have these deeper political conversations. It’s kind of assumed. We are comprised of people who have been friends for years, are all vegan and some are straight edge. Seldom do we have deep political conversations but we all are grounded in living a compassionate, thoughtful lifestyle. A lot of the lyrics I write are very political and address these issues but we try to convey our message through thoughtful actions as opposed to the in your face, we’re trying to convert you to veganism approach. A majority of the shows we play are benefit shows for local organizations who’s missions are related to animal welfare or humanitarian efforts. For example, all of the proceeds for our next show in September will be donated to the Precious Life Animal Sanctuary.

For me personally, living a vegan lifestyle just makes sense. As a child I always wanted to do something with my life that had a positive impact on the world. Growing up as a punk rock kid I was exposed to a lot of new music and ideals that I would have not otherwise been introduced to (in rural Florida and later on Arizona). One line in one song by one somewhat obscure 80s DC punk band changed my life forever. The song entitled “Name in Mind” by Soul Side changed the way I thought about the food we eat and where it comes from. This is a great song because they not only talk about not eating a meat based diet but they look at the related issues such as human exploitation. From that point on (1988) I assumed a meat free diet. I felt as though veganism was the next plausible step in my life, my belief system and the impact I can have on the environment and non-human animals. Becoming vegan is the most profound decision I’ve made in my life. I will stay committed to a vegan lifestyle until the day I die.

Olde Ghost – For

As the smoke settles and the ash returns to earth
and the air becomes clear…
Eyes red a glaze stare into space seeing nothing, still.
It will never be the same. Never be the same again.
Convicted are forgotten. Innocent are brought to slaughter.
Locked away, despised, ignored.
What fucking crime is worse?
Lifestyles of compassion or the ten billion you commit every year?
Ten billion crimes a year.
“If we ever get out of this alive,” she said, “I’ll do it all again. That’s right, I’ll do it all again”.
We are but one.
The rest is up to you.

Olde Ghost playing at Seattle ADL – Precious Life Sanctuary & Melvin fundraiser a fundraising show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbH9iDhzdjI

Precious Life Animal Sanctuary: http://www.preciouslifeanimalsanctuary.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldeGhost
Bandcamp: http://oldeghostnw.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OldeGhost

The song that Chris mentioned: ‘Name in Mind’ by Soul Side

Vegan Bands: We asked Painted Wolves drummer Mattias about his thoughts on the contexts of ethical veganism

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We asked Mattias of the Swedish vegan hardcore metal punk band PAINTED WOLVES (bandcamp, facebook) if he could word for us what ethical veganism implies to him, also in regards to an all-encompassing intersectionality:

“‘If I can do some good I want to do it. If I have a choice I want to make it. It’s my human responsibility.’

Brilliant words by a brilliant band, one of my favorites ever: EMBRACE.

If we have the possibility to minimize suffering and damage in this world then why should we not try? If we have a choice then why should we not make it?

We’d all grow and evolve in a world without barriers. Until the last lock breaks none of us are free.”

Painted Wolves – Live at Skriket in Gothenburg, Sweden, July 2013.

Our favourite track on Painted Wolves album S/T is Serve the Serpent.

Mattias is also with Anchor, Blessings and Nerve.

A link to the song cited.

PAINTED WOLVES latest (12″ 6-track) album: S/T has been released in June 2013. And yes, it’s vinyl: paintedwolves.bigcartel.com!

Vegan Bands: We asked the Madrilenian activist band Eu Libre about the power of intersectionality in ethical veganism

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Spain, Madrid, veganism, anti-speciesism and intersectional activism.

“La búsqueda del poder es el epitafio de la honestidad.” (The search for might is the epitaph of honesty) – Eu Libre

Dear Eu Libre, as a vegan band, what’s most important to you about ethical veganism?

“Eu Libre has always defended veganism as a respectful way of life with other animals, opposing the use and promoting an anti-speciesist position. Also, our music has always shown other prejudices, whether sexist, racist, homophobic or other reasons. Our message has always been close to libertarian ideas, due to animal rights, big respect for nature and direct action groups like the ALF and E.L.F.”

EU LIBRE – ESPECISMO

Hablamos de dolor, libertad y sufrimiento
y no cabe distinción en que sean propios o ajenos.
Luchamos contra el mundo cuando el mundo es una trampa,
sordo a los lamentos que produce cada granja.

Nos quieren vincular con el terrorismo
quienes devoran el fruto de su sadismo.
Nuestra condición, el poder de elección
nos ha hecho alimentar nuestra compasión.

No hay línea divisoria, si es cuestión de respeto,
que sienta es lo que importa, demostrarlo nuestro reto.
Los prejuicios sucumben, la historia es testigo.
¿Por qué no habría de caer también el especismo?

Tenemos una meta, un claro objetivo,
nos mantenemos firmes, leales, unidos.
Nuestra revolución tiene un principio fijo,
vaciar todas las jaulas, poner fin al especismo.

Queremos acabar con granjas y mataderos,
con piscifactorías y con barcos pesqueros,
con zoos, con acuarios y con laboratorios
con toda explotación, con todo sufrimiento.

Todas nuestras fuerzas contra el especismo.
Luchar, empujar contra los pilares del especismo.
Todas nuestras fuerzas contra el especismo.
Pensar, actuar, dispuestos a acabar con el especismo.

Sabemos que un circo es una cárcel de animales.
La tauromaquia es la tradición de los cobardes.
Un rodeo es sumisión, inaceptable humillación.
Los correbous son protegidos, ¿es cultura de nación?

No hay excusas que abrigar: piel es crueldad,
la maldad de quien se niega a aceptar
que todo ser que siente precisa de su vida,
que todo ser que piense se opone a la injusticia.

Queremos acabar con granjas y mataderos,
con piscifactorías y con barcos pesqueros,
con zoos, con acuarios, y con laboratorios
con toda explotación, con todo sufrimiento.

“The fight is not for us. We can create that justice and we can deliver that freedom. The animals have no one but us. We will not fail them. ”

All our forces joined against speciesism.
Fight, push, move, act, go on against speciesism.
All our forces joined against speciesism.
Thinking, striving, willing to end, speciesism.

Da igual lo que digan, caza es asesinato.
Nosotros no luchamos para mejorar el trato,
no queremos regular la injusticia y la miseria.
Pedimos de verdad un cambio de conciencia.

Speciesism.

Activistas no dudéis, acabemos ya con el especismo.

From Eu Libre’s album: En la línea del Frente (45,77 MB), released on 26 March 2013.

Voces: Maggie y Eu, Letra: Eu. Traducción: Maggie, Base: 1101vs13, Arreglos: Filter DJ, Locución original: Barry Horne.

Eu Libre on Bandcamp and tweeting @EuLibre.

We asked Mariana Cerovečki guitarist of the Brainfuckers about the importance of vegan intersectionalism

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Why is intersectional ethical veganism is ‘the way to go’? What’s most important to you in ethical veganism?

We asked:

Mariana Cerovečki the guitarist of the Brainfuckers, vegan band from Zagreb, Croatia:

“I think the most important part is to be active in all parts of oppression: veganism, animal rights, human rights. We cannot fight for a better world if we forget about the suffering of humans also. That is why we sing about animal rights but also about human rights (poverty, injustice, LGBTIQ rights, feminism, etc.). We want people to make the connection and fight in every movement where there is oppression and injustice. As for veganism, of course for us the most important part is animal freedom and abolition of animal exploitation, empty cages and nothing less!”

Brainfuckers – The Torture

every day
brings another torture
let them stare again and again
it wont be long
until we all
face the same
reality

it wont be long
until we fade away

I can’t sleep no more
I used to dream of freedom and family
but who am I now?
another victim of reality

how does it feel
to be alive?

how does it feel
to be alive?

the terrible creatures arrive
the terrible creatures arrive
the terrible creatures arrive
to shut down another life

they say there is no meaning to my life
they say there is no meaning for my body

the terrible creatures arrive
the terrible creatures arrive
the terrible creatures arrive

and now we’re falling together in
death

I can’t sleep no more
I can’t sleep no more
I used to dream of freedom and family
but who am I now?
another victim of reality

how does it feel
to be alive?

how does it feel
to be alive?

the terrible creatures arrive
the terrible creatures arrive
the terrible creatures arrive
to shut down another life

Lyrics: Mariana Cerovečki. Performed by: Mato Kutlić, Staša Pintarić, Mariana Cerovečki and Martina Šaravanja.

Mariana Cerovečki, apart from being a vegan musician, is also a visual artist Animal Rights Art and anti-speciesist activist as the founder and head of Stop Specizmu, tweeting @marianavegan.

Veganic plus Animal Sanctuaries plus Ethics

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Veganic plus Animal Sanctuaries plus Ethics

There so far is no such thing as a “positive” veganic (which means: organic vegan agriculture) Animal Rights consciousness.

Not taking into consideration that nonhuman animals must be helped by all possible means, here looks to me like a form of speciesism might be lurking in the background, since if humans where in a comparable plight, anybody who would describe him-/herself as a non- misanthrope would help the humans in question.

What I am mainly interested in is:

Why doesn’t it occur to vegans and the veganic (vegan organic) movement, that humans and nonhuman animals can co-exist, can co-live without exploitation, as an option?

I have looked at various veganic projects, and as far as one can see, “animal rights” only plays a role in the way, that exploitation and usage of animals and animal products / fertilizer derived from animals is non-permitted, on ethical grounds, mainly. Hence, these people are VEGANS, and not just any people avoiding animal products: They avoid animal exploitation. That’s the Animal Rights part of the veganic movement.

But apart from that, the very nonhuman animals that we as VEGANS want to HELP, don’t come in or become visible or noticed as beings that we are willing to live together with, that we are willing to share the earth with. As if the soil and the forests were ours to use, ours to live on, ours to say what’s right to do with it (“it” … that is: nature).

Billions of animals

Of course the forceful exploitation of the reproductive system of animals has to stop. Of course any form of overpopulation is bad for anybody and this planet. But the lives, that didn’t chose to come into this world, the lives that just happen to find themselves here – we do have to ethically respect the fact that these individuals exist.

Sanctuaries and vegan farming should merge I believe! To cut a long “story” short and practical.

But back to veganic-ism as it is

There is the mention of using human manure and faeces for fertilization (apart from the much more promising sounding self-fertilizing gardening methods which exist in veganicism too of course). But if people are willing to use their own manure, as part of the biological process of vegan agriculture, can’t the idea of “the sanctuary” and the idea of a newly veganic option be created in peoples minds? People can tolerate their own manure somewhere, but not another (nonhuman) animal’s manure? I think we cannot say that it is speciesist and exploitative if both humans and nonhuman animals live together in a natural space without harming or exploiting or using each other.

We as vegans ought to LIVE together with the other animals on this planet, in a peaceful manner, in mixed communities. If we can’t develop a consciousness for that, we fail at creating a (more complete) positive ethic. It’s enormously tragic that we let the speciesist view of “animals, us and the world” win insofar, that this view manages to inspire us vegans not to willingly plan to live together with the so called farm animals in a vegan, caring manner, with a strong will to co-exist.

Are the only options we can chose from the one of degrading nonhuman animals or otherwise totally excluding them, and making them nonexistent in a (desired utopian) daily reality? No, really, because this planet is also an animals’ planet!

Ethics … To me the veganic movement makes itself look as if it creates and expresses a bifurcation in what veganism ideally should mean. As good at it looks now and as much as such farming practices are heading for the major part in a promising and important and ethically inevitable direction, the veganic code of ethics nevertheless ignores an important factor and that is, again, to include all animals in a life affirming way.

This fallacy in the veganic vegan understanding makes vegans overall look as if this movement was basically about clearing nonhuman animals in their positives – and as living facts and individual fates – simply out of our lives!

I think there is morally something going drastically wrong with us.

This text as a PDF (link opens in a new window)

Anti-Speciesist angles

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Anti-Speciesism, another angle

tc7

Making Anti-Speciesism itself a subject

We rightly want to ask people to do more than donate money to animal advocacy groups. We rather hope that people make others aware of veganism – in ethical terms. So only or mainly talking about vegan health and cooking (for instance) isn’t doing the job (far less is promoting vegan consumerism).

In which way to thematize speciesism?

1. By comparison …

A lot of the drawings of analogies are taken in reference to racism and sexism. In the discussions though the weight tends to lay more on the specifics of racist and sexist psychology, in those analogies, than on the juxtaposed speciesist type of psychological mindsets.

2. With cases …

On the other hand activists who discuss actual on the spot atrocities that are taking place and which mark those faces of speciesism, they do show the sheer extremes of killing, and those extremes again can’t be directly compared with other forms of discrimination. (At least we are confronted here with the fact that every category of an atrocity has own contextualities.)

How do you thematize speciesism?

In the frame of human anthropology? Or by comparing biological observations and findings on nonhuman / humans … ? Sociologically?

How?

My first suggestion is – cos I really do see that too little we describe how speciesism psychologically works in practice, is: let us have a look at the HOW’S of how speciesism manifests in basically many varying forms.

This is a highly fragmentary list for going into that direction:

Many forms of speciesism

Objectifying nonhuman animals takes various forms:

– in legal terms nonhumans are classified as property

– in religious terms the separation is being made spiritually, man is preferred and given the right to dominate all that is on earth

– philosophical schools may give an array of different reasons for why whichever form of speciesism might be ethically sound or a right view to maintain

– the natural sciences differentiate between beings driven by instinct, the lower forms of life, the higher forms and man with the supposedly most complex make up of mind and brain.

– carnism could be said to be a term for one form of speciesism that classifies domesticated farm animals only (or finally, as in the case of horses and some exotic animals that are eaten such as ostriches) as “meat” or suppliers of food.

– pets on the other side are. in spite of being loved by our society, also affected by speciesist views on them.

– wild animals are forced to make up the object for hunters and hunting culture’s needs to re-exercise continuously the idea of a primeval and supposedly ideal condition of man as the hunter and gatherer.

– but also wild animals are affected by argumentations that target them in terms of whether they are intrusive species or should be seen as protectable.

For every animal species we seem to get one or more forms of speciesist views, classifications, argumentations. In every aspect that defines the human view on his or her environment we seem to come across a derogative stance on nonhumans.

When we discuss speciesism we should bear in mind how complex and difficult to analyze the subjugative view on animal life is in our cultures and societies.

***

I think taking a direct look at the cloaked psychology behind speciesism (itself), we can get closer to the framework that enables a speciesist society in the first place.

With ‘cloaked psychology’ I don’t mean a model such as it was discussed with the ‘carnism’-term, which focussed on two forms of speciesism basically: pets that are loved, yet have no rights, and so called farm animals that are being killed for “food”, and have of course also no rights.

With ‘cloaked psychology’ I mean questions of why as a fact human traits are values over nonhuman animal traits, or the same goes for ‘interests’, features, attributes, realities, etc.

By breaking down the probably manifold components of the speciesist framework, we can find our way through a mess of a collective-psychological character, I think.

Artwork by Farangis G Yegane

vegan, animal rights, animal liberation, bands (15-27 July notes / bookmarks)

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In Short:

this is such a sloppy list, sorry for that …

Faktion Ravachol – Commando de Liberation Animale,
Kochise F.L.A (Front de Liberation Animale)

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DAVAÏ ! — A.L.F. Animal Liberation Front, more

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Gattaca – Ve Jménu Pokroku / Kríže Na Čele, vegan hardcore, czech republic

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xNunca es Tardex – Compasión, vegan sxe panama, facebook

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IRON – vegan sxe sweden, http://xironx.bandcamp.com/, facebook

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No love for a nation 7″ by Landverraad http://landverraad.bandcamp.com/ vegan netherlands punk, harcore lyrics

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Hello Bastards, vegan sxe uk http://hellobastards.bandcamp.com/

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Vegan Punk Norway: URBANOIA – Svart Sement – July 2013 release

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Noose – vegan sxe from chicago on http://theveganstraightedge.bandcamp.com/, facebook

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holy – holyvegan – http://holyvegan.tumblr.com – vegan band from milan italy

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Black Kites / Swallowed Up split LP by Black Kites, Swallowed Up – http://listen.hydrogenmanrecords.com//a> vegan punk sxe philadelphia

Dying / Less Life split LP, june 2013 release

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Axidance – anarchist,crust, punk, dark hardcore, vegan, russia http://axidance.bandcamp.com/

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Forever Young, vegan, sweden, urmea “Their lyrics are about straight edge, the hardcore scene, the vegan way of life and their hometown’s local scene, Umea. Cool lyrics, in general! Forever Young appears in ‘Edge, The Movie'” – source

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RxExSx. Racismo. Especismo. Seximo. Es lo mismo! RxExSx from Fragä – “s​/​t” Demo k7 2012 by fragä

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У вас глаза зашиты by Освенцим Для Любимых – http://osvencimdl.bandcamp.com/ diy January 2013 release, vegan hardcore russia

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Lawine – Not A Plea For Generosity, vegan punk netherlands, http://lawine.bandcamp.com/

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KONTRAGOLPE, hardcore vegan metal bogota colombia, liberation animal

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NO I​.​C​.​E. by ATRUTH by (A)TRUTH, vegan nyc brooklyn, http://atruth.bandcamp.com, facebook, animal liberation demo 2009

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ECOWAR: Animal Rights, ADM 2010

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Vicious Irene – Animal Liberation, Sweden, feminism

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Animal Liberation from Hacia el Amanecer de Nuestros Sueños by Cenizas

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Por Los Que No Tienen Voz, VA, Animal Liberation, Liberation Aninal, Guatemala

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The Death of Ideas from Poison Planet​/​Government Flu split EP by Poison Planet – vegan hardcore chicago, facebook, http://poisonxplanet.tumblr.com/

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Songs Of Existence by Gab De La Vega, sxe vegan italy

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NO PART – Finnish Straight Edge Hardcore – http://nopart.bandcamp.com/, animal rights. “Hardcore punk band from Finland with an interest in (but not limited to) the straight edge, friendship, human and animal rights.”

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X Species Traitor X – Pro​-​Life, Anti​-​Human, http://speciestraitor.bandcamp.com vegan finland queer hardcore

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Nunca Es Tarde, vegan panama – Hardcore. Punk. Straight Edge. facebook, and