Why Is There a Need for P.A.A.W.?
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Throughout its history, there have been many significant struggles pertaining to the human race – struggles for equality, freedom, and justice – most of which are still ongoing. In the face of oppression, capitalism, violence, and discrimination, we continue to envision a world free of these afflictions so that all humans may stand equal to one another, whatever their gender, race, caste, sexuality, ethnicity or creed may be.
But in our fight for equality, is it possible that we may have left someone behind? Is it possible that after years of struggles shared across identities and inherent interconnections that we have failed to recognise this someone – someone whose inclusion is essential to all forms of anti-oppression – and in doing so limited our ability to realize a stronger social justice movement?
These are some of the pressing questions put forth by APEX Advocacy, resulting in the subsequent formation of P.A.A.W. (Pre-Animal Activist Week).
What is P.A.A.W. and how will it address the above? Read on to discover how you can participate in this innovative event.
Pre-Animal Activist Week is a unique boot camp organized by APEX Advocacy, promising an immersive and educational experience to BIPOC activists/individuals (ages 18 – 25+) curious about animal rights and veganism and the role they play in social justice movements. Six strategically selected participants will spend four days learning and engaging with intersectional animal activism consisting of grassroots action, street activism, and workshops along with fully plant-based meals – all provided and arranged by APEX!
If you are a BIPOC activist (with a U.S. citizenship), looking to expand your view of social justice by incorporating animal rights awareness, P.A.A.W. is the right place for you! Applications close August 15, 2023 and we shall host the participants in Atlanta, GA from October 1 – 6, 2023. Save the dates and apply now!
If you are already a vegan BIPOC activist, you can still nominate someone who you think is the perfect fit for P.A.A.W. and also stand a chance to win some amazing freebies! Follow us on social media to stay updated about P.A.A.W. and visit the P.A.A.W. page on our website for more details.
The Need for P.A.A.W.
At APEX Advocacy, we strive to create awareness around the importance of animal rights in the typically exclusive space of human rights, each faction failing to enforce intersectionality in a meaningful way. While the term “intersectionality” may have gained popularity in recent years, it has still proven difficult for individuals to apply it towards their activism, be it human or animal rights. It has been even more difficult to include animals in the general understanding of intersectionality. The latter primarily comes from our failure to recognize animals as sentient beings with equal claims to rights and safety, a bias often referred to as speciesism.
We may hold a certain regard for particular groups or types of animals - i.e. wildlife in danger of extinction, animal companions such as dogs and cats, or even animal welfare for those exploited as resources for food, clothing, entertainment, scientific research, etc. - but this falls far from the rights approach wherein animals and humans both share and enjoy equality and all the rights and amenities required for a safe and fulfilling life. Moreover, even conservation and ecological advancements fail to include the entirety of animals in their purview as they often largely ignore the impact of animal agriculture on wildlife and indigenous communities.
While intersectionality can be difficult to apply in practice, it is the need of the hour for a better and more secure future, not just for all humans but also for nonhuman animals - yes, those animals that we assume merely exist as food resources and to make our lives easier.
Why, you ask? Because, apart from the fact that animals are sentient and have the ability to feel pain and suffer in the same way as humans, much of humanity remains unaware that animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of the climate crisis and the greatest factor contributing to deforestation, water pollution, air pollution, species extinction, and more. In fact, animal agriculture is more detrimental to the environment than the entire sector of vehicular pollution, including airplanes! According to a recent research article by Faunalytics, this is also severely underreported in climate change news and activism.
Without addressing animal agriculture and incorporating animal rights into our understanding of social justice, we cannot hope to fight climate change and global warming, with each passing year witnessing a major increase in disastrous phenomena that can no longer be called “natural.” Failing to address climate change intersectionally also poses as discriminatory to marginalized communities and animals who face the most immediate consequences as most disasters affect us disproportionately.
Why Is P.A.A.W. Open to Only BIPOC Activists?
Historically, there are several sections of society that have been oppressed and continue to face violence and discrimination through the present day. Just as these movements can become internally discriminatory, the animal rights movement is also riddled with the same issues. Globally, the animal rights and vegan space has largely been dominated by white and privileged voices with a “savior” attitude towards the animals in question. BIPOC voices are not just erased by those outside of the movement (non-vegans), but also within the movement. Opportunities are twice as difficult to find and an important narrative of intersectionality between marginalized communities and animal rights takes a back seat. For instance, Black vegans constitute the fastest growing vegan demographic in the U.S., and yet those most visible and prominent in the movement are privileged white folk and white-led organizations.
At APEX, we recognize animals as our beyond-human family and thereby worthy of moral deliberation and recognition – but this is not a project reserved for white-identifying groups and individuals; we aim towards making the animal rights movement a safe space for BIPOC activists as well as increasing access to opportunities to create leaders, changing the narrative around veganism, animal rights, and intersectionality, and helping us build useful connections and bridges with other social justice movements. This will allow us to fight speciesism and ultimately equate animal and human rights as one, valid struggle for total liberation.
Why Is P.A.A.W. Only for Non-Vegans?
Over the years, misconceptions, fear and ignorance have led to an even more complicated understanding of the term “veganism” as well as the Animal Liberation movement. Touted as a health fad, an elite affliction, a white hobby, discriminatory diet and so on, our largely non-vegan world steers clear of vegan conversations or even addressing Animal Rights as a valid social justice movement. Moreover, as largely white and privileged individuals lead the movement, it only further distances others.
Through P.A.A.W., we want to bring out the inherent intersectional nature of veganism and work towards making the Animal Liberation movement a valid social justice movement on par with and equal to all other humans rights movements. And we want to give equal opportunities to BIPOC activists so they can go on to lead the movement and highlight our shared struggles.
In a world where animals are still seen as products with no rights to their own bodies, hurting not just the planet, our health and several indigenous communities, we must forge strong and fruitful relationships with other social justice movements to be able to bring tangible changes and create more awareness around a plant-powered life as well as negating speciesism.
As a small, grassroots action NGO, we also wish to show the world the importance of grassroots action and the need for a strong network of local communities/activists ensuring the health and safety of ALL sentient life for a healthier future, free of violence and discrimination. You can learn more about one of our grassroots oriented project, No Backyard Slaughter, here.
Conclusion
Pre-Animal Activism Week aims to form long-lasting and impactful connections with several social justice movements to highlight the inherent interconnectedness of our struggles. We look forward to your applications, so keep an eye out for more information and DM/email us if you have any questions or concerns regarding P.A.A.W.
In the words of prolific Indian writer, Arundhati Roy:
There's really no such thing as the “voiceless.” There are only the deliberately silenced, or the preferably unheard.
Let’s come together to create a world where every voice is heard!
