via the Vegan Ideal

One of the really impressive aspects of LOVE’s approach to vegan advocacy is the willingness to question conventional thinking regarding activism. For instance, while many, if not most, nonhuman animal advocacy organizations proudly measure success in quantities of leaflets given out, not unlike how every McDonald’s has a sign proudly quantifying the numbers of burgers sold, LOVE offers a take on leafleting that questions this sort of McDonaldization of activism. Instead, LOVE emphasizes making a connection with people rather than focusing on merely maximizing the number of leaflets distributed.

As with the limitations of leafleting, LOVE also recognizes the limitations of an online community and is “launching a Vegan Buddies Project, designed to connect activists who live near one another to foster the growth of larger local communities, provide support and friendship for both new and veteran vegans, and further expand the network of anti-oppression activists that has been created here.” I just enrolled in the project and was pleasantly surprised to find it offers the more trans-friendly gender options of “other” or “I prefer not to disclose,” in addition to the usual “male” or “female.”