Veganism is depoliticized by patriarchal practices of sexual objectification and capitalistic practices of commodity fetishism. Sexualization transforms veganism from a mode of resistance into a mode of complicity.
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The Animal Sentience Bill and Animal Nationalism in Post-Brexit Britain
Britain, newly liberated, is now using its independence as a means to establish itself as a socially and economically advanced nation. In such situations, animals are frequently objectified as symbols of this global superiority. Any resulting welfare legislation is likely to support the myth of “Great” Britain, but highly unlikely to fundamentally challenge the state’s entitlement to nonhuman bodies, labour or lives.
Continue readingVegan Geographies in Ireland
Irish Animal Activism (Animals in Irish Society, Episode 6)
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this live recording of forgotten Irish animal advocacy. Ireland lays claim to a fascinating history of human interactions with other animals that is both unique to the island and critical to larger international discourse. While it is true that Irish culture is historically tied to speciesism and its economy is especially dependent upon “meat” and dairy production, Ireland’s relationship with other animals is complex and sometimes forgiving.
Continue readingThe Extraordinary Monks of Skellig Michael and the Human/Nonhuman Boundary in Early Ireland
The Troubles (Animals in Irish Society, Episode 5)
This episode discusses the persistence of animality in Irish Republicanism in the late 19th century and the 20th-century protests under British occupation during the Troubles. While Britain applied animality to Irish rebels as a measure of control, the Irish would strategically adopt animality as an illustration of their oppression. The episode also discusses some mid-20th century vegan activists and their response to civil rights injustices of the era.
Continue readingThe Great Famine (Animals in Irish Society, Episode 4)
Ireland has endured a number of colonialization attempts, including that of the Vikings, the Christians, and the Normans. However, British colonization in the 16th and 17th centuries was the most arresting and long lasting, dramatically manipulating property use, agricultural practices, and quality of life for humans and other animals alike. This episode explores the injection of industrialized “meat” and dairy production in the Irish colony and its implications for Irish wellbeing, culminating in the disastrous famines of the 1800s.
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