It’s disturbing to read comments such as, “Who really cares if PETA is calling out fatasses? overweight= unhealthy. Period. If that’s how they want to inspire vegetarianism, so be it.” This was a comment posted earlier today on Twitter by a self-described vegetarian and mother.
Sigh. Where to start? This "fatass" quotation is another example of how vegetarians and women do not have any kind of monopoly on qualities such as sensitivity, empathy, and compassion.
And since I’m on the topic of PeTA and their latest dehumanizing ad campaign, I thought of something else. I have never once heard anything but praise for Captain Paul Watson, who just happens to be a larger person and a vegan —one who is actually in the business of saving whales! I’m willing to bet there are many people who find Capt. Paul Watson a very attractive figure. As I tweeted earlier today, I doubt if Captain Paul Watson is rarely if ever made to feel shame for his size, nor should he! But you know what? There are young boys and girls bullied and verbally abused in school every day. Popular verbal attacks? Fat. Pig. Whale.
It is therefore my view that Ingrid Newkirk and her supporters are bullies (among other things).
Melissa
vegetarianwomen.com/blog
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In case anyone's interested in reading strong critiques of the unexamined privilege that most of us white vegans and vegetarians inflict on others, I'd highly recommend reading (but not commenting unless you're also a vegan of color) much of what is posted at the Vegans of Color blog. There you will indeed find a critique of SSCS (Watson's organization) from July of this year.
I'm glad you mentioned this, kahri. I should have taken the time to make clear in the blog post that I do not support Paul Watson and his organization.
I'm a fat vegan. :)
I can't wait until Newkirk finally kicks the bucket. I want to see what PETA will become without her.
I can't wait until Newkirk finally kicks the bucket.
That's a... rather strong sentiment, shall we say. Wish she'd retire tomorrow, yes, but...
PETA is such a big intersectionality fail. They are 'insulting' fat people by comparing them to whales -- even though that comparison can only function as an insult from within a framework that accepts a hierarchy of lifeforms (otherwise, it's just an unintelligible statement). So this very campaign is promoting anthropocentrism.
As a vegan and a fat person, I want PETA *gone*.
i've been an animal rights activist for most of my life (even in grade school!) and not once did i support PETA. it's things like this that embarrass me and make my roll my eyes. i always cringe when someone arguing against animal rights brings up PETA.
I like their older campaigns that PeTA2 (the teen one) and the kid's one (I don't remember the name) had/has.
Nothing to demean or put down people. Just things like, "Cut class, not frogs," "Friend, not food," and "I am not a nugget."
Those campaigns spoke more to me about animal welfare than any of their publicized ones.
Granted, I'm not condoning cutting class, but it's a good slogan and it isn't hurting anyone.
Actually, I just read a book entitled Whale Warriors in which a journalist accompanied Sea Shepherd on a mission. Watson's wife at the time remarked how he is "barely vegetarian." So he's not vegan, at least he wasn't a few years ago. I know that Sea Shepherd is a vegan operation, so he wouldn't be eating animal products on the missions, but when he's on land he might be. One of his wife's (now ex-wife) complaints about him was that he was more interested in environmental conversation than animal rights.
Sorry! Instead of conversation I meant "conservation." Whoops.
Interesting... Watson stated in a recent interview, "My ship is a vegan vessel." Perhaps that's some kind of euphemism.
Hehe, that would be a great euphemism!
From what the author explained in the book, there were only vegan meals on board the ship. So Watson is telling the truth. Now what he eats on land, however, is up to anyone's guess.