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A review by
Steve Tarver
VegKC.com presented author/speaker
Erik Marcus to Kansas City on April 10th and
11th. He provided a focused talk for activists
on Sunday, a public book presentation and
signing on Monday, and joined us for meals
after both. We talked about the job of activism
and the nature, state, and future of animal
protection movements. I have been thinking
about these subjects for a long time and have
finally found ideas that make sense to me,
all neatly bundled in Erik's new book. I bought
two copies of Meat Market. One for me and
one to share with anyone I can get to read
it.
Eight years ago, Marcus wrote
Vegan: the New Ethics of Eating. Since that
time, he has seen every side of animal protection
movements, become dissatisfied with their
progress, and developed strategies to improve
them. If every major industry (including our
competition) has a board to analyze and evaluate
their effectiveness, so should the animal
protection movements. Yet, somehow, this has
been overlooked. Marcus provides Meat Market
as a welcome first step towards movement refinement
and evolution.
Meat Market is intentionally
different from typical vegan literature in
both format and content: Instead of striving
to induce mass veganism, it provides a starting
point for those who are compelled to accomplish
something more. Topics are brief, focused,
and without the shouting and gore that somehow
became acceptable in the early stages of the
modern movements. It's a solid information
source and provides specific actions for individuals
at any level of commitment. It's also timely
for me because I held so many of its ideals,
as well as frustrations, and this gave both
a well-reasoned voice.
I divide the book into five
sections: The first is a factual exploration
of the business of growing animals for food.
It doesn't identify actions as horrible (so
much); rather, it describes the actions, provides
the rationale for them, and lets the reader
absorb the information. It shows the evolution
of the industry, its current state, and explains
that the current system can't change its methods.
It provides the facts you need before talking
to anyone about factory farming. You've probably
met omnivores who said, "don't even talk
to me about factory farming--I know it's horrible
but I don't want to think about it."
These 55 pages are what you give to them.
The second section offers a
history, state, and future of the three animal
protection movements. The last chapter of
this section provides a great resource when
books, pictures, or movies finally compel
someone to action.
The third section contains essays
from a cross-section of individuals who've
incorporated a higher purpose into what they
love to do. They're a good source of inspiration
and will leave you wondering how you can weave
activism into your professional life or weave
a professional life around activism.
Section four provides unassailable
information on vegan issues, while section
five contains supplemental notes supporting
section four (and the rest of the book). To
give activists a sound knowledge base, Erik
spent 18 months in the Cornell Agriculture
Library (Mann) researching the latest and
best science on vegan topics. He exposes the
bad science and exaggerations that have crept
into, and propagated through, our literature.
The result is compelling while avoiding outlandish
claims.
These sections combine to make
Meat Market an important addition to every
activist's library. In particular, section
one and four are essential reading before
discussing veganism in public. Section one
also provides a gentle but thorough introduction
you can give to friends or relatives without
worrying that they'll think you're a kook.
It's also compelling and short enough to make
a great display/tabling item. Section two
provides important direction for budding activists
with a rational, results-oriented approach
to activism. Section three serves up motivation
when your batteries are low, as well as pearls
for new ideas.
Erik Marcus's goal is not simply to convert
people to veganism; it's to inspire people
to activism - and he offers plenty of ways
to contribute. My first suggestion is buy
a copy for inspiration. My second suggestion
is to buy a second copy and give it to the
first interested friend, relative, or stranger
you find.
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