Vegan lifestyle articles that discuss ways of living in peace with humans, animals, and the environment.
Lauren Ornelas is the founder of the Food Empowerment Project, a vegan food justice organization that shows people how various issues of oppression are connected to the food system.
In a time when so many are talking about the impact of eating animals on public health as well as food insecurity, we thought it would be the perfect time to reach out to someone working on both issues to learn more. Lauren Ornelas is the founder of The Food Empowerment Project (FEP), a vegan food justice organization that shows people how various issues of oppression are connected, with a focus on food.
FEP has long had my utmost respect for advocating not just for veganism —
but also for the rights of the farm workers who pick our foods, and for
access to healthy foods in Black and Brown communities. The organization
also encourages people not to buy chocolate and other products sourced from
areas where the worst forms of child labor and slavery exist and keep a
running list of more ethical chocolate brands that I personally consult
regularly.
Freelance writer and Sentient Media advisor Rachel Krantz asked Ornelas for
her thoughts on how this current pandemic is connected to both veganism and
food justice for humans — and what we can practically do about it,
especially when it comes to our personal shopping habits.
How does the coronavirus bring attention to inequalities in our food
system you’ve already been working on?
I think it really magnifies them and exacerbates them. Farmworkers in this
country are already not afforded basic protections, rights, benefits, and
living wages, and only now are they deemed “essential workers,” but not
given the benefits that other essential workers receive as part of the
federal package. Also, the concept of not having food available to you that
you would like to buy is how many people in Black, Indigenous, and Brown
communities live.
Are there any ways you suggest people can help now, especially, when
people are struggling to have enough money for food during coronavirus?
We really encourage people to use this as an opportunity to not support only
band-aid approaches to help others right now but to also really make sure
they are supporting ways in which we can change the racist, unequal, and
unjust systems that take place by advocating for things such as paid sick
leave for all, free medical care, and abolishing ICE.
What are some vegan-friendly ways to contribute to food banks/food
services? Like, what if I want to donate but am worried about indirectly
supporting animal products?
Again, we really want people to look at the ways in which they can use their
voice for these structural changes, but in terms of donating food, we are
waiting to hear back from the farm worker organizations we work with to
determine how we can assist. We also created this resource on donating food
several years ago to help people who truly want to make a difference.
How do food deserts impact how “easy it is” for people to go vegan?
Areas where people lack access to healthy foods (food apartheid areas) means
that communities (primarily Black, Indigenous, and Brown) do not have access
to healthy foods, which includes not just “meat” and dairy alternatives to
animal products but also fresh fruits and vegetables. Many people living in
these communities, where there are not a lot of places to grow food and
there are few if any grocery stores, are forced to shop at liquor stores and
convenience stores for food.
How do you explain most succinctly why you believe veganism is also
a human rights issue?
I think I try to focus more on explaining that these issues are connected.
To think a world without exploitation of non-human animals can exist where
racism, sexism, ableism, and LBGTQ discrimination still exist is ignoring
the roots of why animals are exploited.
What are some foods vegans are buying that aren’t necessarily
ethical, besides chocolate/coffee/palm oil?
In addition to those listed, I would include bananas, wine, and also areas
that we are still needing to look into, such as cashews and avocados.
However, there are a lot of companies that engage in unethical practices
that vegans seem to be supporting, which includes testing on animals such as
Ben & Jerry’s (owned by Unilever – which tests on animals) and other
companies like Nestle and Coca Cola that engage in egregious human rights
abuses.
What do you say to people who say veganism is a “white” thing?
That I completely understand why they feel that way as it certainly has been
represented as such but that it is mostly because it is a white-dominated
movement that has not been great about promoting the work of Black- and
Brown-run organizations that promote veganism. And I ask them not to judge
vegans or vegan organizations based on that as many of us have organizations
with a more holistic view.
What are the top 3 steps I could take now as a vegan (who already
buys Fair Trade where possible) to start shopping more ethically?
We encourage people not to rely on certifications such as “Fair Trade” for
their shopping as there have been issues found with all of them. I want to
be clear that I acknowledge that being able to “eat your ethics” can be a
privilege as many people just struggle to be able to eat. But for those of
us who have the ability to go vegan and take time to think about our food
choices more critically, I think it is important for us to learn who
produces the food they are eating. Is it Nestle? Is there a boycott called
by farm workers on specific products? We encourage people to buy chocolate
from our recommended list. I feel weird saying that, as my intention is not
self-promotion, but instead it really is a list that I trust as the
certifications aren’t reliable at this time.
Honestly, more than that, it is difficult at this time to talk about food
issues when so many people are struggling to eat. It is important that
people remember it is not just about their food choices but also to support
efforts to create equity in the food system and support the boycotts called
by farm workers.
Return to Articles Reflecting a Vegan Lifestyle
Read more at
COVID-19/Coronavirus Articles Directory