I’m disabled & vegan, w/epilepsy, so I’m fine on a plant-based diet, but I am aware that there’s a lot of people who cannot go vegetarian or vegan, so here’s just a wee list of things you can do if you’re keen on animal activism
- Get involved & raise awareness! Sign up for any protests etc for animal rights in your area, maybe talk to abled/neurotypical friends and family, and get them to cut down some of their animal product consumption!
- Veganism is about doing what is possible, not what is going to harm you! So never be too hard on yourself
- When you hear people in the vegan community calling meat-eaters animal abusers/carnists, etc, keep in mind that this refers to people who can change but won’t. It’s kind of like when I talk about straight people. If I say that straight people are homophobic, I don’t mean every singe straight person is (I’m comparing here, not equating. sexuality has nothing to do with eating meat/disability)
- Don’t let people on either side use you as an excuse. Don’t let vegans say that x disabled person can be vegan therefore all disabled people can be vegan, but also don’t let abled meat-eaters use you (a.k.a “I have a friend”) as an excuse to keep eating meat.
- If there is any animal product you can cut down on, then definitely cut down! Tiny steps have a massive impact on supply&demand.
- Don’t buy leather, fur, silk, wool, etc (this does not mean that you should get rid of all your clothes. If you have to buy a new jacket, look for one made with faux leather!)
- If you’re rich (lol what) , buy from local farms.
- If you’re getting a pet, adopt! My cat is from a shelter and he is the most wonderful baby. I love him.
- And again, don’t be too hard on yourself. You aren’t the problem here
There’s probably loads more, so feel free to add!
– remember that ethical consumption is (1) unaccomplishable. None of your totally vegan friends are doing zero harm in any way. & (2) multifaceted. If you wanna consume as ethically as possible, getting local and season products, recycling, repairing, getting second hand stuff, avoiding plastics, etc etc are all great ways of reducing harm. It’s not all about meat.
– if you can: go skipping or get people to go skipping and share the results with you. Skipping often yields lots and lots of meat that will stop you from buying meat for a long time. Meat that is already thrown away does not effect the supply and demand cycle in any way.
– A lot of foodbanks do not offer a vegan option. If your friends get animal products from foodbanks that they’re gonna throw away, ask them to give it to you instead.
– remember that consumption impact is always minor compared to structural impact. If your activism disrupt a small part of the meat industry in a meaningful way that is better than a hundred people going vegan.
– Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not doing enough. That’s up to you to decide.
– if a vegan is ableist to you because you are not totally vegan, they suck big time. Save a pig, eat an ableist vegan.
QueerAnarchism 