DOCSLIB.ORG

Food That Matters: Sustainability and the Material-Discursive Boundaries of Carnist and Vegan Food Practices

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Food That Matters: Sustainability and the Material-Discursive Boundaries of Carnist and Vegan Food Practices Food that Matters: Sustainability and the Material-Discursive Boundaries of Carnist and Vegan Food Practices A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2019 Steffen Hirth School of Social Sciences [Blank page] 2 Contents List of Figures ...................................................................................................................... 7 List of Tables ........................................................................................................................ 8 Abstract ................................................................................................................................. 9 Declaration ......................................................................................................................... 10 Copyright Statement .......................................................................................................... 11 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ 13 Introduction 1. Research Problem ........................................................................................................... 16 1.1 One Hunter or 1,000 Gardeners: Social-Ecological Footprints of Livestock ................. 20 1.2 The Boundary-Drawing Practices of Veganism – Structure of the Thesis ...................... 26 Part I: Design 2. Positioning of the Research ........................................................................................... 30 2.1 Social Studies of Food and Consumption ............................................................................. 30 2.1.1 Agricultural Geography vs. Geographies of Food ....................................................................... 31 2.1.2 Reading Ethical Consumption for Difference rather than Dominance ................................... 32 2.1.3 Political Ecologies of the Possible .................................................................................................. 34 2.2 Drawing the Boundaries of Veganism ................................................................................... 36 2.2.1 Scientific Analyses and Popular Books .......................................................................................... 36 2.2.2 Social Sciences and Humanities ....................................................................................................... 37 2.2.3 Sociology and Human Geography .................................................................................................. 41 2.3 Relational Materialism and Posthuman Performativity ....................................................... 51 2.3.1 Relational Sociology .......................................................................................................................... 52 2.3.2 Material-Discursive Practices in Accordance with Agential Realism ........................................ 56 2.3.3 Political Ontology in a Relational Manifold: Conceiving Possibility as a Spatial Degree of Freedom ........................................................................................................................................................ 63 3. Objectives and Methods: A Material-Discursive Ethnography of Vegan and Carnist Foodscapes ......................................................................................................................... 71 3.1 Research Objectives and Questions ....................................................................................... 71 3.2 Methodology: Reading for Difference ................................................................................... 73 3 3.3 Data Collection .......................................................................................................................... 78 3.3.1 Preserving Websites ........................................................................................................................... 80 3.3.2 Conducting In-depth Interviews ..................................................................................................... 80 3.3.3 Ethnographic Observation and Participation ................................................................................ 82 3.4 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 84 3.4.1 Interpretive Analyses of Sustainability Websites in Retail ........................................................... 84 3.4.2 Analysing Interviews and Other Data ............................................................................................ 86 3.4.3 Limitations .......................................................................................................................................... 87 Part II: Analysis 4. Posthumanist and Humanist Politics of Possibility in Agri-Culture ............................ 89 4.1 A ‘Personal’ Decision: The Case of Bradley Nook Farm .................................................... 89 4.1.1 Social-Ecological Reasons for Quitting Animal Agriculture ....................................................... 91 4.1.2 Media Echo No. 1: BBC Countryfile—‘whatever your views on veganism, you have to admire him’ ................................................................................................................................................... 94 4.1.3 Media Echo No. 2: The Daily Express—‘viewers in melt-down as vegan farmer eats an egg’ ................................................................................................................................................................. 98 4.2 Humanist ‘Sustainability’ and the Carnist Apparatus ........................................................ 101 4.3 Conclusion: Veganism as a Representational Eating Practice ............................................. 106 5. Entangled with Carnism: Vegan Advocacy’s Fuzzy Boundaries ................................ 108 5.1 Co-operating with Carnism?.................................................................................................. 109 5.1.1 ‘Co-operate or die’ ........................................................................................................................... 110 5.1.2 A Vegan Politics of Possibility ....................................................................................................... 114 5.2 Excluded from Ethical Veganism: Environment, Wildlife, and Production ................. 118 5.2.1 Drawing the Boundaries of Ethics: ‘the ethical-moral position was just about animal rights’ ........................................................................................................................................................... 119 5.2.2 Vegan Politics of Possibility—Addressing the Materiality of the Production Side ............... 120 5.3 Conclusion: Repoliticising Mutual Aid and Existence .......................................................... 123 6. Sustainability within the Productivity Paradigm ......................................................... 125 6.1 Sustainable Intensification: A Productivist Oxymoron ..................................................... 126 6.2 Producing Dairy on Arable Land: Feed vs Food Crops ................................................... 128 6.3 Feeding the (more-than-human) World with Vegan Productivity .................................. 138 6.4 Conclusion: Finding a ‘Correct Balance’ to Survive the Sixth Mass Extinction ............... 142 7. Sustainability within the Efficiency Paradigm ............................................................ 144 7.1 Sustainability on the Far Horizon: How Efficiency Gains License Practices in Absolute Terms .............................................................................................................................................. 145 7.1.1 Sustainability as Dictated by the Invisible Hand ......................................................................... 145 7.1.2 ‘It’s not a Sustainability Conversation’: Vegan and Organic Products as Consumer Beliefs .......................................................................................................................................................... 147 4 7.1.3 Sustainability’s Complexity and Change....................................................................................... 149 7.2 Increasing Efficiency, Saving Practices ................................................................................ 150 7.2.1 Saving Animal Agriculture ............................................................................................................. 151 7.2.2 Saving Chicken (Food Waste) ........................................................................................................ 152 7.2.3 Saving Culinary Culture (Meat and Dairy Substitutes) .............................................................. 154 7.2.4 Saving Bananas ................................................................................................................................. 155 7.3 The Boundaries of Sustainability in Dairy Farming ........................................................... 157 7.4 Conclusion: How ‘Getting Better’ Saves Practices not the World ...................................... 162 8. Vegan Organic: An Emerging Food Practice .............................................................. 164 8.1 Omitting Fascist Food
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Landscaping for Wildlife
    LLAANNDDSSCCAAPPIINNGG FFOORR WWIILLDDLLIIFFEE An all-in-one guide, with information to help you transform your yard into an area abundant with birds and wildlife. Contents: Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2 Getting Started: Planning and Mapping ........................................................................... 3 Features of a Wildlife Garden: Grasses & Legumes .................................................. 7 Butterfly, Bee & Moth Plants Hummingbird Plants Conifers Aquatic Plants Summer Fruit & Berries Fall Fruit & Cover Winter Fruit & Cover Nuts/Acorns Structural Aspects: Nest Boxes ................................................................ 8 Dead Trees Brush & Rock Piles Dust & Grit Water Feeders Topography Rain Barrels Viewing Areas Composter Maintaining Your Garden .............................................................................................. 10 Appendices: 1. Plants for Butterflies, Caterpillars and Hummingbirds ............... 11 2. Trees, Shrubs and Plants/ Avoid these Plants! ......................... 12 3. Nest Box Dimensions ................................................................ 13 4. Simple Feeders You Can Make ................................................. 14 5. Bird Seed and Feeding Hints..................................................... 15 6. Bird Checklist ............................................................................ 16 7. Mammal Checklist ....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Animal Law Received Generous Support from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Michigan State University College of Law
    JOURNAL OF ANIMAL LAW Michigan State University College of Law APRIL 2009 Volume V J O U R N A L O F A N I M A L L A W Vol. V 2009 EDITORIAL BOARD 2008-2009 Editor-in-Chief ANN A BA UMGR A S Managing Editor JENNIFER BUNKER Articles Editor RA CHEL KRISTOL Executive Editor BRITT A NY PEET Notes & Comments Editor JA NE LI Business Editor MEREDITH SH A R P Associate Editors Tabb Y MCLA IN AKISH A TOWNSEND KA TE KUNK A MA RI A GL A NCY ERIC A ARMSTRONG Faculty Advisor DA VID FA VRE J O U R N A L O F A N I M A L L A W Vol. V 2009 Pee R RE VI E W COMMITT ee 2008-2009 TA IMIE L. BRY A NT DA VID CA SSUTO DA VID FA VRE , CH A IR RE B ECC A J. HUSS PETER SA NKOFF STEVEN M. WISE The Journal of Animal Law received generous support from the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Michigan State University College of Law. Without their generous support, the Journal would not have been able to publish and host its second speaker series. The Journal also is funded by subscription revenues. Subscription requests and article submissions may be sent to: Professor Favre, Journal of Animal Law, Michigan State University College of Law, 368 Law College Building, East Lansing MI 48824. The Journal of Animal Law is published annually by law students at ABA accredited law schools. Membership is open to any law student attending an ABA accredited law college.
    [Show full text]
  • Sterilization, Hunting and Culling : Combining Management Approaches for Mitigating Suburban Deer Impacts
    Poster Presentation Sterilization, Hunting and Culling: Combining Management Approaches for Mitigating Suburban Deer Impacts J.R. Boulanger University of North Dakota P.D. Curtis and M.L. Ashdown Cornell University ABSTRACT: Based on decades of growing deer impacts on local biodiversity, agricultural damage, and deer-vehicle collisions, in 2007 we implemented an increasingly aggressive suburban deer research and management program on Cornell University lands in Tompkins County, New York. We initially divided Cornell lands into a suburban core campus area (1,100 acres [4.5 km2]) and adjacent outlying areas that contain lands where deer hunting was permitted (~4,000 acres [16.2 km2]). We attempted to reduce deer numbers by surgically sterilizing deer in the core campus zone and increasing harvest of female deer in the hunting zone through an Earn-a-Buck program. During the first 6 years of this study, project staff spayed 96 female deer (>90% of all deer on campus); 69 adult does were marked with radio transmitters to monitor movements and survival. From 2008 to 2013, hunters harvested >600 deer (69–165 each hunting season). By winter 2013, we stabilized the campus deer herd to approximately 100 animals (57 deer/mi2 [22 deer/km2]), a density much higher than project goals (14 deer/mi2). Although we reduced doe and fawn numbers by approximately 38% and 79%, respectfully, this decrease was offset by an increase in bucks that appeared on camera during our population study. In 2014, we supplemented efforts using deer damage permits (DDP) with archery sharpshooting over bait, and collapsible Clover traps with euthanasia by penetrating captive bolt.
    [Show full text]
  • Course Handout for Introduction to Forest Gardening
    COURSE HANDOUT FOR INTRODUCTION TO FOREST GARDENING Complied by Jess Clynewood and Rich Wright Held at Coed Hills Rural Art Space 2010 ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES OF PERMACULTURE Care for the Earth v Care for the people v Fair shares PRINCIPLES Make the least change for the greatest effect v Mistakes are tools for learning v The only limits to the yield of a system are imagination and understanding Observation – Protracted and thoughtful observation rather than prolonged and thoughtless action. Observation is a key tool to re-learn. We need to know what is going on already so that we don’t make changes we will later regret. Use and value diversity - Diversity allows us to build a strong web of beneficial connections. Monocultures are incredibly fragile and prone to pests and diseases – diverse systems are far more robust and are intrinsically more resilient. Relative Location and Beneficial Connections – View design components not in isolation but as part of a holistic system. Place elements to maximise their potential to create beneficial connections with other elements. Multi-functional Design – Try and gain as many yields or outputs from each element in your design as possible. Meet every need in multiple ways, as many elements supporting each important function creates stability and resilience. Perennial systems – minimum effort for maximum gain Create no waste - The concept of waste is essentially a reflection of poor design. Every output from one system could become the input to another system. We need to think cyclically rather than in linear systems. Unmet needs = work, unused output = pollution. Stacking – Make use of vertical as well as horizontal space, filling as many niches as possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Bristol Food Networking
    BRISTOL FOOD NETWORK Bristol’s local food update2012 community project news · courses · publications · events march–april Spring is nearly springing. The wild garlic is poking through, the Alexanders are growing vigorously, and it’s feeling very tempting to start sowing things in the veg bed. Across the city, new growing projects are sprouting forth, too. In this issue we hear from Avon Wildlife Trust about ‘Feed Bristol’; the Severn Project who have expanded into Whitchurch; and the Horfield accessible allotment and edible forest, who have their grand opening in April. Please email any suggestions for content of the May–June newsletter to [email protected] by 9 April. Events, courses listings and appeals can now be updated at any time on our website www.bristolfoodnetwork.org Bristol food networking The recent Green Capital ‘Future City We will need volunteers to help: Bristol Independents Day Conversations’ have shown how much n publicise the event 4 July 2012 interest there is in Bristol in food issues n photograph open gardens The Bristol Independents campaign – and how much is going on. There are n assist groups hosting openings, etc is gearing-up to celebrate ‘Bristol some great opportunites coming up this Independents Day’ on 4 July. Volunteers Bristol local food networking sessions year to help Bristol’s food projects and are needed to help: businesses flourish: Volunteers are sought to host monthly n Spread the word meet ups for anyone involved in the Bristol n Talk to traders Get Growing Garden Trail food sector who is working towards a n Get community groups involved, etc 9–10 June 2012 better food system for Bristol.
    [Show full text]
  • The Analysis of Production and Culling Rate with Regard to the Profitability in a Dairy Herd
    ADVANCED RESEARCH IN LIFE SCIENCES 1(1), 2017, 48-52 www.degruyter.com/view/j/arls DOI: 10.1515/arls-2017-0008 Research Article The Analysis of Production and Culling Rate With Regard to the Profitability in a Dairy Herd József Horváth*, Zsanett Tóth, Edit Mikó University of Szeged, Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Economics and Rural Development and Institute of Animal Sciences and Wildlife Management, Hungary Accepted June, 2017 Abstract As milk prices move away from production costs, dairy farms are under increased pressure to find ways to protect profitability on the farm. Producers have some problems that they can improve. Improve the milk production, produce more milk to sell focused on quality (reduce the amount of high level of somatic cell count). The deterioration of animal health status (lameness, mastitis and different metabolic disorders) can have a serious impact on cow productivity, causing pain and discomfort, production losses and might result in a decision to cull the animal. Improving herd reproductive performance is an important aspect of profitable farm management. The aim of this work is to analyse milk production, reasons of culling and culling rate in different lactation on a dairy cattle farm. Key words: dairy cow economy, culling rate, productive lifetime, break-even point. Introduction replacement heifers. Furthermore, it allows cows In the dairy cattle breeding the longevity of cows to achieve maximum milk yield and increases the and reasons for culling are serious research proportion of higher yielding cows in the herd. [3] problems. The profitability of the dairy herd Culling of dairy cows is a serious economic depends on milk the yield of lactation and the decision.
    [Show full text]
  • BREEDING KOI in the CITY by Douglas Dahl 2002 Update to Article Printed in Vol 22, Issue 5 in KOIUSA in 1998
    BREEDING KOI IN THE CITY by Douglas Dahl 2002 update to article printed in Vol 22, Issue 5 in KOIUSA in 1998 Why do you want to breed koi, I ask? You could respond "imported koi are too expensive", or "you want to learn how they change so you can purchase baby koi with more confidence" or "you are just bored and want to try it". This discussion addresses city breeding. Country or farm breeding can be a very different process in many ways due to available growing ponds and I leave that discussion to the professionals. What is Needed My experience in city breeding suggests the following list of needed items: 800 gallon tank or pond for breeding (use as medical tank when not breeding) 3000 gallon tank or pond to grow some of the baby koi for 1 year separate small tank or pond area to rest the female after breeding and for culling working filter for both the 800 and 3000 gallon tanks or ponds if they are close together submersible pump with strainer on intake (18" drilled PVC tube surrounded by foam 6x6x18) 1/6 hp pump for the 3000 gallon system Air pump and air stones for breeding tank GFI electrical outlets for all pumps Net to cover breeding tank to keep breeding fish in Brine shrimp jugs, air system and light for food breeding Several kinds of food (to be described later) Net, tub, plastic bags to transport breeders and catch babies Ammonia and nitrite test kits Source of de chlorinated water (3000 gallon tank while 800 gallon tank in use) Breeding media (hyacinth plants, podocarpus branches, mop heads, breeding nets) About $1500 to spare for expenses Strong back and strong stomach HARD HEART FOR CULLING Someone to feed the babies every 3-4 hours during the day Timing, Romance and Birth The time to prepare for breeding is one month before pond water reaches 70 degrees F.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Gardens in London
    Your garden probably already supports a mixture of animals. You n might see blue tits and sparrows, butterflies and beetles, and watch o the cheeky antics of squirrels and foxes. This pack will help you to i develop ways of attracting more local wildlife to your garden. t Wildlife gardeners try to manage their garden as a balanced habitat, c where each animal and plant has a part to play. u d About this pack In this pack you will find help to start the following projects. o Feel free to photocopy the sheets if you want to share them. r A butterfly garden t Improve your flower borders to make a perfect environment for butterflies. n i Gardening for birds How to improve your garden for blue tits, sparrows and other songbirds with trees : and shrubs. g Feeding birds n i Providing food for birds in your garden can help them through difficult times when natural food is scarce. n A mini-meadow e Grass gardening for grasshopper people to experience the chirp of the cricket and d the flutter of the meadow brown butterfly. r Pond building a A centrepiece for the wildlife garden, and vital support for dragonflies and frogs. G Pond maintenance How to keep your pond attractive and healthy. e f Wildlife on walls i l City gardening for bird lovers. Greening your walls for wildlife, and building your own bird boxes. d l i Problem wildlife Maintaining a balance in your garden and dealing with slugs. W Monitoring your wildlife garden Keep your own records, and help by adding to ours.
    [Show full text]
  • Get Growing Trail 2015
    BRISTOL FOOD NETWORK Bristol’s local food update2015 community project news · courses · publications · events march–april Get Growing Trail 2015 Spring is coming! All my shiny new veg seed packets are We are getting going with this year’s n Get more people involved with optimistically lined-up, and ‘Get Growing Garden Trail’ – our growing their own food, either through of course it’s hailing outside! 5th annual community garden open volunteering or education. weekend, to be held over 6–7 June. Spring is a great time to get If your project has not signed-up yet, or others involved with growing Last year the Trail saw 33 productive you would like to talk through what taking too, and we have some exciting sites open their gates to the public. part entails, please contact Caitlyn Jones new initiatives and events Groups taking part included community ([email protected]) or Jane coming up, which can help us orchards and gardens, allotments and Stevenson. There is no cost to take part in the Trail! You can choose your opening do more of that. Let’s get even smallholdings, city farms and market gardens. Sites ranged in size from Grow hours – anything from a couple of hours more of Bristol growing. Bristol’s experimental aquaponics and up to the whole weekend. Groups will Please email any suggestions for the hydroponics, housed within a shipping benefit from the shared spotlights of the May–June newsletter by 13 April to: container on the former Diesel site at Trail, Big Green Week, the Chelsea Fringe, [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • At God's Table
    At God’s Table Food Justice for a Healthy World April 5-8, 2013 Welcome to EAD 2013! — the 11th annual national gathering of men and women of faith who want to be a force for change for the betterment of all. This high impact weekend, sponsored by the ecumenical Christian community, is grounded in biblical witness and shared traditions of justice, peace and integrity of creation. Our goal is to strengthen the Christian voice and mobilize for advocacy on specific U.S. domestic and international policy issues. This weekend, we will explore At God’s Table: Food Justice for a Healthy World. You will join nearly a thousand Christians advocating for a world in which every person, in present and future generations, has a place “At God’s Table.” EAD 2013 follows in the wake of national elections, a new Congress, a lingering Farm Bill debate, and devastating droughts and floods, all with lasting consequences for our society and world. Monday’s Lobby Day will be a critical time to raise our faith voices in support of ending hunger, improving nutrition, creating more just and sustainable food systems and protecting God’s creation – while advocating for a “Faithful Federal Budget.” In a world that produces enough food for everyone, EAD 2013 will explore the injustices in global food systems that leave one billion people hungry, create food price shocks that destabilize communities everywhere, and undermine God’s creation. At God’s Table, all are invited and fed, and the poorest in our midst are given a special place. Together we will seek the abundance and equality that we find reflected in the biblical image of God’s great banquet table (Exodus 16:16-18 & Luke 14:12-24).
    [Show full text]
  • Killing Wildlife: the Pr...Cons of Culling Animals
    Advertisement Daily News The Magazine Maps Science Education Games Events Blogs Movies Explorers Apps Trips National Geographic Daily News Killing Wildlife: The Pros and Cons of Culling Animals Is targeting species like badgers, swans, and deer effective? And is it ethical? A badger looks for food at the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey. The animals are considered a risk to cattle because they may transmit bovine tuberculosis. PHOTOGRAPH BY STEFAN WERMUTH, REUTERS By Will James for National Geographic PUBLISHED MARCH 5, 2014 Last fall, the U.K.'s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs targeted badgers for culling—the selective killing of a species as a population control measure. Badgers reportedly transmit bovine tuberculosis, a disease with a profound economic impact on farmers whose cows test positive. But a recent report by an independent panel leaked by the BBC said the culls failed in efficacy and humaneness. (Related: "Mr. Badger Should Be Worried: Britain Ponders a Cull.") Proposed culls have made headlines in the United States as well. Wildlife managers have targeted bison in Montana and swans, geese, and deer in New York. What's driving these high-profile culling programs? Are they necessary? Can they be done ethically? And what's at the heart of the debate between their proponents and their detractors? We explored the controversy over culling with Mary Pearl, a conservationist with the City University of New York who formerly served as president of the Wildlife Trust, a nonprofit organization now called EcoHealth Alliance. Wildlife culls have been in the news a lot lately. Is this a new practice? I would say nature has been a culler, in the past, of wildlife species.
    [Show full text]
  • Wild Animal Welfare: Management of Wildlife Lecture Notes
    Module 21 Wild Animal Welfare: Management of Wildlife Lecture Notes Slide 1: This lecture was first developed for World Animal Protection by Dr Christine Leeb (University of Bristol) in 2003 and updated by Dr Matt Leach (University of Bristol) in 2007. It was revised by World Animal Protection scientific advisors in 2012 using updates provided by Dr Caroline Hewson. Slide 2: Today’s lecture introduces you to some of the biggest welfare issues affecting wildlife. We will concentrate on the main issues affecting free-living wildlife, and then focus on the welfare of captive wildlife. We will also touch on some ways that the welfare issues concerned might be resolved. Slide 3: In this module, we define a wild animal as: a free-living or captive animal from a species that typically lives without human intervention, and whose parents and forebears were not selectively bred for docility or ease of handling. As with other species, our concern for the welfare of wild animals concerns their physical functioning, their mental state/feelings and the performance of behaviours that are important to them. Typically welfare concerns revolve around birds and terrestrial vertebrates. However, note that all vertebrates are sentient, including fish, and that many invertebrates are likely to be sentient too or, at least, to be able to suffer pain. When we consider wild animals within the common ethical frameworks, respect for nature is commonly invoked by conservationists. That framework places more emphasis on the continuing welfare of the species as a whole, such that the functioning, feelings and behavioural aspects of an individual’s experience may be subordinated to the collective feelings, functioning and continued natural behaviour of the species and, perhaps, the wider ecosystem.
    [Show full text]