The Point and Vegan Education
Last year, I decided that in 2008 I wouldn’t to give any large sum (everyone has their own definition of that) to any organization (that’s how I usually do my charitable giving). Instead, I would give smaller amounts, and spread the wealth (such as it is). My focus for this year is: direct service to animals, creative vegan
education projects and alternatives to using animals in
education/research. Luckily, I didn’t have to look far for any of them, including creative vegan education, as Eric Prescott’s I’m Vegan film project needed funds (and still does!).
Another opportunity for vegan education, also over at The Point, is a recently-launched campaign called "No Meat Week: Help Stop Global Warming!" The project asks for no money, just for your help spreading the word. Here is the pledge:
We will not buy or eat any meat for one week,
But we will only do it if at least 100 people join.
That, in my opinion, is a strange pledge. If you were so dedicated to the environment, and so convinced of the connection between global warming and eating animals, you’d think you’d stop eating animals on the spot and wouldn’t threaten not to unless 99 others joined you. Maybe I’m misinterpreting.
Regardless, this effort appears to be largely based in social networking, which isn’t really my thing, although I have made several valiant attempts to join sites and post articles and videos. But the reality is that social networking isn’t a priority of mine and I barely accomplish everything I have to in a day without communicating with anyone (except by occasional e-mail). I usually blog between 5 and 6am, for heaven’s sake, as I know that if I don’t, I won’t get to it thereafter.
So all of you networking types, this appears to be an opportunity to introduce others, and perhaps those who have expressed an interest in doing more for the environment, to the idea that eating animals and global warming are intimately connected. Check it out, and if you don’t like the way it’s worded, start your own campaign and word it however you see fit!
Quote:
"If you were so dedicated to the environment, and so convinced of the connection between global warming and eating animals, you'd think you'd stop eating animals on the spot and wouldn't threaten not to unless 99 others joined you. Maybe I'm misinterpreting."
And therein lies what I believe to be an inherent contradiction in the environmentalist movement. Their efforts are meant to convince people of the necessity for change – in lifestyle, public policy, etc. – however, when confronted with the single most important change these individuals can make (i.e., going vegan) they ignore such suggestions and thereby undermine their own premise: The extent of this crises ought to compel alterations to our personal choices. This must be true since, as you said, these individuals don't deny the link between meat industries and environmental degradation; therefore, they are choosing to neglect, on their own premises, their duty to change. Thus, this contradiction seems to invalidate their own argument that everyone ought to change for the end of protecting the environment.