Throughout 2021, our new Wellbeing & Veganism working group of academics and researchers will be publishing a series of articles, blogs and research updates that invites us to consider the reciprocal relationship between a vegan lifestyle and physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing.
In this first introductory opinion piece as part of our Wellbeing & Veganism research programme, Researcher Network member Summer Philips explores the question: how can the pandemic affect the way we consider our future relationship with non-human animals?
Rivers flow into the oceans, colonies of insects go about their business, and the sun and moon dance around each other keeping the planet in orbit and allowing life to thrive. Most non-human animals living on earth remain unaware of the shifts that have occurred since the global Coronavirus pandemic commenced in 2020. However, for humans, it is an inescapable fact that the world has drastically changed during just one year. Most non-humans living on earth remain unaware of the shifts that have occurred since the global pandemic of 2020. For many other sentient beings on earth, the pandemic is the least of their concerns. A notable exception is Denmark’s thousands of minks culled due to Covid19 fears, causing global outcry (as a loud aside, this outcry feels hollow when it was not applied to the plight of these farmed animals prior to the cull).
In the earlier days and months of the pandemic, many were making connections between the virus and the poor treatment of non-human animals. Links were suggested between wet markets (notice how language often avoids connecting non-human animals with death by human hands) and viral transmission, with previous viral outbreaks re-evaluated regarding human and non-human animal contaminants. We are still unsure of the extent of transmission of the Coronavirus between species. Some human companion animals have tested positive, as have some non-human animals in zoos and other captive spaces. As for free animal populations, it is hard to assess the scale of the outbreak. However many news sources have suggested it would be wise for humans to avoid contact with free animals, especially endangered species, due to fears of the virus causing further extinctions.
“Studies have documented evidence that at least 60 mammals as wide-ranging as lions, pandas, beluga whales, ground squirrels and macaques could be at risk of infection with the virus, with the vulnerability of many other creatures still unknown” (The Independent).
What has become totally clear, however, is that humanity is not invincible. Neither are other forms of animal life. For years, governments have been burying their head in the sand regarding human impact on the planet and life upon it. They have ignored scientists’ grave warnings and refused to acknowledge this new era now known in many circles as the Anthropocene (an era which marks humanities destructive impact upon the planet and biosphere).
Now is not the time to settle back into a place of complacency. There may be a sense of optimism descending on populations around the globe along with the batches of vaccines, but we must not now ignore the problems that have allowed us to arrive in this position. As a species, we tend to work backwards. We take a pill for a headache rather than look at what has triggered it and adjust our actions and behaviours. We take a holiday from an intensely stressful life, rather than consider changes that could bring us more peace. It is time we begin to look at life in a new way. A way that looks forwards.
Creating change in a well-established way of life may provoke feelings of discomfort. We are all conditioned and programmed in many ways – more so than we are probably aware of. Physical and psychological habits have grown with us over the years. This is clear from the way we often separate ourselves into social or political groups. For example the classic us and them mindset. This separation is no more apparent than the divide between human and non-human animals. As long as we hold this perception of humans as the dominant species on earth, with a sense of control and superiority over non-human animals, we are continuing to look backwards and refusing to look forward. We cannot continue to use and abuse non-human animals. If we do so, it is both at their peril and ours. More animals will become extinct, more rainforests will be felled for animal agriculture, more contamination will occur to the land and the air, contributing to negative changes in ecosystem health and climate change acceleration, more insects will suffer (remember the plight of the bees?). From the building blocks of life, the systems which keep us alive will continue to fall.
There is a cognitive dissonance in the way that animals are treated on this earth. Many people profess to loving non-human animals, but do not see a problem with eating them, consuming their secretions and eggs, wearing and sitting on their skins, wool or furs, sleeping under their plucked feathers or using chemicals that have been tested on them. Humanity needs to question this cognitive dissonance to be able to be in the world in a new way. A way that moves beyond the suffering of others wherever possible, to a world that is less conflicted, both internally and externally.
When we are disconnected within, how can we begin to cross boundaries to a better world outside of ourselves, in our communities, and across species?
We have all heard the phrase the new normal being banded around, often referring to the here and now of the pandemic. The term seems to imply that we should get used to a lack of physical contact with others, reminisce about going to a gig or a busy party, but consign them to the past. To accept that things may not be quite as good as they were before, for a long time ahead. This approach and attitude will do little to foster a sense of quality living and may just be a catalyst for depression and despair. This is not the new normal, this is just a moment in time where huge shifts can be both contemplated and implemented. The world has so many problems, isn’t it about time we did something differently? Isn’t it time we put all the positive human attributes that we have into action?
What we have the chance to create here, with imagination and compassion, is The Future Normal.
We need a fresh vision. We need to be ready to let go of the old normal, in many ways. We have discovered how it feels to be under threat, to be isolated, perhaps even to feel captive. Perhaps this has unearthed some commonality with other species who live their entire lives with such fears and limitations. Many of us have rekindled a sense of joy in simple pleasures, like seeing a friend for a walk or finding like-minded people online to boost a sense of belonging. Some report feeling a stronger sense of community as people check on them and offer additional support. We can take these positive elements with us on our journey, and perhaps we can leave behind our neglect of non-human animals on our planet.
We have all heard the phrase the new normal being banded around too. This often seems to refer to the here and now of the pandemic. That we should get used to a lack of physical contact with others, reminisce about going to a gig or a busy party as a thing of the past. To accept that things may not be ‘quite as good’ as they were before, for a long time ahead. This approach and attitude will do little to foster a sense of quality living and may just be a catalyst for depression and despair. This is not the new normal, this is just a moment in time where huge shifts can be both contemplated and implemented. The world has so many problems, isn’t it about time we did something differently? Isn’t it time we put all the positive human attributes that we have into action? What we have the chance to create here, with imagination and compassion, is The Future.
Imagine what a future based on increased love and compassion, and the creation of imaginative and practical solutions could look like. Imagine a world where non-human animals were considered, embraced, loved. Imagine a world where we did not need to worry about viruses appearing in markets, labs, or farms. Imagine living peacefully side by side with the non-human animal population. Can you imagine it? I can… many can.
Much more research should be undertaken into how differences in perceptions of non-human animals can lead to changes in the behaviour of humans. Especially if such research explored the question of whether leading a more compassionate life through veganism could increase happiness and emotional wellbeing - and if such compassion leads to improvements for both the self and the world at large.
Could there be a collective movement for positive change? All human beings are responsible for The Future Normal.
Will you join us?
Note:
Are you an academic, researcher or professional working in the field of wellbeing, happiness, mental health, psychology, mindfulness, compassion, spirituality or other related fields? If you are interested in helping The Vegan Society's research programme in this area then please get in touch with our Research Officer, Lorna, who is leading the co-ordination of this new area of research.
The views expressed by our Research News contributors are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.
