Vegan Warrior Princesses Attack!

If you decide not to attend an event because your family refuses to make it vegan-friendly, you are making a personal choice, but so is your family. This episode explores the never-talked-about power of choice, and how everyone has a choice to make in these situations, not just the vegan.

In This Episode

Callie proposes an excellent topic: the power of choice. Too often, our decisions are blamed as us making a choice, when really the people around us are often the ones choosing first and we are just responding to their actions. Everyone has the power to do what they think is best, but there should be more awareness around the fact that omnivores are making choices to exclude their vegan loved ones. Just because being an omnivore is the default, doesn’t mean it’s a “non-action” to not provide a safe and accepting environment for the vegans in their lives.

Boundaries and consent culture come up again in this episode, as well as the concept that people should support each other through any and all life choices or differences. Ostracizing someone for being vegan is not ok just because it’s choosing the unpopular path. We should feel safe with our people, and if they don’t make us feel safe, we have the choice to remove ourselves from their company.

Links and Information

News

* Bill Maher Gets Real About Meat (VegNews)

* Youth Council Motions Edmonton City Council to Vote on Vegetarian Choice (Edmonton Journal)

Do you interrogate your waitstaff over every tiny ingredient in your food, or do you sometimes eat in ignorance in order to make veganism look more approachable? The girls talk through the ups and downs of “don’t ask, don’t tell” veganism.

In This Episode

Inspired by a session at Vida Vegan Con, Nichole and Callie talk about “don’t ask, don’t tell” veganism – a mode of activism where you make veganism looking easy a top priority. So, maybe you don’t ask if there’s dairy in the dinner rolls on the table, or you order a burrito assuming that the guacamole is ok. It’s a controversial topic for sure. Some vegans consider that being not vegan, others consider grilling serves about ingredients harmful to the movement.

Throughout the show, Callie focuses on the benefits of don’t ask, don’t tell, specifically in social situations. Being out with friends or family, trying to find a place to eat, sometimes it’s better and easier to not ask if the pizza crust is totally vegan if the place offers vegan cheese. Sometimes it’s more important to share an experience with the people you care about and make a vegan lifestyle seem less intimidating than it is to avoid trace animal products.

Nichole focuses on the power of asking in situations where you are acting like a consumer – for instance, when ordering takeout for yourself from a local restaurant that you plan to order from often, it’s good practice to check to make sure the food is vegan so you can order in good conscience and show them that there’s a demand for vegan products in the community. She thinks asking when you are acting alone or with other vegans can be very powerful. San Diego has had a sudden boom of vegan options and restaurants because of this.

Nichole also discusses how being gluten-free kinda forces her to ask a lot of questions anyway, so sneaking in vegan questions on top of gluten ones is fairly easy.

In the end, it seems like there’s situations where asking questions can create a demand for product, and other times not asking might be a powerful form of activism.

Links and Information

News

* Al Jazeera Predicts the End of Chicken (Al Jazeera)

* Michigan Settles Lawsuit with Vegan Prisoner (VegNews)

Is veganism an eating disorder? Does veganism cause eating disorders? The girls tackle this hot topic and discuss their own experiences with eating disorders and veganism.

In This Episode

Nichole and Callie take on the tough and touchy topic of eating disorders as they relate to veganism, specifically tackling ex-vegans who claim veganism caused them to develop eating disorders or allowed them to conceal eating disorders.

Eating disorders are nasty, tricky beasts and they twist things around until everything seems warped. Nichole and Callie have battled eating disorders nearly their entire lives and have overwhelming compassion for others who are involved in the same battle. But they take issue with ex-vegans who blame veganism for causing eating disorders when the truth is usually that the veganism provided a convenient cover for disordered patterns that were already there.

“One True Way” plant-based diets can definitely create or trigger disordered eating, which is where the confusion usually comes in. Veganism does not cause eating disorders, but plant-based diets can, just like any other type of diet.

Veganism does not tell you what to eat or how to eat, only what not to eat: animal products. It is not a lifestyle of restriction except for when it becomes distilled down to diet. This is one time when the distinction between “vegan” and “plant-based” is critical.

Links and Information

News

* Israel Criminalizes Animal Cruelty and Closes Slaughterhouse (VegNews)

* Walmart Announces Sweeping Animal Welfare Policy (Mercy for Animals)

Mentioned In the Episode

* Why I No Longer Follow Freelee the Banana Girl (& Orthorexia)

by Strawberry Mice (YouTube) Trigger warning for discussion of weight, weight loss and disordered eating patterns.

I liked this video by Strawberry Mice about how she developed orthorexia from following Freelee the Banana Girl and the 80-10-10 plan. She discusses this intelligent and without blame. A great viewpoint to add to the topic.

* West Coast Ecofeminist Conference in L.A. July 24-26

We are attending this conference and encourage you to attend too if you are in the L.A. area and are interested. It sounds inspiring and eye-opening.

The about page of the conference opens with “The Earth and her animals are under a full-scale assault. We are facing the sixth mass extinction of species, violence rages across the planet and the climate change crisis is now having a horrific impact on the lives of millions and all created by a patriarchal system of exploitation and oppression.” Bam! *mic drop*

Related Articles

Nichole wrote a post on her blog, VeganSpin, last year that discusses this topic further: Does Veganism Cause Eating Disorders?

Activism requires passion and stamina, but shouldn’t require a sacrifice of all happiness and joy. From constantly watching slaughterhouse footage, to looking at the world through a negative lens, even the most dedicated activist needs a break.

In This Episode

Nichole and Callie discuss the disturbing trend they’ve observed in the animal rights community of constantly posting graphic videos and pictures of animals being slaughtered or tortured, depressing news articles, nonstop protesting, and a general disdain for the world.

This is a dangerous path, one that leads to activism fatigue, emotional burnout and, in the worst cases, depression and suicide. The vegan movement does not need it’s members to sacrifice their lives and happiness in order to advance the cause – as Nichole says, it’s like flying: put your oxygen mask on first.

Links and Information

News

* North Carolina Passes Ag-Gag Bill Despite Governor Veto (VegNews)

* Luxembourg Adopts Meatless Monday Resolution (VegNews)

Animal rights activists using special events and tragedies to further their agenda have drawn the ire of the girls. From campaigning during Pride to hijacking #blacklivesmatter, the vegan community needs to back off from stealing the limelight from other groups.

In This Episode

After reading Nathan Runkle’s article on the Huffington Post about Mercy For Animals participation in LA Pride. While we were moved by Nathan’s personal story and his correlation between the violence he experienced for being gay and the violence that animals experience everyday to go on someone’s plate, the idea that Mercy For Animals walked in Pride with a banner that reads “No one is free while others are oppressed” didn’t sit well with us. Pride is for the LGBTQ community to celebrate, not to be reminded that there are other causes in the world.

Taking focus from days of celebration to hijacking tragic events to make a point, animal rights activists and vegans need to be careful that we’re not minimizing people on days that matter specifically to them. These discussions absolutely need to be had at a higher level – there are obvious parallels between oppression and racially charged violence and the system of carnism that savages billions of animals each year – but days that are dedicated to a group or event should be left alone.

Vegans should show up in these times to show support, not take the focus off the issue at hand.

Links and Information

News

* Georgia Tbilisi Zoo Floods, Animals Escape and Drown, Tigers Killed (CNN)

* U.S. Crushes a Ton of Ivory in Times Square (CNN)

The girls explore the concept that veganism is a boundary that we set for ourselves, and that all the people who try to bully us into feeling ashamed for being different are just a buncha boundary-pushing jerks! We talk about how to counter-act boundary pushers, and how to support each other in setting boundaries for all things in our lives.

(We’re sorry this episode was late, we had some technical issues this week that took a few days to figure out. We’ll be testing out posting on Tuesday mornings instead of Sunday night, but we will continue to post regularly every week!)

In This Episode

Our culture in America raises us from birth to think our bodies are not our own, and that the effect of our choices on others is more important than making decisions that are best for ourselves. We see this is simple everyday ways, from telling small children that they have to hug people they don’t want to, to our friends browbeating us for not wanting to dance or drink or go to a party. We pressure each other all the time, trying to force everyone to always do the same thing for the sake of the crowd, whether or not it’s actually the best thing for the individual.

Veganism turns all of this on its head. Veganism is a boundary that we set for the world, saying that we are stepping away from the system of carnism and that we will not allow certain foods into our bodies. We see the consequences in this every time someone tells us to “just cheat this once” or every time we are pointed out and bullied for daring to do something good for ourselves while refusing to participate in the culturally accepted practice of eating animals.

Links and Info

News

* China Pledges to End Ivory Trading But Says US Should Too (Washington Post)

* Parent Company of Silk and So Delicious Acquires Vega (Veg News)

Vegan Warrior Princess of the Week

* Paper Mag: Free to be Miley about Miley Cyrus coming out as vegan, being gender fluid and helping at risk youth

Interesting Articles Mentioned on Show

* The Pervocracy: Consent Culture – explaining consent culture and all the ways that we can teach kids and each other to respect our own boundaries, as well as each others

* The Pervocracy: Rescripting Sex – how to have conversations about consent that are sexy

* Doctor Nerdlove: Getting A Yes (Instead of Avoiding A No) – The Standard of Enthusiastic Consent – enthusiastic consent and sex

* Our Feminist Playschool: Building Consent in Our Youngest Children

Ever get those tricky questions and statements from carnists that you just don’t know how to answer? “Don’t you care about plants? They have feelings too!” “I respect your decision to be vegan, you should respect my decision to eat meat,” and more! Plus, recap of day 2 of Vida Vedan Con 2015!

In This Episode

Callie and Nichole recap day two of Vida Vegan Con:

* Exploits of a Veganpreneur: Experience & Lessons Learned Through Growing Multiple Vegan Businesses by Miyoko Schinner of Miyoko’s Kitchen

* From Vegan Blogger to Internet Entrepreneur by Jill Pyle of Vegan Cuts

* Tweet Like You Give a Damn: Social Media & Why You’re Doing It Wrong (IMHO) by Brian Patton of The Sexy Vegan

* The New Vegan Economy Panel with Miyoko Schinner of Miyoko’s Kitchen, Ayinde Howell of The Lusty Vegan and Chris Rios, owner of The Vegan Nom

* Ethics of Vegan Dining & Boozing by Bianca Phillips of Vegan Crunk

Then the girls tackle five tough questions or statements that vegans get from carnists with their advice on how to respond:

* Plants have feelings, too!

* What about our family’s/culture’s traditions?!

* Veganism is elitist/privileged

* I respect your decision to be vegan, you should respect my decision to eat meat

* The Bible/God tells me to eat meat

Link and Resources

News

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A roundup of day one of Vida Vegan Con 2015, and our thoughts on the potential dangers and pitfalls of promoting veganism as a cure-all, a goal, or mandating specific plant-based diets as the “One True Way.”

In This Episode

The girls recap the amazing presentations they saw at Vida Vegan Con in Austin, TX:

* Blogging Etiquette and Social Media Essentials by Jackie Sobon of Vegan Yack Attack

* Feminism and Veganism Panel with Julia DeNoto – Vida Vegan Con, Nicole Georges, Jojo Huxster of Vegan in Brighton and Anika Lehde

* Facing Failing Health as a Vegan by Sayward Rehbal of Bonzai Aphrodite

* Preventing Ex-Vegans: Strategies to Minimize Long-term Success on Vegan Diets by Ginny Messina, R.D. of The Vegan R.D.

* Can We All Just Get Along? Finding Common Ground in Different Forms of Activism: A Discussion by Christy Morgan of The Blissful Chef

Then Nichole and Callie dig into their thoughts on different types of veganism, specifically health and fitness veganism, and the potentially harmful ways that those types of veganism can manifest in activism. Nichole discusses the concept that setting health or a specific way of looking as the goal is ostracizing to vegans of different body types and varying degrees of “health.” Health is a vague term that leaves a lot of room for interpretation, and seems to mostly be represented by weight and body size, neither of which are necessarily indicative of good or bad health.

Freeley the Banana Girl is discussed as an example of vegans who preach the “One True Way” of eating. They preach that one very specific plant-based diet is a cure-all, which makes anyone who tries it and does not get the same results feel like a failure. This way of preaching veganism, this form of “health activism,” is incredibly dangerous, particularly to those prone to eating disorders and low body image. Beyond that, this form of activism makes veganism all about the person and their superficial looks, without any reference to the ethics behind what veganism is supposed to stand for. Though we are fine with people coming to veganism through health, as we certainly did, we find campaigns and hashtags like “#whataveganlookslike” internally damaging to the movement.

Plant-based is proposed as a solution to calling this type of promotion “veganism.” While the girls both think you can’t take someone’s V-card, they do feel that vegans that are promoting strictly health or fitness goals for veganism should promote them under the title of “plant-based” so as to not further the idea that all vegans should look or eat a certain way. It is ok to be a vegan, but it is not ok to promote veganism in a way that is harmful to people in the movement.

Links and Information

News

* New NBC Dating Show Seeks Single Vegans

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An interview with Nick Cooney from Mercy for Animals about his new book How to Be Great at Doing Good reveals that when it comes to donating, most of us are doing it wrong. [...]

If you save someone’s life, what do they owe you? What do the animals that we forcibly rescue owe us? Do we have the right to pick and choose who lives, and under what conditions?

In This Episode

Nichole and Callie talk about the Speciesist Savior Complex – a term they totally made up – the dangerous idea that humans should intervene in nature to save animals and, by doing so, have ownership over their lives.

We see this more obviously with zoos, animal parks, SeaWorld, et al. Many people excuse what zoos and parks do because the animals within them would have been “dead otherwise.” But is that ok? Would you be grateful to be locked in a cage if it was done under the guise of saving your life? Would you be happy to have someone choose when and what you ate, who you lived with, who you mate with?

This was brought into sharp focus for the girls when they went to the San Diego Zoo Safari for Nichole’s company’s summer outing, and discovered that the vultures that are in the park all have their wings clipped at birth so they can fly. So these birds are clipped and bred, clipped and bred, never returning to the wild and not even able to engage in their most basic function as birds. The price of staying in existence, in this case, is too high.

There is no point in perpetuating a species if we make them prisoners in the process.

By saving lives that didn’t ask to be saved, we take away animals’ agency to have a free life, even if it is a shorter one. By intervening on ecosystems, we’re continuing to disrupt the natural balance and causing unforeseen ramifications down the road.

VWPA! takes the position that we need to leave animals alone and get out of their environments. Most species that are endangered are so because of human influence on their environment. If we can focus our energies on figuring out ways to work with nature, find ways to minimize our impact on this planet, and leave the animals alone, we’ll all be far better off.

Links and Info

News

* New Zealand Legally Recognises Animals as ‘Sentient’ Beings

* Toll-Free Animal Activist Helpline Launched

Videos

Wolves Reintroduced to Yellowstone – How Wolves Change Rivers

How Whales Change Climate