Liberate

The personal and lifestyle choice of being vegan is only a small step towards animal liberation. It is fundamental to the struggle against animal abuse, but simply being vegan is not enough. Veganism is about not personally consuming any animal products, it is essentially a boycott and on its own, it will not bring about animal liberation. Animal liberation requires organizing, activism and commitment that is engaged in the wider world beyond our individual lifestyle choices. The tendency towards lifestyle veganism and single-issue mentality is not effective in stopping animal abuse and it often ignores and/or perpetuates other forms of oppression.

It is necessary for vegan and animal rights activists to firstly recognise and understand that animal abuse is connected to other forms of oppression. The oppression of the animals, the environment, womyn, the working class, queers, people of colour and the disabled are all unique but interconnected. For each form of oppression, there are social movements to challenge it. Both humans and animals are subjected to abuse, exploitation and violence because of the dominant western culture that allows powerful and rich elite to dominate the world. That is why vegans and animal rights activists need to see the struggle for social justice and animal liberation as one struggle. And likewise, social justice activists also have to see the links between animal abuse, environmental degradation and human violence. Frying up animal flesh sausages to fundraise for a human rights or environmental cause is just as hypocritical as using sexist advertising to promote animal rights.

Secondly, animal abuse industries are heavily interdependent on capitalism and the state. These industries are all driven by profit and animals are just seen as machines or commodities that produce profit. The goal of animal liberation requires a complete transformation of the current political and economic system that is based on the exploitation (or extermination) of all life on earth. Our current economic and political system is dependent on both human and animal exploitation.

Thirdly, when we understand the connections between all these forms of oppression, we have to actively work towards eliminating them all and avoid perpetuating oppression. We have to be active and organize for liberation for all. We can choose and pick specific battle but never lose track of the wider struggle for animal liberation and social revolution. Get involved in campaigning, but don’t get stuck in reformist politics. Support social and environmental struggles while promoting animal liberation.