The Church of Animal Rights | Последние новости сегодня в мире культуры



The Church of Animal Rights
The Church of Animal Rights
Культура

BY:

BY: Nic Rowan June 23, 20185:00 am NEW YORK — As I exit the church this Sunday, I leave behind the day of rest to enter the new evangelism. It presents itself in the form of a "protest crawl"—a pilgrimage picketing six different McDonalds locations in Midtown Manhattan. The spectacle is organized by the Humane League, an animal rights group based out of Washington, D.C., which wants everyone to know that Mickey Ds is a murder factory for chickens. These are the people who sometimes dress up as creepy clowns and show off the gory truths about fast food in the form of "unhappy meals." Overfeeding, shortened life spans, cramped conditions: The way these companies treat their animals is sick. The Humane League often pops up in cities around the country, hoping to raise awareness for the folks who dont associate the food on their plates with the animals in the barn. But there are no clowns today. Instead, about 20 polite activists—who are mostly women in their twenties—have gathered outside Penn Station behind two Humane League interns holding a BOYCOTT MCDONALDS banner. It depicts a chicken fattened, torn, and bloodied from human mistreatment. The rest of the protesters pick up signs with similar messages: THE SAD TRUTH, STOP THIS CRUELTY, and ANIMALS DESERVE BETTER. Humane League New York City Coordinator Sophia Deluz introduces herself to me. Shes wearing a silver chain necklace that spells out the word "vegan" and is carrying a hemp purse with the ledger "This bag is meat free." Before becoming a full time protester, she worked in finance. "But then I realized participating in a food system that mistreats animals is not sustainable," she says. "Once you know better, you know better." She leaves me to go talk with the three police officers who will be escorting the group around Midtown this afternoon. Two part-time Humane League interns, Emily Kelly and her friend Hillary, stand a bit removed from the rest of the group with the banner in tow. They are discussing the merits of "Eating Animals," a Natalie Portman-helmed vegan documentary released June 15. "I thought that they were just showing people that they need to think twice in a way that wasnt bad or with a ‘shame on you tone," Emily says, as she puts an empty bottle of Spindrift soda in her leather backpack. "I think people really get down on vegans because they think we just want to make them feel bad." She straightens her blue wayfarers under a straw fedora and turns to me. "You must be dying from the heat in that jacket. Did you see the film?" "Oh, no," I say. "Seersucker is lightweight—I havent seen the film." She assures me that its a must-see and starts telling me about a vegan book she just read. Emily has been involved in the activist life ever since she moved to New York—attempting to fill out her "spare time" with a meaningful activity. She informs me that in some ways, Animal Rights has become her personal faith. "I was telling someone that being vegan is not enough; you need to be spreading the word," she says. "And my sister was like, ‘Thats what an Evangelical Christian would say." I smile. "But its true," she says. "You and your faith is not enough. You need to save others too." She straightens her sunglasses again. "When I talk to Christians about why they do what they do, theres a lot of similarities between us. They want to spread the word and often feel remorseful for the past theyve had," she says. "For me, Ive contributed to the killing of all of these animals. I ask how could I be giving more of myself. Which is what you follow in a sort of faith-based environment." Im about to ask if shes still mitigating guilt for her leather bag, but the procession is beginning. Sophia instructs us to march in a tight formation to each McDs. We must then stand "silently" in two rows, one against the buildings and the other on the street side of the sidewalk. Together we form a gauntlet of disturbing images through which all customers must pass before consuming their blood chicken. A guy in a Yankees shirt standing on a street corner sees the signs and mutters to himself: "‘Animals deserve better— better than what? They sit around and eat and poop. What could be better?" What indeed, Yankees fan. As we stand in solemn silence outside each McDonalds, Sophia and Hillary hand out postcard-sized leaflets that read HAPPY MEALS: AN ORIGIN STORY. Like the banner and the signs, they confront viewers with gory images of dead chicks. Hillary hands out the leaflets upside down so people will think that they are coupons. As New York rushes by, only Sophia speaks. The bustle of a weekend afternoon, the grumble of traffic, the murmurs of the ocasional disapproving passerby—she cuts through all of it with a perky call to action. "Boycott McDonalds!" she says. I start smelling McNuggets through the opening and closing doors. The scent of fried food saturates the sweltering air. I havent eaten since I shared a donut with my girlfriend this morning after mass. "Boycott McDonalds!" The priest had told us to stay out of the sun. The heat could drive you crazy. "Boycott McDonalds!" I could go for a burger right now. But its not to be, because were off to crash a McDonalds-hosted World Cup viewing party on 6th Avenue. As we walk by a fancy outdoor restaurant, a glass falls on the floor and shatters. A child begins to wail. I look over and see a little girl with no cup seated behind a plate of chicken fingers and french fries. A pool of red fruit punch is seeping into the concrete below her chair. Sophia comes up alongside me, full of enthusiasm. "I think that its so nice that on a Sunday—a really hot Sunday and Fathers Day too—that people come out here and are willing to do this," she says. "It shows our dedication." The mother is cleaning up cleaning up the mess and the father is coaxing his girl into eating her meal. Shes quieting down by the time we turn the corner to the McDonalds party. Crisis averted. Outside the World Cup party, I stand next to Lydia Harris, a newly-converted vegan recently graduated from college. She stopped eating animals after working on a natural farm, but doesnt consider her lifestyle religious as much as it is missionary. "But in that this is ethics based, this is a lot like a religion," she says. "I mean, we all do what we think is right in the world." "Im spiritual but not religious!" interjects the woman next to her. But Im confused. I want to ask Lydia how she can keep living in urban society with so much evil done to animals in every industry. I mean, what about the clothes were wearing? Or her animal-based lipstick? Where is the line? But a toddler interrupts us. It looks like he wandered away from the party to check out these weird signs. Hes holding a coke in one hand and a Sausage McGriddle in the other. He points at Lydias sign with his McGriddle, and with a flourish, throws back his head in theatrical anguish. "Let them live!" he shouts, and takes a big bite.
Free Beacon
    2018-06-23 16:40:56


Tamino: The new Sound of the Nile?
Tamino: The new Sound of the Nile?
Культура
The singer and grandson of celebrated Egyptian star Moharam Fouad on mixing his European upbringing with his middle eastern roots.
BBC
    2018-12-06 16:05:48


Blackfishing: The women accused of pretending to be black
Blackfishing: The women accused of pretending to be black
Культура
Newsbeat speaks to two influencers accused of blackfishing and looks at why its so controversial.
BBC
    2018-12-06 16:05:38


Katie Price: The ups and downs of her life
Katie Price: The ups and downs of her life
Культура
From a £1million wedding to narrowly escaping bankruptcy - the Pricey has had a turbulent life and career.
BBC
    2018-12-06 16:05:22


RuPaul’s Drag Race coming to BBC Three in 2019
RuPaul’s Drag Race coming to BBC Three in 2019
Культура
The global reality TV hit will be on the hunt for a new Queen of Great Britain.
BBC
    2018-12-05 12:35:43


BBC drops plans for Brexit TV debate between May and Corbyn
BBC drops plans for Brexit TV debate between May and Corbyn
Культура
The broadcaster offered to air a debate, but Labour had criticised the proposed format.
BBC
    2018-12-05 01:35:18


Cromer Pier a star of BBC One this Christmas
Cromer Pier a star of BBC One this Christmas
Культура
Cromer appears in BBC One idents before programmes and a short film about spending time with family.
BBC
    2018-12-05 01:07:05


Turner Prize 2018: Film-using art activists in the running
Turner Prize 2018: Film-using art activists in the running
Культура
Video and film dominate the shortlist for this years prize, whose winner is announced later.
BBC
    2018-12-04 13:36:16


YouTube top earners: The seven-year-old making $22m
YouTube top earners: The seven-year-old making $22m
Культура
An American boy who reviews toys is this years highest-earning YouTube star, according to Forbes.
BBC
    2018-12-03 22:05:34


2018 WAFCA Winners
2018 WAFCA Winners
Культура

As a film critic of medium-low importance, one of my most sacred duties is participating in the Washington Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) year-end awards extravaganza. During this hallowed time of year, I watch dozens of movies and mine my own recollection of the good, the bad, and the ugly to determine what, precisely, the best films of the year were. At the end of this grueling process—this death march through endless stacks of DVDs, searching for the rarest pearl in an ever-increasing sea of muck—we WAFCA members nominate up to five films/people in each category. The five films/people who earn the most votes in every category are then voted upon by the whole of the membership, the winners are chosen, the press release is sent out, and blessed, blessed relief descends upon us as we put the exercise to rest for 11 months.

Free Beacon
    2018-12-03 18:07:03


PewDiePie in battle with T-Series to keep top YouTube spot
PewDiePie in battle with T-Series to keep top YouTube spot
Культура
PewDiePie is battling Indian channel T-Series in a bid to remain the YouTuber with the most subscribers.
BBC
    2018-12-03 15:36:30


Take That have fastest-selling album of 2018 so far
Take That have fastest-selling album of 2018 so far
Культура
Howard Donald, Gary Barlow and Mark Owens greatest hits tops the UK chart on its first week of release.
BBC
    2018-11-30 20:06:52

Что будем читать?

Список новостей
Прокрутить вверх