DigiBitch

People often think about vegetarianism or veganism as an ethical framework or intentional life choice, but in her new book, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism, Dr. Melanie Joy posits that eating meat comes from the same type of belief system. Dr. Joy, a professor and psychologist who works to promote empowering relationships between humans, animals, and the earth, spoke with me at length last week, and our talk is split into two parts here this week.

Claire Danes is starring in a new HBO movie premiering tonight based on the life’s work of animal scientist, livestock consultant, inventor, and writer Dr. Temple Grandin. In the past, I’ve said that Grandin’s work might bring people closer to understanding animals as sentient beings, deserving of our compassion and protection. But maybe I was wrong.

This weekend, the New York Times Magazine—a publication I admittedly adore—asked what I consider to be a very simple question: “Is There An Ecological Unconscious?” Should we be thankful when these issues are covered by mainstream media or annoyed that our work has once again been relegated to the margins of the larger movement?

If you’re reading the Bitch blog, chances are you’ve decided that you aren’t too terribly offended by the b-word. But what about the c-word? In contemplating the state of modern environmental issues and food politics, I’m thinking that it might be time to reclaim the big C—cow.

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You don’t have to be a full time animal rights activist to spread the good word about healthy food, climate change, and women’s and children’s rights. Ruby Roth, author and illustrator of the recently released That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals: A Book About Vegans, Vegetarians, and All Living Things, recently spoke to me about her woman-friendly artwork and why children are smarter than people often think.

Andre Bauer, South Carolina's Lt. Governor, conflated the suffering of people and animals, threatened those on government assistance with unnecessary and unrelated stipulations to receiving their benefits, and used sexual shaming tactics and mocked decision-making abilities that he conflated with willpower, age and intelligence in an unusually insensitive speech on Friday.

With “green” being all the rage the last few years, it’s no wonder environmental issues have become so mainstream. But media savvy and socially responsible feminists know that environmentalism and ecofeminism are not new ideas, even as many of the relationships between the planet and women’s rights become more salient as the earth warms and we suffer the effects. In the next weeks, I’ll be looking at a variety of intersecting issues including the human cost of chocolate, the use of fur in northern climates and indigenous cultures, soy and soybean farming, nuclear power’s environmental effects, ideas for carbon-free transit, the links between racism and animal oppression, and how you can be a pro-choice vegan.

Every now and then there are just too many d-bags committing too many acts of douchebaggery to pick just one. Plus there's the whole 'is-this-person-alone-even-worth-blogging-about' question to reckon with. But hey, that's why god invented the Special Two for One Edition, right? Here goes...

Doria Shafiq: Egyptian feminist, activist, author, poet... and probably someone you've never heard of. UNTIL NOW! Shafiq worked tirelessly before and after the Egyptian Revolution to secure equality for women in the context of an Islamic society; her strong feminist consciousness converged with her country’s surge of nationalism to create radical change for Egyptian women in a short period of time.