VEGAN VEINS: LIBERATION FOR ALL
In this earth, in this immaculate field, we shall not plant any seeds except for compassion, except for love. – Rumi
We’re in the middle of world vegan month, so naturally myself and Julia dropped everything and took to The Burren Nature Sanctuary to envelop ourselves in the wonderful world of some rescued animals. It was a day where the city felt a little too heavy for us, and the open fields, stone walls, and brightly coloured houses of Kinvara were calling us home.
We had previously been there a year ago and it completely healed me at a time when I needed it the most. I guess I was very much in need of that again, even if I hadn’t realised it. I’ll tell you something though, the minute I stepped foot on the stones in the yard, it was as though I felt my heart lift in my chest. It really is one of my favourite places in the world.
The motivation for our journey was one of adventure, and empathy. I wanted to spend some time with these animals in my Vegan Veins shirt which was kindly sent to me by the owner, Emily in an adorable packet from Canada. The mission of this little company is to provide people with influential apparel that raises awareness about animal rights everywhere you go. Absolutely Everything is sweatshop free, locally printed, and shipped in 100% biodegradable, eco-friendly packaging. I thought the Burren was a perfect place to show it off as 10% of all proceeds from these products are donated to farm sanctuaries and animal/human rights organisations each month. It was my way of showing that across the world, there are so many kind people who are caring for animals, it shows just how far empathy can stretch.
And really, that’s been the biggest question on my mind recently: how far can your empathy stretch? I believe that veganism is an incredibly high reflection of empathy and that power that we have in making the world a better place through our choices. What we are eating is having an astronomical impact on the earth. Our environment is collapsing, our seas are full of plastic and empty of life, and animals are needlessly suffering every day. I guess, when I type it out, I can tell why my heart feels heavy.
When I hear about palm oil, I see like may people, orangutans with no homes and families. When Christmas comes flooding into our TV sets, I think of puppies being bought in December and forgotten in March. Our empathy for dogs stretches the ocean as we are heartbroken when we hear that they are eaten at festivals in countries that are far from us, but we need to look closer to home. We are frowning on practices as barbaric. We might not carry out these acts of violence ourselves, but we pay for someone else to do it.
That’s the thing about empathy for animals, I believe it should extend to all of them. When I look at food being served, I see the animals that the food once was. Pigs are dogs, donkeys are dogs, goats are dogs – but they are not. We have othered them, not into their own individual selves, but into something which says they are less than us. We harm them, abuse them and eat them.
We take from them, what is not ours – we take from animals who are so kind, so giving. We do it out of greed, and out of need; we’re part of many systems which profit from the exploitation of animals, we’re marketed food that is fresh, or made by animals who have lived happy lives in some ‘circle of life’. We are offered convenient processed meats to feed our starving families, or our own tummy after a busy day of work. I have spent so much time researching, and working in human rights, sustainability and animal activism. I am aware and I want you to be too, of the privilege of choosing ethical food and clothing, it is something often ignored, but I want you to know the biggest secret – it can be changed, we can work for a world that gives choice, freedom, and food that doesn’t harm us, the planet or animals. It can be done.
First, we need to make the connection, their lives and ours, depend on it. I’m spilling out facts onto a keyboard in the hope that people will see what they are eating. I spent a day with wonderful animals in the hope we can all learn from them. I am asking from my heart for you to consider the rights of animals, other food, and ethically sourced clothing. If you can find a day that allows you to bring them all together, like we did, I hope you let your heart open to all of the feelings. I hope you feel the glorious warmth and welling in your soul of the empathy stretch. May it guide you towards a world where there is liberation for all.
#worldveganmonth
Thank you to @veganveins for collaborating on this post and to @lovejoules for the wonderful photos and company that was simply simpatico. Also, a million thanks to all at The Burren Nature Sanctuary, please support them, and all that they do.P A P E R M A C H E M I N D | I N S T A G R A M | T W I T T E R | F A C E B O O K
